Click here to go to Basics and Calls list
Learn To Call
1. DO NOT READ A CALL. Know where the dancers are to go and guide them through it.
2. Listen to other callers and develop your style from them. Every old tyme callers has their own distinct style of calling.
3. Make mistakes, nothing works better than learning on the job.
4. Smile all the way through and don't make smart-alecky comments.
5. Pace your call to allow the dancers to complete each movement.
6. Have fun. For a more detailed approach.
For Music to call and dance to go to Resources
Recorded Callings and Videos of some dances
Murray Fraser and Murray Smith's 12 calls can be found on
'The Square Dance Album'
Cut Off Six Our first Treasurer, Alex Boustead, calling
Royal Winter Fair (RWF) Elementary Set - Right Hand High (Murray Fraser calling)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-yxflszRc4
Texas Star with Rip and Snort as the break
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHqS1bOOLVc
RWF 2018 - 4-H Crew
- compulsory caller (George Betts)- Forward Four in Line, Texas Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLeStfU2I1o
RWF 2019 - 4-H Crew
- compulsory caller (Morley Batt) - Three Ladies chain, Arch in the Middle and Ends Turn In
Their optional dance - Triple Arch, Four Poster Bed, Grand Square, Texas Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPvbUHGpErk
RWF - to compulsory caller - Double Pass Thru, Arch in the Middle
Optional - Texas Star, Gates, Ladies Do-ce Balinet, Grand Square, Balance the grand chain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub-igtSOWtA
RWF- to compulsory caller - Canadian Breakdown, Double Pass Thru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF4GvCPsswg
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH, ONTARIO - 2022 Junior Farmers Squaredancing Set dancing two compulsories called by guest caller Dave Lucas (Canadian Breakdown and the Texas Star) as well their optional dance called by Laura.">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkhPxk8ZVo0
Head Two Ladies Cross Over - Bob Livingston (Life on the Ocean Wave)
https://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/266
A very early corn field dance, too bad there is no sound. Burchenal 2 - big set in a farmer's field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B1Fo6gsOgI
Burchenal 5 -- Lady Do-ce-Balinet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEazmkETC5U
Early demo sets dancing - Cheyenne Mountain Dancers, #1 (Star by the Right)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QnT836qCv0
Cheyenne Mountain Dancers, #2 (Split Ring Hash) a mix of dances for entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iN2PcSbTg0
Cheyenne Mountain Dancers, #3 (Docey Doe Hoedown) a mix of dances with a showy take off variation of do si do. It is really two ladies chain over and back with spins and gents moving to make it easier for the chaining to work and for entertainment value.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA-Qoipv-Kk
Tony Park calling a four ladies chain variation
https://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/267
The Lancers- a form of quadrille dating from the 19th century.
https://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/268
Calls at our semiannual dances
Canadian Breakdown – Ernie Shoebridge
Four in Line – Bill O'Brien
Old Fashioned Girl – Bill Hands