WAYNE & BARBARA BLACKFORD of Jacksonville, Florida
We started Square Dancing in 1965 and Round Dancing in 1972. They began teaching Rounds in 1974. We are members of the Round Dance Council of Florida, the Dixie Round Dance Council; I.C,B,D,A.; A.I.D.T.A; and ROUNDALAB where we served several terms on the Board of Directors. In 1997 we became one of the first Round Dance Teachers to become a ROUNDALAB TEACHER/COACH, of which we are very proud. In 1998 we were presented with Roundalab’s 2nd highest award, “THE SILVER CIRCLE” and in 2005 Roundalab presented us with their most highest & prestigious aware “THE SILVER HALO”. And we are the ONLY recipients of all ROUNDALAB’s four (4) MAJOR AWARDS
In January 2010 we were presented with the Dixie Round Dance Council’s “MICKEY MOORE AWARD In July 2010 we were honored to received the ICBDA’S “GOLDEN TORCH AWARD. We are now the ONLY Round Dance leaders to have received ALL of the major awards presented for outstanding achievements; leadership and contributions to our dance activity.
As full time National Round Dance Teachers, we live in Jacksonville Florida (teaching PH IV through Phase VI). When our schedule permits we travel on weekends; and are staff members at many festival/clinics and workshops, i.e. Fontana Accent on Rounds; Star Spangled Banner Festival(Hunt Valley); Roundarama; WASCA; Pride Dance Resort;The Holiday Round Dance Ball; and many more. We 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. We also served as ROUNDALAB’S Standardization Chairman for many years, helping to develop the Phase System of Standards that we now use. We are the featured clinicians on the original ROUNDALAB VIDEO TAPES, as well at the addendum tapes, and have recently produced our own SERIES of “INSTRUCTIONAL FIGURE VIDEO TAPES” (which are available DVD format)
We 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, we travel extensively around the country and Canada conducting clinics; workshops and teachers seminars. We conduct many of our own “Hot Pepper” Round Dance Weekends and Clinics as well as running a Round Dance Teachers School annually. We also directed a Round Dance Exhibition Team (The Reflections) which appeared at 10 National Conventions
Our primary interest is education of both Dancers and Teachers. We are constantly involved in helping both the dancers and teacher (from beginner to advance) in continuing their education. One of our strongest and most important goals is to help the training of new dancers and teachers.
We are also known for our choreography as well, writing such favorite dances as “I Do I Do I Do”; “Satisfy My Soul”; “Venus”; “Vilja Rumba” “Change of Seasons”; “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”; “Cat Daddy”; “Can I Steal a Little Love”; “Same Old Saturday Night”; “He Was Beautiful”; “O Solo Mio”;“Rainbow Foxtrot” and many more. Believing in continuing education we spend several hours weekly taking private ballroom lessons (from Larry Caves and U.S.Champions Jim & Jenell Maranto, Licentiates of the Imperial Society of Dance).
We are very thankful for all the friends we have made over the years all around the dance world, and the opportunities we have add to give back to this wonderful activity that has given us so much.
When we are not on the road, we enjoy spending time in Jacksonville with our family; daughter Lauri & Son in Law Ken; daughter Kathleen & Son in Law Dale; granddaughter Kristen; grandsons Anthony & Austin; and 10 wonderful great grandchildren.
WAYNE & BARBARA ARE AVAILABLE FOR FESTIVALS, WEEKENDS & PRIVATE LESSONS