The Square Dance Caller

This is one of the most successful efforts to describe in detail just what is involved in being a good square dance caller. (Tony Parkes, in his Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century," refers to Holden's booklet as "small but invaluable.") Indeed, in fewer than 50 pages, Holden packs a lot of information.

If you'd rather get an overview of what he covers, rather than reading the complete booklet, here's a list of topics:

Part One

Technical responsibilities of the caller

1. Phrasing

2. Knowldge and background

3. Speech habits (including P.A. technique)

4. Rhythm

5. Command (words and voice)

6. Timing

7. Judgment

   “Judgment is simply good sense. The greatest pleasure and satisfaction a caller can get from calling is to see all his dancers enjoying what he calls because they are dancing it smoothly and well. … More callers make mistakes in judgment of one sort of another than in any other aspect of calling. It is impossible to overemphasize the necessity for good judgment. There are several categories, and each one involves knowledge, background, comparison, discernment, discretion, discrimination, experience and practice.”

   1. Dance design

   2. Program design

   3. Tempo of music

   4. Smooth flow

   5. New material

   6. Level of calling, tricks and hash

   7. Physical movement

   8. Talking

8. Pitch

9. Personality

10. Excitement

11. Showmanship

12. Patter (leading and trailing)

13. Composition of words

14. Music

15. Art of calling

Part Two

Professional responsibilities of the caller

1. Amateur or professional?

2. Other callers

3. Breadth of outlook

4. Teaching efficiency; educational methods

5. Original material

6. Mistakes

7. Physical dancing conditions

8. Time factor

9. Physical condition of caller

Moral responsibilities of the caller

1. Position of the leader

2. Wholesomeness of the activity

3. Don't drink on the job

4. Commercialization

5. Competition