Debbie Ellerton has been a resident of Rapid City since 1973. She is as full-time employee of the Rapid City Parks Division. She is the Past President of the Noon-Time Thunder Toastmasters, 2005 Leadership Rapid City Graduate, President of the Black Hills Dance Festival, member of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Network, Dakota Territory Dance Club and is NTA certified. In addition to her passion for dance she loves to travel, garden and ride motorcycles. She is learning to golf and has aspirations to skydive, and learn to downhill ski.

Debbie was hooked on dancing at her first dance class, which was in 1992. She started teaching line dancing in 1993 for the Community Education program. There were 90 people in her first class. From there she was off and dancing!!! Debbie started teaching through Rapid City Recreation Division in 1994. She has taught numerous classes at the Hart Ranch, Dance Depot, Boot Hill, Phatty McGees, the high schools, colleges, local churches and numerous parties and social events including Ski for Light and a social event for Senator Daschle. She has expanded into teaching Jitterbug, Two-Step, Cha-Cha, Waltz, Night Club Two-Step, Salsa, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing and Rumba. Her dance assistants are Craig Steinley and Gorden Sabo.

She organized the Heartland Line Dancers performance team in 1993. They performed in the local area for ten years.

Debbie also organized the Hot Shots performance team in 1997. This is a group of 24 students ages 9 through 18 from various schools in Rapid City. They continue to entertain at numerous activities throughout the region.

Debbie has volunteered numerous hours at the local Senior Citizens Centers as an instructor for their line dance programs. She has also coached and choreographed performance routines for the Black Hills Steppers. The Black Hills Steppers are a local Senior Team who perform annually for the local Senior Games awards banquet and numerous other locations. Line Dancing is officially a part of the National Senior Games and with Debbie’s leadership is now recognized as an event at the local Senior Games in Rapid City.

She continues to update her teaching abilities by attending numerous dance events, which include Casper, WY; Sioux Falls, SD; Colorado Springs, CO; London, Ontario, Canada; Virginia Beach, VI; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Monterey, CA; St. Paul, MN; New York, NY; Fort Wayne, IN, Laughlin, NV and Las Vegas, NV.

She currently is teaching line dancing and couples classes at the Viking Hall at the Canyon Lake Senior Center and Meadowbrook School. She will continue to pursue After School Programs for the youth of Rapid City.

Debbie with her assistant instructors, Gorden Sabo and Craig Steinley

Debbie’s goal is to promote dancing for fun and exercise for all ages. Her motto is “Keep on Dancing – It’s Good for the Heart”. She also wants to thank the Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Center for the use of their facility for the Hot Shots since 1997 and for all the support from the members who stop by to watch.

Learn the Steps – Do the Dance!!!!!