Dawn began swing dancing when she was twenty, in 1985 on the country circuit, with east coast swing and was introduced to west coast swing in 1988.

In the country circuit, she was undefeated in east coast swing for 7 years, and was the first Masters Country World Champion, in 1991. As a long-time competitor at the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships, she was seven titles (Showcase, Teams, Cabaret and Champions Jack and Jill), was the first person to win Showcase and Cabaret in the same year and won its first Champions Jack & Jill.