Our Instructors
WEST COAST SWING INSTRUCTOR:
Kim Beachy started dancing when she was 7 years old doing ballet and jazz. She began competing country western in 1994 and West Coast Swing in 1999. She competed in Country Western Pro/Am divisions for several years and is the 2002 Pro/Am Advanced World Champion. In 2002, Kim partnered up with Tim Auclair, where they travelled to events doing workshops, performances and competing in West Coast Swing. Together they won the 2003 Nashville Classic and the Heart of America Swing Dance Championships in St. Louis. In 2003, Kim switched her focus to instructing, and was the first person to bring West Coast Swing Classes to Springfield, Illinois. She assisted and helped teach with Mario Robau Jr., aka “The Swing Daddy” for over 10 years in workshops and demos, and much of her teaching style has been derived from his talent and expertise. Kim is known for making her classes fun and welcoming, while also teaching the basics and foundations of West Coast Swing. Kim’s students vary from those who just want to have fun, to those who want to compete, and she even has some previous students who now teach West Coast Swing. Kim has a special love for teaching basics, she loves seeing students who come in with “two left feet” being able to dance by the end of the sessions. Kim teaches group classes throughout the year, and has limited availability for private lessons, or private events.
BALLROOM DANCE INSTRUCTOR
Elizabeth Cheney is a Springfield, Il native that has been dancing since the age of 3 and teaching ballroom dancing since the early 2000s. She received her professional ballroom training in Nashville, Tn where she was an instructor, professional competitor, and pro-am competitor at a renowned ballroom studio. She moved back to Springfield, Il in 2002, and has been teaching social dancing off and on since then. In 2022 she decided to work to create a Social Dance Club in Springfield, Il to create a space and community for other people who enjoy social dancing. She teaches American Smooth (Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Tango) and Rhythm dances (Cha-cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo), along with Night Club Two Step, Salsa, and Hustle. She often works with couples getting married, wedding party dances, and line dances as well. Elizabeth teaches group classes throughout the year, but also has a limited availability for private lessons, or private events. When she is not teaching ballroom dance she is either working as a Nurse Practitioner for Springfield Clinic, or as the Artistic Director for the Springfield Youth Performance Group, or choreographing for various local community theater projects.
