After a regular school day, Upper School Math Teacher Adam Varney heads to Millenium Dance Complex in Studio City to participate in his weekly hip hop class. As he dances, he gradually stops thinking about what he needs to grade later that night and his lesson plan for his Calculus class in the morning. All he is focused on at the moment is each step and motion in his line dancing routine.
Varney said the reason he enjoys dancing is because he finds dance to be a form of expression and outlet for connecting with his peers.
“I think it’s a good form of exercise for both the body and the brain,” Varney said. “I enjoy the social aspect of dance and I also like being able to be in tune and connected with music. It helps me get out of my analytical mind after a long day at school.”
Varney began dancing his sophomore year of college at the University of California Santa Barbara when he lost a bet with one of his roommates.
“My roommate had gotten into dancing and he wanted me to try it too,” Varney said. ” I had promised him if I didn’t have homework one night I would go to a dance class with him. I woke up one day and all my classes were cancelled and so I went to dance class and I really loved it.”
Varney specializes in Country Two-Step and line dance, but he also enjoys styles such as Hip-Hop, Ballroom, and Contemporary. Varney has performed as part of a competitive dance team, the United Council of Western Dance (UCWD), where he won the Worlds Competition. Varney has also performed at Stagecoach, an annual country music festival in Indio. For him, being part of a dance team isn’t just about winning competitions: Varney says that being on a dance team allows him to create meaningful connections and build lasting friendships.
“While part of the team, I got to spend like every Sunday with my best friend and 14 other people,” Varney said. “My best friend and I are the closest in age relative to everyone else on the dance team, so he and I had a lot of shared experiences dealing with people not in our age group and so we bonded really well.”
Varney said that he is able to incorporate his unique hobby into his school life, and that he has cherished memories of performing on campus with his peers.
“I did have the opportunity to dance on campus with one of my partners at the time, and that’s one of my fondest memories.” Varney said. “Unfortunately, the partner I danced with passed away last month in a paragliding accident. Now, I just hold on to that memory of the both of us performing at the school.”
Other Upper School faculty members have also gone to cheer on Varney at dance competitions or have asked him for assistance in dance classes which Varney said has allowed him to get to know his fellow faculty members better.
“A couple of times post graduation, some alums would actually come out dancing and meet up with me and my friends at dance halls.” Varney said. “We’d hang out and they’d get to see me in a different setting. It’s nice to reconnect with former students and peers through dance.”
Varney’s passion for dance is just one of many hidden hobbies and passions that many members of school faculty may have. Next time, when you see any of your teachers, talk to them more. You might find out they won a world championship too.
