The Rugcutters

The story of The Rugcutters began in 1995, when several teenagers in Auburn, California, approached Debbie Goodwin wanting to learn swing dancing. Debbie began teaching them, drawing on her own early experience with swing dancing and her studies of the dance and its history.

What began with a small group of young dancers grew into a thriving youth swing program at Music & More Arts Academy in downtown Auburn. Dancers ages 13–19 studied Lindy Hop, jazz, choreography, and the social and cultural traditions of American Swing. Classes expanded to beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels, with the more experienced dancers developing into The Rugcutters, a performance team.

The program became much more than dance instruction. The young dancers performed at community events and schools, participated in lecture-demonstrations, and performed with Don Treco’s “In the Mood” Living History Big Band. They appeared at halftime with the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena, and performed throughout the Auburn and Sacramento communities.

The Rugcutters made their first performance appearance at the Towe Auto Museum, where Debbie choreographed swing routines for the young dancers. This marked the beginning of a performance history that would take the group to stages, schools, community events, and swing festivals throughout the region.

The Rugcutters were featured guests at SWING! at California State University, Sacramento, performing as part of the university's dance concert. The experience gave the young dancers an opportunity to share their work in a university setting while Debbie was completing her own dance education at Sacramento State.

Following their Sacramento State experience, the Rugcutters traveled to Catalina Island to attend Swing Camp Catalina, participating in workshops that immersed them in the dance and culture of the swing era.

One of the most meaningful experiences was meeting Frankie Manning, the legendary Lindy Hop dancer who was a major role model for Debbie and an inspiration to the dancers. The Rugcutters were able to take classes from Frankie, meet him personally, and then perform one of their choreographies for the entire festival that evening in the historic Catalina Casino Ballroom.

For these young dancers, learning from a legend and then sharing their own work with the swing community was an extraordinary experience.

The Rugcutters continued to perform at community events, schools, and special programs. They hosted a monthly all-ages Friday Night Swingout at the historic Auburn Masonic Temple, creating a place where young people and adults could come together to dance.

By 2000, the program had developed a strong emphasis on leadership and mentorship. The young dancers participated in producing their own performances and dances, created choreography, mentored younger students, and developed organizational and teaching skills.

That year, the group won first prize at the Auburn Fairgrounds Talent Show.

Debbie also expanded the creative opportunities surrounding the program. In addition to choreographing for The Rugcutters, she created choreography for The Swinging Sweethearts, a teen vocal group performing songs from the swing era.

The growth of this work ultimately led to the creation of Social Dance Cultures in 2000, expanding Debbie's vision beyond the Rugcutters to support the study and advancement of social dance, its history, culture, and related arts.

What began with a handful of teenagers wanting to learn swing became a vibrant community of young dancers, performers, teachers, and leaders—and the beginning of Social Dance Cultures.