To begin with, about the Dance Specialist and compiler in charge of this Dance Book, Tom Nelson wishes to thank his teachers and helpers. He wishes to thank his many teachers, both for private and for group Coupledance lessons he has had through the years. These include: Phil Adams, Neale Allen, Lee Atkinson, Art Balloy, Skippy Blair, George and Sharri Blume, Ron and Lois Cassard, Felix Chavez, Opal and Joe Cohen, Dean and Mary Collins, Steve and Elizabeth Cullip, Lisa Fay, Alice Ferris, Ray Fox, Ed and Diane Gaines, Hi and Cookie Gibson, Silky Griffith and Betty, Laure Haile, Ray and Kitty Harrison, Frank Hermann, Finn and Berthe Hoffler, Tom Hyatt, Jonathan and Sylvia, Michael and Mari Kiehm, Lori Llamas, John March, Mickey and Clara Marshall, Bill Martin, Roger and Shirley McAndrews, Margaret Michael, John Michaelson, Fred and Keiko Migliorini, Carol Montez, John Morton, Sherry Novak, Eddie and Audrey Palmquist, Dan Rand and Kendy, Ricky and Kay Sexton, Ken and Shiela Sloan, Sonny Watson, Jill Weston, Ron and Nancy Yanke, Glenn and Lezlie Yata, and numerous others.
Tom says, "About me? I'm a 'Dance Specialist'. My trade is Coupledancing." The Author, with more than fifty years of constant, multiple and diverse kinds of Coupledancing under his belt, is a learned authority about the contents of this Handbook. He is uniquely qualified with more than 20 years of teaching Coupledancing, mostly in his own 'CoupleDanceWorld' studio. Much herein was learned through his own practice and discipline.
At the age of five, in 1930, Tom was formally taught Coupledance routines with his sister in a dance school run by his aunt. By the age of 14, Tom was already proficient and experienced on the dancefloor at many dances. He had been formally taught more than just the fundamentals of the Shag, Twostep, Foxtrot, Rumba and the Waltz.
He was an accomplished Coupledancer when he went in the service at 17 for World War II. He was fortunate to dance to many of the "big bands". Tom swore to himself "to become the best dancer in the world." A Cadet then Pilot in the Army Air Force, he Coupledanced at every chance, at USO's, hotels, dance halls, even in a Navy-only wharf dive and at the Hollywood Paladium. He loved to dance the Lindy. He was sometimes able to accurately guess from where in the U.S. a lady was from, by her style of dancing. Tom could perceive different dance trends in various parts of the country, especially in how different Swings were danced. On occupation duty, Tom danced much with Tokyo ladies, Seoul ladies and with Manila ladies.
Back in college in 1947, Tom picked up the Balboa and the Samba. Later, Tom learned the Mambo, ChaCha, the Twist, the Pony, Watusi, Mashed Potato, and many other dances. By 1970, Tom had become the proverbial "Studio-Hopper," with formal lessons in West-Coast-Swing, different Hustles, International and Latin, and in most all Coupledances. Addicted, Tom also went Coupledancing, as a sample, 175 times in 1975, dancing at 17 different places. Tom has logged thousands of hours on the dancefloor. Tom began teaching Coupledancing in 1977, and began Roundancing in 1980, which he has continued with a relish to date.
