I started dancing in the Delaware Valley in 1983 while a student at the University of Delaware. I took my Preliminary exam and began teaching in 1987, married Line Farr (met in the certificate class) in 1988, and received my Full in 1993. In 1989 Line and I started a Scottish class at Swarthmore College, which I still teach weekly. I have also taught various other basic, intermediate, and advanced classes in the Delaware Valley where we live.
My dancing philosophy is that the main point of dancing is enjoyment (typically, fun). Of course, enjoyment varies by perspective: one person's enjoyment of executing a leap in bar four of six hands round might be seen as impeding the enjoyment of five who wish to enjoy sublime synchrony. Therefore dancers must agree on general guidelines for the form of the dance to enable enjoyment for all. I endeavor to dance and teach within the guidelines provided by the RSCDS.
My philosophy of teaching dance is that teaching technique (including teamwork, phrasing, handing, carriage, sociability, and footwork) is the way to ensure dancers' maximum enjoyment of the dance. Different dancers have different capabilities, but all of us can reach to become better dancers. Improvement leads inevitably to increased enjoyment on the dance floor.
Furthermore, it is my goal to present all these aspects of technique in ways that are fun, exciting, and challenging for as many people and in as many ways as possible.
Some gigs:Pinewoods 1999, 2002, and 2008
