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 Performer Style: Caller
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 »
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 »
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 »
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.
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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.
David Smukler
Caller of contra and English Country dances.
Dan Blim
Dan is a new-to-Rochester caller (as well as a superb dancer) with over a decade of experience, most recently as a staff caller at the CDSS dance week at Camp Cavell this past summer.
Colleen Liggett
A longtime member of our dance community, Colleen initiated live music at our dances, arranging music and organizing the first bands when the English dance series began in the 1980s. Colleen currently books our performers and has more recently turned her considerable enthusiasm towards calling. In addition to calling for us, she and her husband,… Read more »
Susan Kevra
Susan Kevra burst onto the contra dance scene in the early 1990s in New England and honed her craft at her monthly dance series in Greenfield, MA for ten years. She now makes her home in Nashville, Tennessee, where she calls and organizes English, contra and square dances. She also travels to call at dance… Read more »
Lisa Brown
Lisa is dedicated to bringing the joys of English country dance to all by specializing in teaching newcomers to dance. She directs our demonstration team, the Meryton Assembly Dancers, and is also known for her encyclopedic knowledge of Regency Era clothing and history. During the Pandemic, Lisa created English Country Dance bingo, Early Music Bingo,… Read more »
Mary Collins
Mary Collins loves to dance, loves to call, and is a dedicated organizer of contra dances in Buffalo. We’re always happy to have her call (and dance) in Rochester.
Joe Kwiatowski
Katy Heine
Ithaca-based caller Katy Heine has been leading contras and community dances in the Finger Lakes region and beyond for more than 30 years. She’s known for her clear teaching style and for her large repertoire of fun and flowing dances. Whether the hall’s full of experienced dancers or first-timers, they’re sure to have a great… Read more »
Ted Crane
Long-time caller and organizer from Ithaca, Ted calls his favorite dances from his extensive collection.
Casey Carr
Acclaimed caller/teacher Casey Carr is skilled at making new dancers of all ages feel comfortable while keeping experienced dancers on their toes. She has a collection of fascinating grid squares that she pulls out for larger events.
Eric Rounds
Both an accomplished fiddler and long-time caller, Eric has been around since the early days of CDR. He has a great collection of dances and tunes from the early days of CDR: traditional dances which were called all around New England as well as the “newer” zesty contras.
Nancy Spero
Nancy Spero lives in Ithaca NY. She has been calling contra dances, square dances, and community/family dances in the Northeast since 1988. Her dances provide high energy fun for participants of all ages, whether they are newcomers or seasoned dancers. She will have you movin’ and groovin’ to the music in no time!
Bob Nicholson
Bob is a veteran caller from Syracuse. He’s totally focussed on fun, accessible dances. His dance repertoire is deep and his memory is amazing. A versatile caller, Bob handles both Contra and English Country dances with ease, and events from advanced to weddings to introductory workshops.
Rich Sbardella
Rich calls contras, square dances, community, and family dances.
Richard Sauvain
Rochester English dance caller and dance organizer.
Pamela Goddard
Ithaca caller and singer Pamela Goddard has an engaging, confident and witty style. Her clear and patient teaching make her popular with our dancers.
Carmen Giunta
Hailing from Syracuse, Carmen is popular with our dance group for his patient teaching manner and his interesting and varied choice of dances.
Margaret Mathews
With more than 35 years experience as dancer, musician and caller, Margaret’s easy-going, engaging style gets everyone out on the dance floor. Her ability to smoothly adjust the dances to the experience level of the dance community make it a fun and accessible evening for everyone. In addition to contra dances, she calls for traditional… Read more »
Chuck Abell
In his caller persona, Chuck Abell brings us challenging dances that will exercise your mind and tickle your fancy with their intricate beauty. Chuck organizes the monthly caller meetings in Rochester to workshop new dances. He debuted his “DJ Abell” persona at our 2017 Thanksgiving Festival, with a Taste of Techno Contra session.
Tom Calwell and Myra Hirschberg
Toronto dance callers and teachers Myra Hirschberg and Tom Calwell are Dancingthread: bringing people together on the dance floor with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of fun.
Maxine McDonald
Young Maxine McDonald calling has a locked-in sense of timing that is never off, and never obtrusive. Quiet and unassuming, she puts the music first for a sweet evening. Her enthusiasm for the dance is contagious, and stems from a love of historical re-enactment at the Genesee Country Village and Museum–and a delight in twirling… Read more »
Dugan Murphy
Dugan Murphy is a contra dance caller performing across the U.S. and Canada, whose smooth-voiced and joyful teaching has the precision of clockwork.
Sarah VanNorstrand
Sarah VanNorstrand has been calling, organizing and teaching contra, square, and family/community dances for seven years, and more recently has been expanding into calling English dances. She has a clear and engaging teaching style and a great repertoire of dances to share. Instantly hooked from her first contra dance as a teen, Sarah’s love of dance… Read more »
Bob Fabinski
Clear and affable, Bob never forgets the beginner’s experience in contra, so he always gives you what you need to get dancing and to have fun right away.