DJ/Teacher
Biographies



Mike & Joyce
  • 1961 Met at San Jose City College and danced whenever possible
  • 2001 The couple began teaching Wednesday Line Dance classes at
    • their church. Mike started teaching at Southside Senior Center
  • 2003 First Official Dancin' Shamrock Outreach Performance. Milke started teaching at Cupertino Senior Center
  • 2006 Began hosting Line dance Saturday night at Hyde Middle School in Cupertino
  • 2008 Began DJ duties for Quicksteppers
  • You might be surpirsed to know: Over a span of 15 years Mike and two friends built softball fields that are still being used today. Mike served 20 years in the US Navy

  • 1994 Met through friends
  • 1995 Started dancing Ballroom and danced for 10 years until dance friends persuaded them to try line dance
  • 2005 Evelyn Khinoo was their first dance teacher
  • 2006 Joined Quicksteppers
  • 2007 Turning point came when dance instructor John Bowen asked Cathy to take over his classes in Redwood City. Later Evelyn would ask Cathy to take over a class of her's
  • 2010 Cathy began teaching the class she was a beginner in only a few years earlier! Things had gone full circle!
  • 2017 Won New Choreography Competition (beginner division) for her dance "The Night Time" at the Vegas Dance Explosion. The prize is a teaching spot for the event in November 2018
  • You might be surprised to know: Cathy is not really fond of Country and Western music. Cathy was a mail carrier in San Mateo/Claudio was a PG&E meter reader working in the same neighborhood years before they met!

Cathy & Claudio


Susan Sparkles Dodge
  • Started dancing tap at 4 years of age and trained in Ballet, Folk, Ballroom and Square Dance
  • 2003 Began line dancing at Cadillac Ranch in Concord and was invited to join the Benicia Clock Tower Class soon after. First teachers "Hutch and Carmel Hutchinson
  • 2008 Joined Country Hustlers
  • 2010 Became instructor for Benicia Clock Tower
  • 2010 Began DJ duties for Country Hustlers and Cactus Corners
  • 2016 Won New Choreography Competition (beginning division) for her dance "Run with the Scissors" at the Vegas Dance Explosion
  • 2017 Joined Quicksteppers and became a regular DJ at Quicksteppers dances
  • 2018 Guest instructor for Boogie 'Til the Cows Come Home. Taught "Cracklin' Rosie"
  • You will be surprised to know: Susan owned and operated a dance studio and costume shop. She also loves performing in community theater productions
  • You won't be surprised to know: Sparkles has a huge costume collection and loves to make costumes 2008 Joined Country Hustlers

  • 1992 Birth of her granddaughter marks the start of her dancing life. First treachers" Nei Hale & Charlotte Skeeters, Alice Marez
  • 2010 Encouraged by Alice to teach her own class. Her class became so large she moved to the "big" room. Took over Ruth Baratta classes
  • 2009 Started going on cruises with Millie Dusha
  • You would be surprised to know: She adapts some dances for "chair dancers"
    • Where you can find her teaching: Hayward Senior Center, Baywood Community Center
  • Is dancing her life? You be the judge: Monday: teaches 2x Monday night: G. Clayton class. Wednesday: Alice class. Friday: teach. Friday night: often dance. Saturday night: almost always. Sunday afternoon: occasionally

Mary Ann Nicolaus


Evelyn & Denny
  • 1990 By chance saw a country dance program on TV and learned s few dances. That is where Evelyn learned Tush Push
  • 1990Took classes from Don and Corrine Wright in Palo Alto and Ventured out to Boots 'n' Buckles dances
  • 1991 Started teaching Don Wrights class in Palo Alto
  • 2005 Married Denny Harris (he knew she was a line dance teacher & DJ but married her anyway!)
  • You might be surprised to know: Evelyn has lived in California her entire life. Denny is from upstate NY (but Evelyn married him anyway!) Evelyn was a Human Resource Director in her real life for 45 years. Denny is a US Marine serving from 1961-1970
  • Eveybody knows: Evelyn choreographed one of QS's favorite dances: Silk and Satin. Evelyn has taught internationally and choreographed 33 popular dances. Denny has choreographed a couple as well

  • 1993 Learned Slappin' leather at Billy Bob's Ft. Worth TX
  • 1995 Intermediate dancer at Neil & Charlotte's Swiss Park Lessons
  • 1996 Self Taught in .html & graphics software to publish/share copyrighted files at LineDanceFun.com
  • 1997 "Internet Lady" to those reading published lesson, social & event experiences; archived links found on Google search
  • 2003-2007 Hosted socials & taught at Saratoga Senior Center
  • At Present Teaching & hosting 2nd Saturday Social dances at Westhope Church, Saratoga
  • You might be surprised to know: After 20 years of plane trips to 3 events a year, she's content to sit at her computer surfing "choreographer dance buzz" on Facebook looking for her next teach.

Doris Voltz


Gary Clayton
  • Late 1980's Started taking line dance lessons from Nora Wilt in Livermore. Started as instructor of Cactus Corners demo team
  • 1990's Took over Nora's classes and started DJ-ing
  • You might not be surprised to know: Gary prefers country music
  • Cowboy Hat: Gary is rarely seen without his hat!
  • Choreography Hat: Gary and his partner Charyle Hartje have written around 24 dances
  • Some of his popular dances: Paralyzed; Heaven's Just A Sin Away; Hey Good Lookin', Just Us; Magic Changes; Stepping Back To Country
  • Interesting to know: Gary loves dogs and his dogs are always amazingly well-behaved. Gary is the original/only DJ for the Boots n Buckles Annual Bay Area Line Dance Connection. It has been going on for 7 years - it would not be the same without him.
  • Gary still teaches in Hayward, Pleasanton and Livermore

  • 1973-1975 Avid folk dancer in free time while raising a family and attending graduate school. Dancing came to a halt when she got a full time job
    • 1975-2000 Had an intense but interesting public sector career which included working for several elected officials and government agencies. Retired from the city and county of San Francisco in 2000
  • 2000-2015 Alas, retirement only lasted 3 months! Accepted a position in her husband's office that was supposed to last 5 years -- how time flies -- 15 years later she retired
  • March 2015 Found her passion at the Berkeley Senior Center. Attended Vegas Dance Explosion and was hooked
  • 2017 Was asked to lead the Berkley dance class and jumped in with both feet -- and the rest is history
Delia Schletter


Jeanette & Bernie
  • 1991 or so Bumped into friends while on a walk who invited them to go to a party night at Mike and Norene Gural's dance class
  • 1993 Started going to Quicksteppers within two weeks of starting classes
  • 2001 Jeanette and Bernie began teaching
  • Present day: Jeanette serves as treasurer on the QS board
  • You might be interested to know: Bernie has a twin brother named Ron (editorial note: scary to think about two Bernies running around)
  • You can find them teaching at: Jeannette - San Bruno Senior Center and Daly City Park & Rec. Bernie - Peninsula Del Rey Senior Home
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