Nancy Couture started dancing as a five-year-old in Denmark. She took ballroom dance lessons, and also learned traditional Danish dances during childhood. Rex Couture started as a teenager, took a ballroom class when he was in high school, and discovered international dancing in college. They met while folk dancing at a university group in San Diego. They were married in Denmark the following year, and are still dancing together more than 50 years later.

Rex has played the violin since the age of five. After moving to Chicago in 1977 he started playing traditional Scandinavian music in earnest. In St. Louis, together with a group of enthusiastic fiddlers, he co-founded the St. Louis Spelmannslag. He is also active in the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America.

While they are very interested and active in the international folk dance community and have participated in it since moving to St. Louis in 1986, couple dances are their passion. They have been fortunate to attend many dance and music workshops at Folklore Village, Ti Ti Tábor, Nordic Fiddles and Feet, and numerous other workshops and camps. Together they lead a Scandinavian dance group and an international couple dance group. They have served as artistic directors of performing groups and as leaders of their local folk dance organizations. Additionally, they help organize, and host dance workshops and performances of visiting artists.