Our own Kathy Anderson has been calling and writing dances since 1982. She is best known for her energetic, challenging squares, smooth flowing contras, quick clear teaching and delightful sense of humor. She has called dances from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in between. She has even called in the Bahamas and Europe. We are proud to say she helped found the Big Scioty Barn Dance, is a regular caller here and a great supporter of square and contra dancing.
Eric got his start calling in Cincinnati and has danced with
Big Scioty since its inception. He has written several dances,
including The House Husband's Reel and The Anderson Ferry Reel.
He calls several times a year at Big Scioty, does many of the
beginner's workshops and calls other dances around the area.
Eric calls a mixture of squares, contras, and mixers and is known
for his "gender bender" dances in which some of the usual gender
roles are reversed during the course of the dance.
Caroline started calling while in grad school at University of Kentucky in Lexington. She was inspired to try calling after the caller failed to show at a dance she attended. She brings us a truly national perspective since she was born and raised in Los Angeles, went to high school in St. Louis, and college in Annapolis, Maryland. Caroline's specialty is calling contras which are
uncomplicated, yet enjoyable for new and experienced dancers alike. She
says, "I love the feeling of the whole room moving together to fantastic
live music. I hope all our dance communities flourish and keep this spark
alive."
Caroline's Web Page
Caroline's essay on contra dancing
Becky Hill calls frequently at workshops and dance camps, and is an experienced caller
of intergenerational dances and programs for special needs populations. Author of
"Twirling Dervish," a book of contra dances, she has performed with Cleveland Ballet
in Ohio and California as the caller for George Balachine's Square Dance. Becky's second book "Twirling Dervish Returns" is out and a third book is in progress.
Into her third decade of calling dances, Carol Kopp is northeast Ohio's premiere dance
caller. More than any other single individual, Carol, who shares all she knows to help
others develop their skills, is responsible for the wealth of good callers and thriving
dances in that corner of the state.
A founding member of the dance company Rhythm in Shoes, Tamara has toured across the United States, Canada, and as far away as Japan. She has worked extensively with the Indiana Arts Commission's Arts-in-Education and Visiting Artists Programs as well as with the Ohio Arts Council's Artist-in-Residence Program. She founded the annual Bloomington March Madness Dance & Music Weekend in 1995. She currently teaches classes in Bloomington through the Parks & Rec Detartment. Tamara is a past winner of the clogging competition at the Mt. Airy Fiddler's Convention.
Beth is known for her clear calling, quick walkthroughs, and inability to stand
still when the music's hot, as well as her penchants for mis-matched socks and the
regionally popular square dances of her Gap Mills, WV home.
A New England native happily settled in Columbus, Joseph began calling in
Ann Arbor, MI under the skilled mentoring of Erna-Lynne Bogue, one of the
Midwest's best known callers. He returns to Ann Arbor frequently to call
for a variety of dances, including the monthly gender-free dance he
founded, now in its 4th year. Though relatively new to Ohio, he calls
frequently for an inter-generational dance in Yellow Springs, and has been
invited to call throughout the state. As a dance leader, Joseph strives
to combine satisfying dancing with strong sense of community. He has led
dancing as far away as Egypt and Jordan, and is equally fond of both
American contra and English country dancing.
Last updated on December 5, 2003 by Harold Cheyney