Wayne & Barbara Blackford

Barbara* & Wayne Blackford

wayneandbarbara@theblackfords.us

Website

Wayne & Barbara started Square Dancing in 1965 and Round Dancing (Choreographed Ballroom Dancing) in 1972. They began teaching in 1974. They are members of the Round Dance Council of Florida, the Dixie Round Dance Council;International Choreographed Ballroom Dance Association; American International Dance Association; and ROUNDALAB where they served several terms on the Board of Directors. In 1997 they became one of the first Round Dance Teachers to become a ROUNDALAB TEACHER/COACH, of which they are very proud. In 1998 they were presented with Roundalab's 2nd highest award, "THE SILVER CIRCLE" and in 2005 Roundalab presented them with their most highest & prestigious aware "THE SILVER HALO".

In January 2010 they were presented with the Dixie Round Dance Council's "MICKEY MOORE AWARD".

In July 2010 they were honored to received the International Choreographed Ballroom Dance Associations "GOLDEN TORCH AWARD"!

Wayne & Barbara are resident Round Dance Leaders (since 1991) for Towerpoint RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona, (Teaching Phase 4 through Phase 6) People come from all over the US & Canada to Towerpoint. It's the dynamic adult RV community famous for warm desert sun and its own brand of positive creative living. Here's 60 acres of modern convenience, immaculate grounds and planned activities "round the clock". The park has 2 swimming pools; 3 tennis courts; shuffleboard & horseshoe courts; indoor & outdoor therapy pools/spa and a driving range for golfers. Of course tops on the list is our Round Dance activity. Towerpoint has two of the most beautiful; air conditioned ballrooms in Mesa. Our Kachina Room has over 3,000 sq.ft of beautiful hardwood floor and our large newly renovated Ballroom has more than 7,000 sq ft of floating hardwood.

When their schedule permits they travel on weekends; they are staff members at many festival/clinics and workshops, i.e. Fontana Accent on Rounds; Star Spangled Banner Festival(Hunt Valley); Roundarama; WASCA; McCloud Dance Country;; The Holiday Round Dance Ball; and many more. They have conducted clinics and workshops at both the ICBDA and ROUNDALAB conventions as well as the annual ICBDA'S Wednesday Seminar and ROUNDALAB Teachers Seminars. They also served as ROUNDALAB'S Standardization Chairman for many years, helping to develop the Phase System of Standards that we now use. Wayne & Barbara are featured clinicians on the original ROUNDALAB VIDEO TAPES, as well at the addendum tapes.

They have recently produced their own series of "INSTRUCTIONAL FIGURE VIDEO TAPES" (which are available DVD format)

They were clinicians at four of the first ROUNDALAB MINI-LAB'S conducted in the United States, as well as the first one conducted in Canada. And continue to be MiniLab clinicians. During the summer months, they travel extensively around the country and Canada conducting clinics; workshops and teachers seminars. Wayne & Barbara conduct many of their own "Hot Pepper" Round Dance Weekends and Clinics as well as running a Round Dance Teachers School annually.

Their primary interest is education of both Dancers and Teachers. They are constantly involved in helping both the dancers and teacher (from beginner to advance) in continuing their education. One of their strongest and most important goals is to help the
training of new dancers and teachers.

Wayne & Barbara are also known for their choreography as well, writing such favorite dances as "I Do I Do I Do"; "Satisfy My Soul"; "Venus"; "Vilja Rumba" "Rimini 4"; "I've got my eyes on you"; "He Was Beautiful"; "Rimini Waltz" ; "Sombras"; "Jenell"s
"Serenade"; "You're the Top Foxtrot"; "Dreamy Bolero"; "Can I Steal a Little Love"; "Same Old Saturday Night"; "He Was Beautiful"; "Rainbow Foxtrot" and many more. The Blackfords believe in continuing education and spend at least three hours weekly taking private ballroom lessons (from Larry Caves and U.S.Champions Jim & Jenell Maranto, Licentiates of the Imperial Society of Dance).