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Married in 1988, John & Karen have been teaching for over 30 years (recently received our Maestro award in 2017!), and currently have 4 clubs, teaching all phase levels. They cue for over 10 square dance clubs across the Colorado area. They also run year-round series of classes (rotating every 3-4 months), bringing in some people with no dance experience and raising them up to the IV/V dance level. They received their 25 year award from Roundalab June 2012.
They are very active in Roundalab (current & past Board Members and Past Chairman), and are members of DRDC, Denver Callers & Cuers, CRDA (currently serving on the board of Directors of CRDA). They are currently mini-lab clinicians and enjoy teaching cuers of all experiences. They sponsor local Polar Express weekends, relative to their "Dancing Penguins" clubs. They have taught at Festivals and have enjoyed doing out-of-state weekends. They believe in using FUN as a tool to make learning easier while emphasizing body mechanics in all Phases. Their choreography includes:
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I Love Him | Rumba | VI |
My Love is Unbreakable | Hesitation Canter Waltz | V+ |
She's Got You | Slo 2 Stp | IV |
Tonight We Dance | Merengue | V |
Fallin' | Hesitation Canter Waltz | IV+ |
Love is Like a Butterfly | 2 Step | II |
Let's Mambo | Mambo | IV+ |
Harry in Winter | Bolero | V |
Me Gusta Merengue | Merengue | III+ |
I Like You | Cha | IV |
Starry, Starry Night | Rumba | IV |
In the Arms of Love | Foxtrot | V |
They take great pleasure teaching non-dancers how to dance in a very short time. Their beginning lessons continue to be both of their favorites. Watching new dancers learn is amazing!
While John is the main teacher, Karen also uses her own microphone in order to help the Ladies with their steps, and to keep us all from getting too serious.
Karen is retired from teaching after 35+ years, spending most of her years with her favorite age to teach, the Kindergarteners. She not only taught children how to read, but also how to care about others. These children have became life long friends. Karen served on many district committees, usually as their chairperson. She was certified as a National Board Certified. There are less than 5000 certified teachers in the whole United States, grades Pre-K to 12th. She now is substituting in the lower grades and enjoying the best part of teaching, the kids!
John retired from being a developer of software in scientific, commercial, and military arenas after 40+ years. On the side he has developed two software programs - one to make the choreographer's job easier, and the other to manage all the programing of weekends and/or conventions.
John & Karen are also very busy in many
other activities with 5 children, 2 daughter-in-laws, 11 grandchildren,
ranging in age from 23 years to 6 years, and enjoying sports and watching the
Denver Broncos. They are both enjoying their retirement and the extra time they
have. They wonder when they had time to work!