Archive for category: callers

Gaye Fifer

Gaye Fifer is an accomplished caller from Pittsburgh, PA. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making dances particularly satisfying for dancers. Her instructions are clear and concise, as she is a teacher by profession. An easy smile and delightful sense of humor are part of Gaye’s relaxed, pleasant style at the microphone. Gaye calls contra and English dances throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is also an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of contra-style waltz. Gaye is the former President of the Board of CDSS.

Katie Zanders

Katie is from the Tampa Bay area in Florida and grew up rigorously training in classical ballet her whole childhood. She first got onto the contra dance floor in 2012 as a senior in high school. In 2022 she began with calling gigs and since then has called in 5 different states for local and week/weekend dances. Dancers have described her calling as “clear, concise” and “enveloping with a soothing quality to it”. The way she sees it “as long as you’re smiling and having fun you’re doing it right, after all it’s only a dance”.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne is from Elkhart, Indiana and has been dancing for 45 years. His first dance weekend was at the Knoxville dance weekend, 3 years after his introduction to dancing and he became hooked. He moved to West Virginia and started calling in Athens, Ohio. He then moved to Austin, Texas and started a weekly dance with the help of some local musicians who were jamming together just for fun. His wife, Tonya, says, “He’s a natural with new dancers, and can get a group of new dancers easily and quickly progressing through a dancing evening, with new and experienced dancers enjoying themselves immensely. He does it so effortlessly!”

Hanno Meingast

Hanno is from Lansing, Michigan. He is a master with mixing the acoustical instruments of contra dancing and can quickly get the crowd dancing as he stirs up his electronical brews and potions, which dazzles the ear with such perfection of sound. He is a great addition to the dance weekend.