Combined, Robin Smith and Darlene Long-Cree have over 40 years
of teaching experience. Both have extensive backgrounds in the
Country Western competition arena and collectively they hold numerous
overall and Grand Championship titles.
Darlene’s experience includes extensive training in the
Ballroom and Latin styles of Dance as well as the rare honor of
receiving the 1994 Feather Award for Top Female Country and Western
Dance teacher.
Robin’s experience includes many years in the field of
Martial Arts as well working as professional musician. Both Robin
and Darlene are Certified Instructor Examiners under Michael Kiehm’s
IPDIA (Independent Professional Dance Instructors Association).
Presently one of a very few certified West Coast Swing Instructors
under any program on the U.S East Coast.
In February of 2000 Robin and Darlene teamed up and have been
concentrating almost exclusively on West Coast Swing. Since then,
they have been coached by the top West Coast Swing professionals
in the nation and have been competing on the NASDE Swing circuit
in the Advanced/Pro Strictly Swing, Just Dance, Classic and Sophisticated
Swing Divisions. They have consistently placed in the top five
including 1st Place in Washington DC’s Swing Fling and Eastern’s
Dance Challenge, Michigan Classic, Nashville Classic in Nashville,
Tn, and numerous other top 3 placements including a 3rd place
at the US Open Swing Dance Championship in 2003 in San Jose, California.
Because of their background in other dance styles and extensive
experience teaching others, this dynamic duo have almost seen
it all and possess a unique understanding of West Coast Swing.
They take great pride in their teamwork and ability to successfully
get the message across and to improve the overall level of West
Coast Swing wherever they go.
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