About
My training is with the Golden State Dance Teachers Association (GSDTA). I have 36 years of experience teaching partner dances.
In addition to my adult lessons, I also taught group classes of homeschooled teenagers for seven years.
I am most highly regarded for teaching leading and following skills and proper technique. I teach social dance, which basically means no “routines”, all of the moves are led and followed by the partners. In the group classes I used to teach, I danced with the women and the men, so I’m equally proficient in both leading and following. Almost anyone can learn dance steps, but if you don’t learn to lead or follow you will never be able to dance well, or feel the joy of dancing with a partner and moving as one. It’s heaven on a dance floor. ❤️
These are the partner dances I teach:
Country 2-Step
Western Waltz
Schottische
10-Step
Polka
Niteclub two step
Basic slow dancing
Waltz
Foxtrot and “Swingin’ Foxtrot”
East Coast swing
West Coast swing
Swing flips and tricks
Salsa
Bachata
Tango
Samba
Rumba
Whether you have never danced in your life or are an experienced dancer looking for new material or help with technique, a bride & groom or father & daughter preparing for a wedding dance, or someone who's just looking for some exercise or a fun social activity, I offer reasonably priced social dance lessons with no long-term commitments.
For 36 years my heartfelt desire and goal has been to inspire my students to develop a love of dance, to grow in their confidence and skills, and to discover the joy of learning to express themselves through moving to music. I love meeting new people and working with all ages of students.
I taught homeschooled teenagers from 13 to 18 years old, ballroom, swing, and country western dancing for seven years and fell in love with working with them. I’ve stayed in contact with a lot of them through Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and I’m thrilled to see that they are still dancing. I love getting to see the videos they post of them dancing. When I first started with them I was surprised to hear that they were interested in ballroom dancing, until they told me that they have watched all of the old black & white movies of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, etc. and they love those dances. ❤️
While I stated on my profile on this site that I only teach singles and couples, I would love to find a homeschooled group of teenagers to work with again.
Highlights
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Reviews
lOrville I.
Kim A.
Samuel N.
Pattie O.
Pat E.
Chris B.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Find out what, if any, dance experience they have, either with or without a partner. Ask them what type of music they normally listen to and would want to dance to. Begin with teaching them the basic foot positions, how to find the downbeat in the music, and then progress to showing them the basic footwork to the chosen dance. I highly stress technique and leading and following skills over just teaching them patterns.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have trained with the Golden State Dance Teacher's Association since 1985, taking continuing education classes to stay up with the latest information.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I offer private lessons at $50/hour for a couple or a single.
I also offer 4-week courses of group classes for $50/single or $85/couple for the entire 4 weeks.
How did you get started teaching?
I took a class in Country-Western dancing at a local dance hall, and within 2 months the teacher asked me to co-teach with her. After 3 months of doing that, the most popular Country bar in town offered me a job. I taught there for 7 years, three nights a week for two hours a night.
Then I realized I wanted to learn more technique and how to really be a professionally trained teacher, so I signed up with the Golden State Dance Teacher's Association and took their classes in how to teach. I also drove to Los Angeles nearly every weekend for several years to take group and private lessons to learn both the leader's and follower's parts in Ballroom, Swing, Latin and Country-Western dancing. I still take continuing education classes.
What types of students have you worked with?
For 36 years I have mostly worked with adults, from their early 20's to some in their 70's. They are my primary demographic. For the last 6 years I have taught Ballroom, Swing and Latin dancing to home schooled teenagers aged 13-18. I enjoy working with adults, but really also LOVE working with the teens.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Haven't been to many events for awhile, but I will be attending a 3-hour technique class on 9/22/18 from Brandi Guild, one of the best instructor's I've ever taken a class from. Will be driving to Moorpark, CA to take the class, but I'd drive a lot farther to take a class from her!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure the teacher doesn't just dance great and win competitions, but that they are a good teacher. Those are not necessarily the same thing. Look at their reviews, check out their websites, and experience counts, so factor in how many years of continuous experience they have.