My first exposure to West Coast Swing was at the Cowboy Boogie in 1992, where I was doing line dancing and country two-step. The Cowboy Boogie had a large main dance floor where many country greats danced and a small upper dance floor where you could watch amazing West Coast Swing dancers, such as Wayne and Sharlot Bott, Mark Scheuffele, Mary Ann Nunez, Carlito Rofoli, Randy Albers, Gary Jobst and more. Watching these dancers, inspired me to learn West Coast Swing. I took my first group lesson with Tom Mattox and Martin Parker in January 1993. I also took privates with Mary Ann Nunez. That same year, 1993, I began dancing and dating Mark Scheuffele. In 1994, Mark and I began working and practicing with Sharlot and Wayne Bott, Annie Hirsch and Jack Carey, and Mary Ann Nunez, on our first Classic routine, choreographed by Kenny Wetzel. We took 5th place at the US Open Swing Dance Championships with this first routine. Mark and I continued to place and win with different routines for the next few years in Classic and Showcase divisions. We also danced in Invitational and Pro level competitions across the US. We social danced regularly at the PressBox to the infamous Kenny Wetzel’s music, dancing with and alongside an amazing cast of champion swing dancers of the 90’s era who frequented the PressBox. Around 1999, I needed to focus more on my career in banking and didn’t compete again for another 10 years. I continued to dance and judge regularly at local dances like Memories, Clubhouse, and Top Cat’s. I started going to events again in 2010. I began dancing and dating Gary Thompson in 2011. In 2012, I started competing again in Master’s Jack and Jill and Strictly Swing, achieving many 1sts place wins and placements.
Continuing Dance Training: (2) Skippy Blair, GSDTA Intensives; Gary Jobst, Judges training. Work with Professionals: MaryAnn Nunez, Sharlot Bott, Mark Scheuffele, Ben Morris.
Routines and Pro Level
- 1994 US OpenSwing Dance Championships Classic Division 5th Place
- 1995 US Open Swing Dance Championships award with Mark for “Most improved dancers”
- 1995 Texas Classic Invitational Strictly Swing 1st Place
- 1995 Boogie by the Bay Classic Division 1st Place
- 1996 Capital Swing Strictly Swing Division 4th Place
- 1996 Boogie & Blues Classic Division 1st Place
- 1996 US Open Showcase Division 3rd Place
Jack Jill’s: Top Pro Placement
- 1995 1st Place Chicago Windy City Classic
- 1996 1st Place Boogie and Blues with Michael Kiem
Masters Strictly:
- 2015 US Open – 1st Place Masters Strictly
- 2016 US Open – 1st Place Masters Strictly
- 2017 US Open – 1st Place Masters Strictly
- 2018 US Open – 1st Place Masters Strictly
- 2019 US Open – 2nd Place Masters Strictly
Many 1st place/placements in Master’s Jack and Jill