Margo Matthews

My early dance training included ballet in elementary school years, ballroom in middle school years, and modern dance in high school. After moving to Fairbanks, I attended jazz dance aerobics for many years with dance instructor Betty Gavin-Singer, became active in contradancing, and dabbled in polka and folk dancing. When assigned to a temporary duty station in Colorado in 1996, I discovered the great Country-Western dance halls there and learned many social dances, including West Coast Swing. Upon returning to Fairbanks, I discovered Greg and Susie Zimmerman’s Four Count Swing class and the Ballroom Dance Club of Fairbanks. My husband and I took nearly every class available, many from Jerry Blemke, Percell St. Thomass and other visiting instructors, fueling my passion for dance. In my desire to promote dance in Fairbanks, I became President of the Ballroom Dance Club, and then Treasurer of the UAF Good Time Swing Dance Club (a post I still hold). After Greg and Susie Zimmerman retired from teaching, I decided to learn how to teach their Four Count Swing class, my favorite dance, to ensure that this dance continues in Fairbanks. I am thrilled to be teaching now for the Ballroom Dance Club of Fairbanks.