Although line dancing looks like so much fun, it can be baffling on your first try. However, after you learn and understand the secrets to the art, line dancing is much less daunting.

A line dance lasts three to five minutes, and you can drop out any time. Among the popular line dances, the Electric Slide is the shortest—lasting two to three minutes—makes a good beginning dance to learn and is the dance that often opens a line dance party, especially as a warmup.

If you are new to line dancing, here are some tips:

The dance starts when the singing starts. Everything before that is the intro.

• Moves usually change after four counts. When you get to four, you'll change direction or make a new move.

• You can make any move plain or fancy, low movement or high. Instead of doing actual stomps, for example, do a tap.

• Notice how many times the dancers turn to face a different direction. These are called walls. A line dance can have up to four walls, but the dance will usually end up facing the same way it started.

Here are some other popular line dances:

Cha-cha slide. You get to make a little cha-cha move and there are some hops, but you can substitute them with tip toes.

Boot scootin' boogie. This one is more difficult because it has a series of hops, including one in which dancers cross their legs. It also has a quick half-beat step.

Cupid shuffle. This modern song has easy steps and kicks, although experienced line dancers usually improvise their steps. Stick with the basics at the beginning.

Cotton-Eyed Joe. If you love that old-fashioned fiddle, this ones for you. It has some turns and toe taps. Dancers usually face one way.

Ethan, stuck in a boring job in a busy city, longed for something more exciting. One day he noticed colorful murals around town and felt a spark of inspiration within him.

Driven by curiosity, Ethan went on a quest to find the mysterious artist behind these captivating artworks.

In the heart of the city, Ethan and Luna proudly stood side by side, their murals serving as testaments to the transformative power of art. Their story spread throughout the streets, encouraging people to embrace their passions and use their creativity to light up the world.

Ethan and Luna revealed the universal truth that art has the extraordinary capacity to awaken hearts, shatter boundaries, and bring positive change to the lives of all who embrace it with passion and perseverance.

Canadian employment remained essentially unchanged at 20.17 million in July. The Canadian unemployment rate rose to 5.5 per cent from 5.4 per cent in June, rising for the third consecutive month. Total hours worked were up 2.1 per cent year over year, while average hourly wages were up 5 per cent from July of last year.

Employment in BC was also little changed in July holding steady at 2.79 million, while employment in Metro Vancouver rose 0.2 per cent to 1.57 million. The unemployment rate fell to 5.4 per cent in BC, down from 5.6 per cent in June, while rising to 6 per cent in Metro Vancouver. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-employment-july-2023-august-4th-2023

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

The BCREA Economics team has created the Housing Monitor Dashboard to help REALTORS® monitor BC’s housing market. This dashboard provides up-to-date data on key variables for public education and use. The image and data are available for download under each chart, where possible.

You can check about "Resale Home Market", "New Listings", "Sales by Region", "Average Price by Region", "House Price Index by Region", "Sales to Active Listings Ratio by Region", "Starts, Under Construction, & Completions", "Months to Complete by Property Type",  "Average New Rental Rates", "Discount Mortgage Rate", "BCREA Nowcast", "Commercial Leading Indicator", "British Columbia In-Flow Migration Map"... from here.

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Link: Housing Monitor Dashboard - British Columbia Real Estate Association (bcrea.bc.ca)

The BCREA Nowcast estimate of provincial economic growth (expressed as year-over-year growth in real GDP) for May is 1.6 per cent. For comparison, year-over-year growth in the Canadian economy in May was 1.9 per cent. The preliminary estimate for June shows a decline in year-over-year growth to just 1.4 per cent, the slowest rate of growth measured since February 2021. 

The BCREA Nowcast now includes regional growth trends grouped into five regions: Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson Okanagan, Kootenay, and the North.

Download the full report (PDF)

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Canadian real GDP rose 0.3 per cent from the prior month in May, following a 0.1 per cent increase in April. Goods-producing sectors of the economy declined 0.3 per cent while services-producing sectors rose 0.5 per cent. Effected by forest fires, Canada's energy sector declined 2.1 per cent in May. Construction activity contracted 0.8 per cent, driven primarily by lower residential building construction. Offices of real estate agents and brokers rose 7.6 per cent, led by higher home reselling activity in Canada's major cities. Canadian real GDP is now roughly 4 per cent above its pre-pandemic, February 2020 level. Preliminary estimates suggest that output in the Canadian economy declined 0.2 percent in June.

The headline GDP figure was solid in May as the ending of the federal worker's strike boosted growth, despite rising interest rates and wildfires dragging on the economy. While growth in May came in at 0.3 per cent, the preliminary estimate of a slowdown in June suggests an easing of growth in the second quarter of 2023, estimated at 1 per cent on an annualized basis. So far in 2023, the Canadian economy has managed to avoid a significant slowdown or recession, but a further slowing of GDP and labour markets is widely expected in the second half of the year. The softening in GDP and inflation in recent months may provide support for a slowing or pause in rate hikes going forward, but the Bank will be watching closely to ensure inflation continues easing into the fall. 

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-real-gdp-growth-may-2023

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

It's not just teenagers with purple hair and nose piercings who are dominating social media as influencers these days; dogs have joined the ranks as well!

Gone are the days of TV shows like Lassie. Now, we have Instagram pages with more viewers than some network television shows. Even tiny Pomeranians with bear-like appearances have become huge stars. Jiffpom, with his adorable face and cute outfits, has amassed an impressive following of 10 million people. Boo, the beloved Pom, was once the most famous, boasting 15 million Facebook fans.

Although Boo has passed away, his images continue to define cuteness for the world.

Talking dogs have also captured the attention of millions. Mishka, the talking husky, became a sensation with her ability to say "I love you." Despite her passing in 2017, her videos still receive significant views on YouTube. Lifestyle dogs have their own dedicated following as well. Take Maddie, the camping dog who canoes and swims, who has 1.3 million Instagram followers.

Even dogs with unusual appearances can make a splash on social media. Tuna, with his serious overbite, has gained a massive following of 2.1 million on Instagram and provides travel tips for fellow dog owners. But don't be fooled, there's big money involved too. Popular dog posts can generate anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 per post, highlighting the lucrative nature of this industry. WOOF!

National Friendship Day, August 6. Make a new friend or reconnect with an old one!

Civic Holiday, August 7. Civic Holiday is a public holiday in Canada celebrated on the first Monday in August. Though the first Monday of August is celebrated in most of Canada as a public holiday, it is only officially known as "Civic Holiday" in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, where it is a territorial statutory holiday.

National S'mores Day, August 10. This delicious holiday celebrates a classic summer treat - s'mores.

International Youth Day, August 12. This global observance highlights the importance of young people and their contributions to society.

National Nonprofit Day, August 17. This day recognizes nonprofit organizations’ ongoing efforts to serve the local community.

Slinky Day, August 30. A day set aside to honor a Toy Hall of Fame superstar that captured the imagination of children all around the world.