Clemons Dance Studio

Well, where do I begin? I started dancing at the age of 12, and have been dancing for 24 years, and teaching ballroom for 17 years. I started off with square dancing, because my mom did it, and it “looked kinda fun”. I then became interested in "Round Dancing." For those who are not familiar with round dancing, it is in a sense, synchronized ballroom dancing. In fact round dancing uses a lot of the ballroom steps, and terminology, but is also like square dancing in the way that square dancing has a “caller” that calls out the next steps….round dancing has a “cuer” that calls out the next steps to be danced.

At the age of 14, I traveled to Chicago for a round dance event, and met Tommy Patterson, who was a ballroom instructor and competitive judge. He told me about the ballroom camps held in Utah at BYU, and suggested I try it out. I did….and was hooked! I was fortunate enough to meet Maury and Joan Udes, who then introduced me to John and Diana Berry of Shawnee Mission, KS. I started taking lessons from the Berry’s when I was around 15-16 years old, and started competing Pro-Am with Diana.

I was very fortunate to have been with the Berry’s, as it opened up an entirely new world of dancing to me. Some of my accomplishments as a competitive dancer were winning “The Texas Challenge”, “Virginia State Championships”, “Heart of America”, “Nevada Star Ball”, and of course winning the United States Championships in Florida at “U.S.B.C.” (United States Ballroom Championships). When I was 18, I was offered a scholarship to BYU to be on their competitive dance team. I unfortunately turned it down, and continued dancing, and learning on my own, as I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best Ballroom and Latin coaches in the world.

In the International Latin category, I have worked with Richard and Els Porter from England (former World Amateur Latin Champions), Bill Sparks (former US Latin Champion), Felix Castillo from Holland (formerly ranked in the top 12 in the world for Latin, 3rd in World in Showdance), Forrest Vance (former US Rhythm Champion), Tony Meredith and Melanie LePatin (former US Latin Champions), Ron Montez and Liz Curtis (former US Latin Champions), the “King of Swing” Buddy Schwimmer (multiple swing championships), Didio Barrera, and Chantal Leclerc.

In the International Standard category (waltz, foxtrot, etc), I have had the great pleasure to work with of course John Berry and Diana Berry (World Championship Representatives for Ireland), but also Eric Donaldson of England (former International Standard Champion at Blackpool), David Sycamore and Denise Weavers of England (former World Ten Dance Champions), Jim and Jennell Maranto (former US Smooth Champions), and Timothy and Michele Mason (former Ohio Star Ball Standard Champions, and ranked in the top 12 in the world).

I have been employed as the Fred Astaire Regional Director, which managed the dance instructors in two states, and was self-employed as an “independent” for 16 years. The couples that I have taught/coached, have done very well in many competitions across the United States.