Redwood Empire Swing Dance Club

Dick and I have been dancing together for 9 years and have been teaching for seven years. We both have been dancing over 20 years different forms of dance. Along with west coast swing and night club two step, we both have taken ballroom, east coast swing, and Latin dances.

We are currently teaching at the Flamingo Hotel, the Sebastopol Community Center and at the Windsor Dance Academy. We also teach for our dance club, Steve Luther, a DJ that promotes west coast swing and Freddie Marsh-Lott, a ballroom dance promoter. We also have our own studio, where we give classes, workshops and private lessons.

We are active in our West Coast Swing community. I have been on the board and judge Jack and Jill’s at our club dances. We have performed on several dance teams, including performing at the U. S. Open.

Both Dick and I have competed at conventions, but both chose to put our energies toward teaching rather than competing. We have and continue to take private lessons from the top competitors and bring that information to our students. Along with this, I have taken intensive dance teacher training and judging from Skippy Blair.

In our careers, we both work with the public. I am a school teacher, which I believe has helped me be a better dance teacher. Dick is in public relations and enjoys working with adults.

In my profession career I have had the opportunity to incorporate dance. I created a dance curriculum/video for social studies for kindergarteners through 6 th grade for our entire school district. I have taught students and teachers baile folklorico, jazz and line dances, as well as prepared these students for performances for the community. Dick has helped with many of the performances.

Dick and I enjoy teaching students to dance. One of my greatest joys and discoveries was teaching adults to dance and watching them learn. I believe my skills as a teacher and both of our social skills has contributed to our success as dance teachers.