2024 Love List

Andrew Carlson & Riku Nozaki,Madison, 7 years
Andrea & Genia Stevens, Beloit, 15 years
Melanie Jones (she/her) & Christen Lester-Jones (she/her), Madison, 11.5 years
Nick & Reegan Jensen-Shafer, La Crosse, 17 years
Lynn Mayer & Gigi Vail, Madison, 5.5 years

We each have been dancing for more than 25 years, and dancing is how we met. Gigi saw Lynn dancing barefoot at the club, and a couple of years later, Lynn asked Gigi to two-step.

As time went on Lynn wanted to learn ballroom, Gigi had done some ballroom, so they took a local ballroom class. When they entered the classroom, the instructor said, “Hey Gigi, long time no see.” Lynn looked at her thinking, “What else didn’t I know about you?”

We continued to not only dance but teach at the local club. At one point, Lynn responded to a Facebook post about line dancing in the Dells. She wrote to them and asked about being an instructor. When Lynn arrived on the first night, she was surprised to find Gigi there helping without knowing anyone. And that was how the Driftless Dancers group began.

Our dance group has been going strong for three years. Our line dancing group has done many events: Flash mobs at malls and dancing in parades in the Dells, in Baraboo, and at pride events. Our group has attended international line dance conventions with choreography competitions.

As we prepare for our public commitment ceremony, you will find us dancing our favorite line dance—“Party of the Beach,” with our dance group friends and family to celebrate our five-and-a-half years together this summer. The development of our dance formation endeavors has been like icing on the cake and something we do as we foxtrot into our future chapters together. If you don’t find us on the dance floor, find us at the local beach, getting the rays.