Katherine Koehler

Katherine:  I have been dancing since 2004.  I am finishing up my Youth Development degree at RVC and will be pursuing my BA degree.  I love having fun and laughing.

Blake Duemer

I started dancing at Forest City in 2004 and have had lots of fun learning and now teaching.  I’m 25 years old and attending Rock Valley College for Physical Therapy.

Tina Cuppini

My name is Tina Cuppini and I am a volunteer instructor at Forest City Swing. I have been dancing for approximately 3 1/2 years with many more years to come! My favorite dance in lindy hop and I love to travel to dance. I have an eclectic taste in dance music and I really enjoy dancing to non-traditional pop or hip-hop music.

Currently, I am employed at Starbucks as a barrista and at Opportunity House where I work with adults with cognitive disabilities. This fall, I will be student teaching in the Rockford area and I will be graduating from NIU in December with a degree in Special Education.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter.” - Dr. Seuss

Paul Andrews

I have been swing dancing since 2000. I work for Rock Valley College grant programs: Dislocated Worker Program which helps people to go back to school if they have lost their jobs. I am one of the original members of Forest City Swing. If you have any questions, email me through the website and I will get back to you. Recently my wife and I had our baby, Evan Nicholas Andrews in May 2008. You’ll often see me running around at swing dancing or at any of our other events making sure things run smoothly.

Kimberly Andrews

I have been swing dancing since 2000. Recently I had my first child, Evan Nicholas Andrews on May 2008. I work at the Health Department as a WIC Nutritionist. My husband and I have adopted two cats, Marvin and George who are a handful. At swing dancing I help out with whatever needs to get done.

Courtney Samuelson

Brief 1-2 paragraph bio, including perhaps vocation, interests, length of time swing dancing, volunteer role(s) with Forest City Swing, etc. More to be added here. More to be added here. More to be added here. More to be added here. More to be added here.

Chris Samuelson

Brief 1-2 paragraph bio, including perhaps vocation, interests, length of time swing dancing, volunteer role(s) with Forest City Swing, etc. More to be added here. More to be added here. More to be added here. More to be added here. More to be added here.

Justin Backens

I have been Swing dancing since 1996. Currently I am working at Thermo Fisher Scientific as IT Help Desk. Some of my favorite songs are: Not Ashamed by the Newsboys and How Lucky can one guy be by Indigo Swing. I have a baby girl, Seara who was born June 2007. I enjoy contributing to the community a positive avenue of fun and exercise through swing dancing.