This episode Mary talks with, Gaye Fifer, an accomplished caller from Pittsburgh, PA. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making dances particularly satisfying for dancers. Her instructions are clear and concise, as she is a teacher by profession. An easy smile and delightful sense of humor are part of Gaye's relaxed, pleasant style at the microphone. Gaye calls contra and English dances throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is also an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of contra-style waltz. Gaye is currently President of the Board of CDSS.

In addition to being an amazing dance caller, Tony Parkes is also a dance historian and collector of archival recordings of dance callers through time. Join Tony and Mary in this bonus episode as they listen to a selection of recordings together.

Tony has been calling square and contra dances for more than 50 years. He’s composed over 90 square and contra dance routines, some of which have become modern classics. Tony has also been featured on multiple recordings as caller, pianist, director, and/or producer. An encyclopedia of square and contra dance history, he’s full of vivid recollections of the many mentors and sources of inspiration that have made him the caller, dance leader, and person that he is today. From his beginnings as a 14-year-old stepping up to the mic at Farm and Wilderness Camp to call Golden Slippers, to writing the foundational contra dance calling text which has helped so many callers find their way to the stage, to his most recent publication, in which, to use his words, he “gives away the farm” sharing his square dance repertoire and know-how.

This episode, Mary talks with Sarah VanNorstrand, who has been calling, organizing and teaching contra, square, and family/community dances for over 15 years. They trace the roots of her connection to traditional music and dance back to her teenage years in Syracuse, and she shares her thoughts about matching dance choreography to music, including what she learned working alongside contra dance super-band Great Bear. Sarah also speaks to the many ways she works as a caller to facilitate a welcoming and fulfilling experience for everyone on the dance floor.

In our conversation we talk about Lisa’s journey from the dance floor to the caller’s mic and the mentors she had along the way, in particular the prolific dance choreographer Larry Jennings. We explore the driving factors behind Lisa’s deep love for and commitment to leading social dance and get into the nuts and bolts of how she thinks about her role as a caller. She also shares her insights on building strong dance communities. There’s much to learn there. Enjoy!

Host Mary Wesley interviews nationally-known dance caller, old-time musician, and flatfoot dancer Phil Jamison. They talk about Phil's roots in the old time music scene, how he first stepped up to the mic as a caller, and his philosophy and approach to leading dances. They delve into his research about the history of dance calling in southern Appalachia and compare the ins-and-outs of square dance calling and contra dance calling. Phil also shares some incredible historic recordings of dance callers and some tracks from his own musical collaborations.