Callers – CALLERLAB KnowledgeBase

SSD FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Those who are considering use of the Social Square Dance (SSD) system usually have many questions about how it works, the best way to implement it, and the issues they ... Read More

SSD In A Nutshell

This the documentary equivalent of an "elevator speech" for SSD that quickly outlines the benefits, explains the approach, and directs readers to further appropriate information. It's an excellent introduction to ... Read More

Stages Document from Women In Calling Committee

This document was produced by the Women In Calling Committee to assist and inform women callers regarding issues that are unique to women callers ... Read More

Standard Contract for a Calling Date

This PDF file contains a boilerplate standard contract you can use when arranging a calling date ... Read More

Struggling Up The Cliff (on becoming a caller)

This newsletter article from a new caller describes what it's like trying to learn to call, and what support and resources would be useful to a new caller ... Read More

Taminations

This site contains a tool that allows viewers to watch an animation of a call being performed, often from a variety of starting formations. It provides an excellent educational tool ... Read More

Teaching Beginners on Zoom

Have you wondered if it might be possible teach beginner dancers via Zoom? Ray Brendzy has been doing just that during the pandemic. He has made video recordings of his ... Read More

Teaching New Dancers (eBook)

The 18 dances featured in this short book use only four basics. Circle Right/Left, Forward & Back, Arm Turns, Star Right/Left. These four basics are used in big circles, line ... Read More

Teaching Order Design Principles

This 9-page document discusses the factors that should be considered when designing a custom teaching order, regardless of program ... Read More

Teaching Orders

When planning for a class, regardless of program, one of the earliest decisions is to determine the order in which calls will be taught. This article collects information about a ... Read More

Teaching Styling

Presentation on the how's and why's of teaching styling to new dancers. How styling can help you and your dancers to succeed. Functional styling that helps dancers succeed and feel ... Read More

Technical Zeros

Ever wonder what a “technical zero” is exactly? Or what use they actually are? Are you afraid of using them because the results seem unpredictable? In this paper Barry Johnson ... Read More

The How & Why of New Basics

This paper by Paul Hartman appeared in American Square Dance magazine in 1974. It describes how square dancing evolved to become what we now call Modern Western Square Dancing during ... Read More

The Mainstream Caller’s Notebook (book)

The Mainstream Caller’s Notebook is collection of choreographic ideas designed to help you provide more entertaining dances at the mainstream level. The material is meant to be most useful anytime ... Read More

Tim Marriner’s Caller Education Materials

Tim Marriner was a CALLERLAB Accredited Caller Coach who created and published a large quantity of caller educational material over the years. Tim generously made this wealth of informative articles ... Read More

Tim Marriner’s Caller Education Page (obsolete)

Tony Parkes On The History of Square Dancing

Type Presentation Event Newbie Callers Zoom Presentation Date 2021-09-18 Presenters Tony Parkes Links Video Handout Description During the pandemic Dan Lyke and Don Beck hosted weekly presentations and discussions aimed ... Read More

TV Video Promoting Square Dancing

This six minute video was broadcast on an Ottawa community service channel to promote a new dance series being presented by Wendy VanderMeulen. While done in an interview format, it ... Read More

Two Couple Calling For New Callers

Kip Garvey explains how new callers can practice and develop their choreography skills by calling to two couples. This allows new callers to focus better on many fundamentals of call ... Read More

Using Dixie Grand

Ed Foote describes the ins and outs of Dixie Grand along with a couple of pages of sequences that illustrate various ways a sight caller can use it ... Read More

Using Hearing Assist System To Slave One Amp To Another (Handout)

This handout from the CDLS session at the 2017 CALLERLAB convention explains how to slave one sound system to another using a hearing assist system. This avoids having to string ... Read More

Using Sicilian Circles for Square Dancing

Cal Campbell and Daryl Clendenin discuss how to use the Sicilian Circle formation for teaching – and even as a “square dance” formation – in Modern Western Square Dancing ... Read More

Visits With the Legends

For the past several years CALLERLAB has included a convention session called "A Visit With the Legends". In each session several well known and pioneer people were interviewed and told ... Read More

Welcoming Dance Environment Documentation

Square Dancing is an overwhelmingly social activity. Therefore, it is essential that square dance groups create a social environment that feels welcoming, engaging, and safe. Events in recent years have ... Read More