Sharon Galor

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

by Burke Campbell 

Published in the Financial Post

 Jan 5, 2009

Sharon Galor is president of Toronto Dance Salsa ( www.torontodancesalsa.ca ). This Toronto business offers classes and private instruction in salsa dancing. Sharon Galor tells the Financial Post what motivated her to become an entrepreneur.

Opportunity : “Originally, my parents were from Israel . They moved to Australia when I was small, then to Canada . Canadians seemed less outgoing than Aussies, and at first, I found it harder to socialize.”

The lure of the dance: “I worked in Human Resources, as a director in a corporate environment. Then one day, I decided to take a dance class. Immediately, I was hooked.

It was such a great way to meet people, and I had so much fun. In time, I evolved into a teacher.”

Big decision: “In 2005, I bought a small dance business. Realizing the importance of location, I opened in a mall, accessible by public transport. People started to sign up for classes and we went from a few hundred students to over five thousand!”

Popular: “Salsa is a sexy Latin dance, with a lot of memory work and defined male/female roles. The men like the structure and leading the dance, but ultimately, their movement shows off the woman. Both parties develop confidence and have a terrific time.”

Purpose: “I love teaching, and growing a business. It’s great watching people connect through dance.”

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