About
Bob & Brenda Barbabella

Bob & Brenda started Line Dancing in Simi Valley, CA about 26 years ago in 1995.  After about six months or more they met Joe & Pat Unsworth at a country dance bar in Simi Valley called Splash.  Joe & Pat just moved from the Providence area in Rhode Island where they have been dancing at the Mishnock Barn for a few years.  There they learned quite a number of couples dances.

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We were very impressed with many of the couples dances that Joe & Pat did and their styling as well as their matching outfits.  Joe & Pat were very willing to teach us couples dances.  That led to the formation of the California Country Cruisers.  The Cruisers grew quickly to 14 couples.  We all got along great and did many excursions to various dance spots in Southern California and Nevada.  We were asked to perform several exhibitions over the years.  Our biggest event was at the LA Convention Center for an international Square Dance dance competition.  There is a partial video of it in the 

Partners Dances video section.  Joe & Pat were the teachers of the group and Pat also was a great choreographer.  They choreographed this whole amazing routine.

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Many of the Cruisers started retiring and moving out of the area.  Then Joe & Pat moved to Las Vegas.  Then we moved to Tehachapi, CA in 2013.  A few months later Brenda went to a Line dance held weekly at the Oak Branch Saloon in the Bear Valley Springs Country Club.  Shortly after she got me to go.  It wasn't long before their enthusiasm to dance soared.  About two years later Bob negotiated with the Moose Lodge to have a weekly dance there.  That's when Bob & Brenda started formally teaching . 

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Bob & Brenda continued Line dancing at the Oak Branch Saloon while teaching at the Moose Lodge.  Then they were able to start a couples only dance at the Oak Branch Saloon on Sundays.  The Moose Lodge closed down after a year.  Then Bob got a gig teaching at Big Papa's Steak House.  There he was able to teach mostly Line dancing, but also incorporate some couple dances.  Bob & Brenda's BFF Gloria Yeager is an amazing dancer and teacher.  Gloria's passion to Line dance and teach inspired her to keep country dancing alive after the Covid exaggeration shutdown so many businesses and all country dancing in Tehachapi.  We and all dancers in Tehachapi sincerely appreciate Gloria's efforts.  Kudos to you my friend.

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In 2021 Big Papa's reopened for dancing and Gloria started teaching again on Tuesday nights.  In August of 2021 Bob was able to negotiate with Stallion Springs to have a weekly couples only dance on Sunday's.