Married in 1988, John & Karen have been teaching for over 20 years, and currently have 4 clubs, teaching all phase levels. They cue for over 10 square dance clubs across the Colorado area. They also run four year-round series of classes (rotating every 3 months), bringing in some people with no dance experience and raising them up to the IV/V dance level.

They are very active in Roundalab (currently on Board of Directors and Chairmen), and are members of DRDC, Denver Callers & Cuers, CRDA (ex-board of Directors of CRDA). 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:

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 34 years, spending most of her years with her favorite age, the Kindergarteners. She not only taught children how to read, but also how to care about others. These children became life long friends. Karen served on many district committees, usually as their chairperson. She is 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 recently 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, 1 son-in-law, 8 grandchildren, ranging in age from 14 years to 4 months, 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!