 Rowdy DuFrene
Ballroom – Latin – Swing – Country Western
Full Time Instructor
I was born and raised in a small town called Lockport, Louisiana and lived there until I graduated from high school. Like many dancers, I actually got my start by accident. Other than teaching high school color guard and drill teams after college, the only real exposure I had to the dance world came through my friendship with the LSU Golden Girls Dance Team. I learned a LOT about teaching and choreography from them! After taking line and couples dance lessons for about a year, I was asked to take the dance instructor position at a new club; and with some encouragement from my friends, I started a whole new life in dance! After starting to compete professionally, I traveled a lot to teach classes – I’ve lived in Florida, Mississippi; and New Orleans (although there was WAY too much trouble for me to get into there!). I ended up in Texas in 1997, and finally move to Austin in 2001. I love the camaraderie and friendships that dancing forges with others, and it’s great to see how happy it makes others when you help them achieve their goals.
I have been teaching dance for 17 years now, and in that time have won two UCWDC World Championships, six ACDA Superstars National Championships, and two Swing Dance Championships; most recently with Mylie Alrich in the Classic Open Professional Division at the America’s Classic Championships. While my primary focus is in Country Western dance, I enjoy teaching Ballroom, Latin and Swing as well. In those rare moments when I’m not dancing, my favorite hobby is traveling. I know it may not really count as a hobby, but I love it – and dancing has taken me everywhere! I actually just got back from my 12th cruise, and am looking forward to much more travel in the upcoming year. So you could say that through all walks of life, dance remains my passion – I’m not someone who’d be happy at a desk all day, I’m just too wired for that. For more information on me, as well as dance photos of my students and I, you can soon visit my website at www.rowdydance.com.
   
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