Elaine R. Brunken says: I was born along time ago, or so it seems, in Falkirk, Scotland. I trained as a Phys. Ed. teacher, majoring in dance, at DCPE in Edinburgh. I taught PE and Health Education at Belmont Academy, in Ayr for 4 years, prior to my immigration to the USA in 1978. (I told you it was a long time ago). I learned to dance when I was about 4, in my mum's class, in Pumpherston, West Lothian. I learned at a very young age, that if I went dancing, I got to stay up late. A very good practice for the dance weekends to come, when there is never time to sleep! After 20 years of living and teaching in Northern Virginia, I recently moved to Maryland, so now on 'the other side of the Potomac river' I teach and dance with the Washington D.C. branch. I have been co-tutor for the teacher candidate class in the D.C. area, for five examination tours, and have enjoyed teaching many workshops in North America and Canada. In 2005, I had my first trip to Australia, to teach the Winter school in Melbourne, and my first opportunity to teach at the T.A.C. summer school on beautiful Vancouver Island, where I returned in summer 2009. I love the magic moments in dancing, when the phrasing, the music and the movement come together. It doesn't happen often, but when it does......WOW! I strive for good technique, especially from the knees up! (it helps in achieving those magic moments). I like to emphasize ALL aspects of technique, not JUST the footwork. In my other life, I manage the QA and Systems Support department for a Bank in the area. I have two grown children (25 and 22), and 2 cats. A lover of red wine, gin and tonic, old movies, good books and singing, there just isn't enough time to do it all.....but I try.

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