Maxime Deslauriers, Dancer: The Swiss Army Knife of Centre Multisports
One of the only classes Maxime Deslauriers hasn’t taught at Centre Multisports is yoga. Everything else? He’s certified or experienced enough to step in when needed. Like a Swiss Army knife, Maxime always has the right tool at the right time.
And yet, his path could have looked entirely different. A passionate dancer since the age of 7 and a natural academic achiever, Maxime once stood at a crossroads: pursue a PhD or teach dance.
Dancing with His Own
Maxime’s first dance classes weren’t unfamiliar territory. His twin brother and cousin danced alongside their respective partners, and Maxime followed.
He tried soccer, gymnastics, and karate—but dance was the one constant. Motivated by podium finishes, the young Île-Perrot native kept improving, regardless of what others might think:
“At school, there’s always someone trying to mock you when you do something different,” he says. “But I had a strong personality. I knew how to respond. I was in the International Baccalaureate program, played Dungeons & Dragons—I was kind of a nerd. I didn’t need to be popular. I just did what I loved.”
While mastering multiple dance styles, he was also excelling academically, especially when university came around.
The Need for Human Connection
After completing high school and college with flying colors, Maxime graduated from Université de Montréal with a bachelor's degree in criminology—so successfully, in fact, that he was awarded a scholarship for graduate studies.
He became a research officer at the International Centre for Comparative Criminology and excelled during his internship with the SQ’s criminal investigation advisory team. But when the time came to pursue a PhD, he hit pause.
“I didn’t like it. I was alone, sitting in an office doing research. I liked working with students. I loved teaching, helping others. I realized I need people around me—I need movement.”
So he let go of the academic path and turned fully to dance. What began as a passion soon became a career.
18 Zumba Classes a Week!
Before Centre Multisports even opened, Maxime was already teaching Zumba—and doing it full-throttle.
At the peak of the Zumba craze, he taught 18 classes a week.
“I had to cut back—it was too physical, too demanding,” he admits.
Today, he teaches just one Zumba class, but leads numerous dance and fitness sessions across various locations—municipal centers, senior residences, private studios—and, of course, at Centre Multisports. His schedule is tight, and he interacts with 400 to 500 people each week.
With expertise in 22 dance styles, he holds a unique and valued place among participants.
“I love the interaction. I like working out, but I also love being in front of people, making them laugh, entertaining them—helping them forget their daily routine while still making progress.”
His classes are challenging by design:
“It has to be tough. People should work hard, but the time should fly by. They should leave feeling stronger—and like they had fun.”
Always Evolving, Always Teaching
Maxime prepares fresh material for every class and continues to hone his skills. Whether it’s cha-cha-cha, rumba, paso doble, tango, quickstep, Viennese waltz—you name it—he always encourages students to compare themselves to who they were yesterday, not to others on the floor.
“You’re never 100% ready to teach,” he says. “You don’t have all the answers. You learn the answers by teaching. It’s a cycle—a wheel that keeps turning.”
Maxime Deslauriers has built a life fueled by the joy of movement and a deep desire to pass that joy on to others. From competitive dancer to academic scholar, from entertainer to fitness coach—he remains, more than ever, a master of adaptation and inspiration.