CALAIS, Maine — Barbara Lara has taught a lot of people to dance. In fact, she’s been teaching people for 50 years. In some cases she has taught four generations from the same family.
But Lara, 67, who still teaches five days per week and has no plans to slow down, apparently has done a lot more than teach people young and old to tap their way out onto a dance floor. Along the way she endeared herself to her community, which is planning a special event in October to recognize her.
“She’s a great person and she does a lot for the community,” Joan Young, who takes dances lessons from Lara, as have her daughters and granddaughters, said Saturday.
“She’s wonderful with people,” added Young. “She makes you feel very comfortable around her.”
Rosie Subialdea’s daughter has taken dance lessons from Lara, and Subialdea began taking lessons about five years ago. “I love to dance right next to her,” she said Saturday. “It gives me that energy,” said Subialdea, and she feels happy. “It’s always like that.”
“She’s an amazing friend,” Felice Storey, who is organizing next month’s tribute, said Friday.
Lara operates a dance studio in Calais and also has traveled throughout a three-county region over the years to teach. She currently has about 100 students, including roughly 35 adults; her youngest student is about 7 and the oldest is in her 80s. Lara teaches tap, ballet, belly dancing, line dancing, ballroom dancing and other styles, including Zumba, a dance fitness program.
“I’m interested and concerned with teaching and what I’m doing, and maybe even more so now than when I was in my 30s,” said Lara Friday. “I can’t see a stopping point at this stage.”
Lara was born and raised in Calais and began taking ballet lessons at age 4 from teachers who would visit the region. Her parents later took her to Bangor three times a week for lessons with Polly Thomas, who operated a dance school business. When she was about 15, Thomas suggested to Lara and her parents that Lara could open a dance school under the Thomas name. Instead, Lara began giving lessons on her own in her parents’ home and continued through high school. As an adult Lara later bought a house and taught out of her home, then rented space. Eventually she built a studio.
“Baton was really big when I started,” recalled Lara. As interest in baton waned, though, she focused more of her efforts on tap dancing and other dance forms. She also has been involved with preparing youngsters to compete in pageants and talent competitions. Her students have competed successfully in various dance competitions and pageants in Maine and elsewhere.
There are numerous benefits to dance lessons beyond learning how to actually do a certain type of dance, observed Lara. “It instills confidence,” she said. She has witnessed shy youngsters who have been transformed. “You put them on a stage, and, like, the light just comes on. They glow. They actually become a performer.” The skills youngsters learn in pageant competitions, from learning how to dress to public speaking and being interviewed by judges, carries over in other aspects of life, she noted, such as interviewing for a job.
Some students have earned college scholarship funds in pageant competitions, while others have become dance instructors themselves. One former student works as a performer at Disney World in Florida.
Lara and her students have performed innumerable times for various events and functions — benefits and fundraisers, meetings, programs at nursing homes, festivals, holiday events and more. She also has been recognized in various forms — awards, certificates and proclamations — for achievement, community service, entertainment.
She performs with other adults at various community events throughout the region. “Whenever anybody calls me,” she said. She was making plans to give a demonstration in Woodland this weekend, another upcoming event in Perry, and a parade soon back in Woodland. “Usually, there’s something going on,” said Lara.
Storey, who rents space in Lara’s home, took dance lessons from Lara when she was a mere 3 years old. She still takes lessons when she can and also assists Lara with some classes.
She began thinking of something to recognize Lara two years ago, said Storey, aware that 2014 would mark the 50th anniversary of when Lara began teaching.
“Here we are today,” said Storey.
The event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at Calais High School. People who are interested in helping plan the event or wish to attend should contact Storey at 214-4938.
Lara has taught dance to four generations of some families. “Maybe I’ll hit five generations,” she said.
“I know I have a lot of friends,” said Lara.