Joan Hamel
Joan & Malaika
Joan Hamel became involved in Freestyle with her Doberman Pinscher, Kyoshi, in 2000. Looking for a different canine activity besides AKC Obedience, Joan joined Donna Duford's classes at Tails U Win in Manchester, Connecticut. Freestyle was great for Kyoshi who picked up the different moves very quickly. Since Kyoshi did not do well riding in the car, traveling to demos was extremely limited, so she performed locally.
After losing Kyoshi, Joan and her husband, Rich, began to travel. On returning from a tented safari in Tanzania, Joan knew she would start looking for a puppy immediately and call her Malaika, which is Swahili for angel. Her first routine would be to "Circle of Life" to honor the tribes and wildlife of Africa. Joan got Malaika in 2007 and they've been dancing ever since. Joan and Malaika have done demos at various pet expos, fundraisers, rescue events, senior centers and nursing homes in the northeast. In June 2011 they earned their Beginners Freestyle title.
Joan has been teaching dog obedience at Wallingford Park & Recreation Dept. in Wallingford, Connecticut for 25 years. She works part time at The Crate Escape, a daycare, boarding and grooming facility also located in Wallingford. She earned her Usui Reiki Master degree in 2000, became certified in Reflexology in 2002 through Omega Institute of Holistic Studies, and completed the Animal Healing Program through the Touching Spirit Center in 1999. Joan also does pet Reiki and animal energy healing.
Joan is a member of the World Canine Freestyle Organization, the Top Hat and Tails Canine Dance Troupe, and The Unleashed Dance Company. Malaika has a great sense of humor and loves her dancing routines, although sometimes she makes up new steps as she goes along!
Click here for more photos of Joan and her dogs.
Contact Joan at Jlch72appl@aol.com
This page was last modified on July 10, 2011