Joan Minnery (MA ’22) Finds Joy and Purpose Through Line Dancing

Joan Minnery (MA ’22) is a proud Laurier alumna who completed her Master of Arts in Community Music between 2011 and 2022. Currently, Minnery works as a music facilitator and part-time curriculum facilitator of dance and music within the Grand Erie District School board, and serves as CEO of Joan Minnery Enterprises, where she teaches dance, music and acting.

Alongside her teaching, Minnery is an author, motivational speaker, professional entertainer and community arts leader who is committed to using the arts as a tool for building confidence, connection and community.

Recently, Minnery celebrated “a truly golden moment in her career” while directing and leading her local line dance troupe, Team STOMPtastic, to victory at the inaugural World Dance Showdown in Indianapolis, Indiana, earning a World Grand Championship.

We caught up with Minnery to learn more about how her Laurier experience helped her fully own her creative journey and achieve this remarkable milestone.

What first sparked your love of line dancing, and what’s kept you committed for more than 30 years?

I’ve been teaching line dancing since 1994, having been part of the original breakout of line dancing when it surged in popularity in the early 1990s. But my connection to it began at a very personal turning point.

In 1992, my brother passed away, I gave birth to my son and I separated from my husband — all in the same year. Line dancing entered my life when I needed it most. It offered joy, structure, healing and community, and I fell in love with it immediately.

That passion eventually led me into performance, choreography and directing, including creating and leading The Graceliners, an all-Elvis line dance group, and later directing the Brantford Elvis Festival. What has kept me committed for over three decades is the same thing that drew me in at the start: dance brings people together, across generations, backgrounds and life experiences.

What did leading Team STOMPtastic to World Grand Champion status mean to you?

I’ve been fortunate to receive many awards over the years for community service, education and festival direction – recognitions that reflect impact and longevity. However, winning World Grand Champion at the World Dance Showdown, along with being selected for two Synergy Awards for my individual choreography, was something entirely different.

It felt, quite honestly, like winning an Oscar.

At 59 years old, standing on a world stage and being recognized specifically for my dance ability, my choreography and our team’s artistry, after decades of work, was a deeply affirming, full-circle moment. To be acknowledged among the giants of the industry was something I had waited a very long time for.

For Team STOMPtastic, the recognition celebrated far more than medals. Our routines were honoured for their showmanship, musical storytelling and synergy, as a multi-generational team moving as one. That shared moment of recognition – for who we are and how we dance together – was truly the icing on a delicious cake.

As a proud Laurier alumna, how did your Laurier experience support your creative journey?

Laurier gave me the academic language and framework to articulate what I had been doing instinctively for years: using music and movement as tools for leadership, healing and connection.

Studying Community Music helped me refine my approach as an educator and choreographer, grounding my creative work in intention, inclusion and community impact. Returning to university later in life was an act of courage, and Laurier met that courage with respect and challenge. The experience strengthened my confidence as a leader and affirmed that creativity and learning are lifelong pursuits.

Laurier didn’t just complement my journey, it helped me fully own it.