Sunny Lawrence grew up in New York City and began dancing there in 2011. With the tools learned through Brooklyn Contra’s Caller’s Workshop series, Sunny’s goal as a caller is to bring a clear, calm, and joyful presence to the mic, to make contra accessible to new dancers, and to strengthen her beloved dance communities.
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Filtered by Archives: Callers
Dan Kappus
Across three decades of participation, contra dancing has been a great community for me wherever I’ve gone. I teach and lead dances because I want that community to be there for others. After a decade of occasional calling at special events and open mic nights, I started to regularly call full nights in 2021. I care… Read more »
Rachel Ameen
Rachel Ameen has been studying dance calling with David Smukler and Bob Nicholson. She has brought delight to the Syracuse dance series.
Liz Nelson
Music becomes movement and moving together becomes joy, just as natural as breathing. Liz Nelson is a dance caller residing in Western Massachusetts. She is well-known for her clear, concise teaching and warm, welcoming presence. She knows that everyone can dance and firmly believes “if you’re having fun and being safe, you’re doing it right!”… Read more »
Luke Donforth
Luke Donforth is a caller and choreographer based in Burlington, VT. As a caller, he brings warmth to the stage and focuses on facilitating everyone in the hall joyously moving to the music. He runs a monthly family dance in Vermont, and calls at dance weekends around the country. He’s a founding member of the… Read more »
Penelope Weinberger
Penelope has been calling and organizing dances for over 20 years and is welcomed around the country. Hailing from the DC area, she has called all kinds of scenes, from traditional to techno. Working with dJ improper, he has organized the occasional Contra Sonic dances at Glen Echo.
Bev Bernbaum
We have enjoyed the fine work of Canadian caller, Bev Bernbaum, for many years. We’re delighted to welcome her back to Rochester. Bev has travelled all over the world spreading the joy of contra dancing. She has embraced calling and dancing at Zoom-based events to stay connected with her beloved community during the pandemic. Get… Read more »
Kathy Whitfield
Teaches Irish dance.
Harris Lapiroff
I organize and call contra dances in the New England area and beyond.
Tara Bolker
Tara calls for English, contra and community dances, delighting dancers of all levels with her dynamic style and quick, clear walk-throughs–“50% more dancing!” according to one satisfied dancer. Her eclectic selection of energetic and intuitive dances offers an engaging variety of moves and moods tailored to any occasion and crowd. Her home dance community is… Read more »
Beverly Francis
Beverly is a skilled caller with a specialty in dances from Jane Austen’s time.
Jennifer Staples
Jennifer’s early retirement led her directly to the dance floor and she hasn’t stopped to look back. She loves the elegance and diversity of English Country dancing and enjoys sharing it with others. Her goal is to help dancers be as comfortable and confident in their dancing as possible so they will need only a little… Read more »
River “Rainbowface” Abel
River Rainbowface has been calling contras for over a decade and has begun to dabble with calling ECD and squares; they are widely known for their full-throated laughter, good-natured and clear instruction, and their sing-song, well-timed calls.
Vikki Armstrong
Vikki Armstrong has been calling dances since 1991 (!!). She’s charming, witty and fun. She selects the right dances for every event, she is efficient and clear with teaching and she’s right in the pocket rhythm-wise with the music. She loves to call a barn dance, a contradance and/or a singing square, whatever the event… Read more »
Will Mentor
Will Mentor is a contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight, all the while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about… Read more »
Nils Fredland
Musician of many talents: Master dance caller, trombone, ukulele, chorus leader, and more!
Tom Amessé
Before Tom discovered English Country Dance, he pursued several interests which included both American History, and acting. If he seems a natural on stage, some of the credit goes to his having acted in local community theater! He has been a dance leader for over 20 years in New York City and northeastern New Jersey, and… Read more »
Cindy Culbert
Cindy Culbert has been dancing Contra since 2016 and English Country Dancing since 2018, but she wishes it had been much longer for both. She was elected President of CDR in 2020 during the pandemic, with no dancing happening! She is excited to be back on the dance floor now and to work on growing… Read more »
Cathy Stephens
Cathy is one of the most popular and skillful dance teachers in North America today. As a professional dance instructor, choreographer, and historical dance specialist since 1984, she has traveled extensively teaching and conducting hundreds of dance events for museums and historical sites, festivals, universities and many arts, educational, and recreational organizations. Her ability to… Read more »
Sue Batt
Teacher of Scottish Country dancing
Megan Wilson
Megan Wilson began dancing as a teenager in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a caller of English and contra dances based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she is working on a Ph.D. She specializes in challenging dances, dances by women choreographers, and fostering connection between music and movement. She has led dances in several states and… Read more »
Hans Krackau
Hans Krackau , contra caller and dancer from Berlin, Germany, has been calling for open house contra dances twice a month in Berlin, for 20 years.
Louise Siddons
Louise Siddons is from Stillwater, Oklahoma. One of the founders of the Scissortail Contra Dance series, she is a light-hearted and adaptable caller. Check out her website.
Dave Boyer
Long time dancer, artist, caricaturist, and delightful man.
Pat Donaldson
English planning
David Millstone
David Millstone started contra dancing with Dudley Laufman in the early 1970s and has been calling dances for more than forty years. His monthly contra dance with the band “Northern Spy” in Norwich, Vermont ran from 1980–2015, making this one of the longest series in New England. David recently served six years as president of… Read more »
Alex Deis-Lauby
Alex is a NYC-based caller, dancer and organizer. Her smooth voice, clear teaching style and engaging dance selections delight dancers from coast to coast.
Craig Saunders
Craig Saunders
Bob Isaacs
Bob Isaacs, from Princeton NJ, squares the circles and lines up the dots with his delightful dance compositions. A prolific choreographer of creative dances, Bob is known for his clear calling of flowing contras and amazing hot grid squares. It’s a rare treat to have Bob come to Rochester.
Steve Zakon-Anderson
Steve Zakon-Anderson has been calling contras, leading workshops for callers and teaching couples dance for over 25 years. He has performed at dance camps and festivals in 36 states, including Pinewoods, Ogontz, Buffalo Gap, Lady of the Lake, Augusta and Brasstown. His own dance compositions, such as 3-33, are well-known to dancers and other callers…. Read more »
Cavalcade of regional callers
A whole team of callers who are in town for the Jane Austen Ball weekend.
Jenny Beer
Jenny leads English country dances for all ages. A lively caller, her goal is to make everyone happy — the hardcore dancers, the musicians, the now-and-then dancers, those with high energy, and those who are feeling less spry, the ones eager to learn new dances, the ones who love old favorites. Occasionally you’ll see her… Read more »
Colin Hume
Colin Hume is a world renowned caller and creator of contra and English dances. He has a deep knowledge of country dance, developed over decades of calling experience in his native England.
Joyce Rossbach
Joyce is a longtime caller with a southern twang!
Joanna Reiner Wilkinson
Joanna Reiner Wilkinson has taught English dance, Scottish dance and longsword for over a decade. Her calling has taken her from Amherst to Ann Arbor, from NEFFA to Hey Days, including several sessions at Pinewoods Camp. Joanna led the Philadelphia-based Germantown Country Dancers English dance demonstration team for many years, is an avid dance gypsy,… Read more »
Rich Goss
Most weekends, and sometimes on weekdays, I can be found in a dance hall somewhere calling, playing, doing sound, or contra dancing. I’m currently splitting time between The Pacific Northwest and Austin, Texas, with occasional travel sprinkled in. The Pacific NW is such a terrific place to live! It’s great for calling and playing opportunities…. Read more »
Chet Gray
Hailing from Louisville, Chet is a dancer/caller who also calls in St. Louis and Urbana. Find out more on his Facebook page.
Dela Murphy
Dela is a community builder, dancer, and contra dance caller from Portland, Maine. She brings compelling arts programming to life and hosts events that connect people in meaningful, joyful ways.
Donna Hunt
Donna Hunt calls contra and square dances with interesting choreography and variations. She is known for utilizing clear, concise instructions to minimize teaching time and maximize dance time. Equally comfortable calling with a “techno” DJ as a “traditional” band of musicians, she offers programs of exciting dances in a variety of figures and formations for… Read more »
Leslie Phillips
Brian Hamshar
Brian is a Caller and Saxophone player from Virginia
Adina Gordon
Being told what to do has never been so much fun! Adina Gordon’s collection of dances is delightful. Her sense of the moment is trustworthy. She blends the feel of the band and mood of the crowd with her repertoire to produce an exhilarating dance experience. Every program is unique. It’s no wonder she’s a… Read more »
TBA
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Judy Greenhill
Judy Greenhill hails from Guelph, Ontario. She calls contras, English and squares.
Gaye Fifer
Gaye Fifer (Pittsburgh, PA) hasn’t stopped dancing since she found contras in 1979. Introduced to the community in St. Louis, she has found dancing wherever she goes. Gaye learned to call contras in Charlottesville, VA and has been traveling to call and dance for the past 25 years. After 15 years of dancing, she finally realized that… Read more »
Dan Seppeler
A Rochester caller and choreographer of English dances with a talent for finding new and delightful dances and the confidence to try difficult material.
Evan De Smitt
One of Rochester’s seasoned callers, Evan brings great timing from his experiences playing saxophone in marching bands. His lovely, clear, resonant voice carries well, and he is very attentive to the dancers.
Sharon Perry
Sharon Perry was a long-time local caller who refined her skills at contra caller’s camp sponsored by the Country Dance and Song Society at Pinewoods. Sharon exhibited a calm demeanor and called both regionally and up and down the east coast.
Judi Rivkin
Caller Judi Rivkin has been dancing all her life. She began leading and teaching English Country Dance in the early 90’s. Weekly English country dance workshops she developed in Seattle, and continues to lead in Princeton, have been the stimulus for dancers of all experience levels to grow and expand their knowledge and repertoire. Recognized… Read more »
David Smukler
Caller of contra and English Country dances.