We all want to expand the number of dancers in our clubs, but so many areas have a shortage of available callers. SSD – Social Square Dance - has been a highly successful introductory dance program in many areas of the World, but what if you’re in an area where no callers are available to teach a new class? Kip Garvey is here to share how you don’t have to be a caller to teach an SSD program.
Kip Garvey, Ione, CA.
Kip Garvey began calling as a teenager in 1960. Initially he was club Caller for a teen square dance club in Andover, Massachusetts. Calling for several teen and adult clubs over the years, Kip has taught dancers every year since 1960. Kip joined CALLERLAB, the International Association of Square Dance Callers, in 1979. He was elected to the Board of Governors for five years and served on the Executive Committee and as Vice Chairman of the organization. He worked and chaired several committees with special focus on dance programs and caller training. After a move to California in 1980, Kip worked regularly with Bill Davis in the development of much of the current day technical theory regarding choreographic structure and sight calling technique. Kip and Bill Davis were the first two test-certified CALLERLAB Caller Coaches and together conducted several caller training schools.
As one of CALLERLAB’s first certified Caller Coaches, Kip has been the feature lecturer at several caller schools across the country and in Europe. He has authored several magazine articles and technical documents, including a recently completed book on the technical aspects of square dance choreography entitled ‘Nuts And Bolts’ and another recently completed book for newer callers entitled 'Call Me Crazy'. Kip created the first online caller training facility that went live in 2017, the Central Sierra Caller School and is actively mentoring several local callers.
Thom Cuong M. Dang, San Diego, CA.
Scott
& Brenda Deal, Convention General Chairmen
Sally
Schmidt, USDA Information Chairman. Sally, along with
her husband LPaul, have been a part of the square dance
community for more than 35 years. She has held
leadership positions with her local clubs, the San Diego
Square Dance Association, the California Council of
Square Dancers, and the United Square Dancers of
America. Together they have chaired major square dance
events including the San Diego Fiesta de la Cuadrilla (3
separate years), the 2011 California State Square Dance
Convention, and the 2022 USAWest Square Dance
Convention. They currently hold the position of
Information Officer & Sound Chairmen for the United
Square Dancers of America. 
