You Can Now Take Dance Classes Alongside Alpacas
Yep, you read that right.
Alpaca dance classes are a thing
, thanks to 313 Farms in Manitoba, Canada. Students can take classes like “Barn Barre,” “Mommy, The Alpacas, & Me” and “Poppin’ Pacas” while the animals roam—and you’re welcome to stop and pet them mid-class.
“Having worked in a dance studio, I had quite a few students visit the alpacas and they loved being around them,” says owner Ann Patman. “Most studios have no windows and even though the class might be great, you don’t get any fresh air or see what’s going on outside.”
Obviously, the students love having the alpacas around. But what about the alpacas? “They are very curious animals,” says Patman. “So they love meeting people and having a change of routine.”
Each class ends with a 15-minute meet-and-greet session, where students can feed the alpacas and take selfies with them. “Everyone thinks it’s hilarious when they take a cup of food to feed them and all nine try to stick their noses in at the same time,” says Patman. “The adults are fascinated by the fact that the alpacas all poop in one pile so they don’t have to watch where they step. Lots of them want to trade in their dogs for alpacas!”
Classes have been so popular (duh!) that the farm has extended its schedule through the fall.
As Patman puts it: “You may be working up a sweat, but if you look up and see a cute alpaca it makes everything better.”