NROT Dance Callers
Nancy Mamlin, from Sugar Grove, North Carolina
Nancy has been calling dances since 1989 and specializes in calling southern and western-style squares. She has called countless dances across the United States as well as the FiddleHead dance weekend in Black Mountain, NC, the Coal Country Convention in Pittsburgh, PA, and the Augusta Heritage Old-Time Week in Elkins, WV. To promote interest in traditional square dancing, she co-founded and co-coordinates the annual Dare to be Square! weekend for callers and enthusiasts. She is also an in-demand string bass player- who has performed with such bands as Roustabout, The Blue Ridge Road Gang, and The Rhythm Rats- and has written several articles about dance for The Old Time Herald magazine. In her spare time she is an associate professor of special education at Appalachian State University.
Tom Hinds, from Charlottesville, VA
Tom has been calling square and contra dances throughout the mid-Atlantic region for 24 years. He is experienced in calling various styles of square and contra dances, including New England, Modern Western, Transitional Western, and Old Time. In addition to his extensive tours of Denmark, he has been a dance camp instructor at Pinewoods, Buffalo Gap, Augusta, Gypsy Moon, Desert Stomp, John C. Campbell Folk School, and the Kentucky Summer Dance schools. He is also a percussive dancer and square dance choreographer, having published 5 collections of his compositions. And if that isn't enough, he's also a nationally known chicken hypnotist.
Beverly Smith, from Philadelphia, PA, one of the best-known callers in the US and a long-time favorite of New River Valley dancers
Beverly has been calling dances for over twenty years at venues all over the US as well as Canada, the UK, Ireland, Finland, Germany, France and India! A musician and caller by trade, she is known for her musical and energetic approach to old time dances and her friendly and relaxed style of teaching. She is also an accomplished vocalist and instrumentalist, having recorded with Bruce Molsky and Big Hoedown, Rafe Stephanini and The Rockinghams, and others. Nowadays, she is often on the road touring with Carl Jones as part of the old time duo, Smith and Jones. For more information, check out http://www.smithnjones.net
Bob Dalsemer, from Brasstown, NC
Bob Dalsemer has been the John C Campbell Folk School's Coordinator of Music and Dance Programs at since 1991. With an easy going manner and exceptional teaching skills, Bob Dalsemer is truly one of the country's 'master' country dance callers. His repertoire includes a wide range of American contras, squares, and circles as well as English and Danish dances. He has called dances in more than 35 states, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Denmark, Russia, Latvia, the Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Baltimore's Wednesday night dance, now in its 30th year, was founded by Bob, of whom the Radar Review of Baltimore Arts and Culture wrote: 'One of Baltimore's lost treasures is ' caller, Bob Dalsemer, who ran a dance scene that was widely known for its ' friendliness and authenticity.' Bob's published books, West Virginia Square Dances and Folk Dance Fun for Schools and Families, as well as his square dance recordings, Smoke On the Water: Square Dance Classics and When The Work's All Done: A Square Dance Party For Beginners and Old Hands, have influenced a whole new generation of callers. From 1990-1996 Bob Dalsemer served as President of The Country Dance and Song Society.
Dudley Culp, from Asheville, NC
It would be an understatement to say that Dudley is a master of dance. In 1971, Dudley and some friends founded the quintessential Appalachian clogging group, The Green Grass Cloggers, and he has been calling contras and squares dances for 35 years ever since. Dudley says he used to follow mountain people around until he learned clogging steps from them and cites his influences as Betty Casey, Flatland Family Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Highwoods String Band. He has recently called dances at the Rockbridge Festival in Buena Vista, VA, and dances in North Carolina at Greensboro, Celo and Boone. This is Dudley's first appearance at the Southern Mountain Square Dance, so come on out for this unique opportunity!!
Beth Molaro, from Asheville, NC
She is one of the country's most popular callers and calls 100 or more dances a year from coast to coast- and has also done dances in Denmark and Canada. Beth calls high-energy, turbocharged squares and smooth flowing contras. Dancers who think that they don't like squares are often surprised by Beth's squares. Says Beth, 'The fun of square dancing is in direct proportion to the energy and intricacy of the square dance calling.' With the energy that comes off the stage from Beth Molaro, there is no way that you can't give the energy right back. More on Beth at http://www.bethmolaro.com
Bill Wellington, from Staunton Virginia
Since 1976, Bill has been a professional storyteller, folk musician, songwriter and dance caller. He's been a community artist-in-residence, made field recordings of traditional West Virginia music for the WVU archives, toured with the dance band Caledonia, and published a collection of original tunes entitled Belknap's March. In 1990 Bill created Radio WOOF, with all its wild and whacky characters, to share his love of folk music, storytelling, and folklore with many thousands through his recordings and live performances. Bill has called and played at community dances throughout the Eastern US and, in addition to being a fine musician and caller, he's one of the funniest guys on the planet. Check him out at http://www.radiowoof.com/
Jim Morrison, from Charlottesville, VA
Jim is both a great dancer and dance- caller. He brings a deep experience- all the way from English country dancing to contra dancing to southern squares- to his repertoire. He's long been associated with the Country Dance Society and is a summer instructor at the Pinewoods Dance Camp. When he's not calling dances or working, Jim's also a great multi-instrumentalist, playing fiddle, guitar, etc- and he plays a mean pedal-steel- with the Morrison Brothers string band and other eclectic concoctions.
Jaso Phillips, from Carrboro, North Carolina
Jaso, a former Blacksburg resident, has been calling square dances all over North Carolina and Virginia since 2003. He is known for his energetic and rhythmic calling style, which can tastefully transform into beatboxing on occasion. When Jaso isn't calling a dance, he can be found playing and dancing with other groups such as "The Chinkapin Hunters", "Apple Chill Cloggers", 'Dueling Shoes', "The Piedmont Allstars" and "The Cane Creek Cloggers". He also teaches flatfooting and clogging, and helps put on a Triangle area community square dance.