From the Mic

By: Mary Wesley CDSS
  • Summary

  • Host Mary Wesley takes you behind the caller's mic to explore perspectives from the people who choose to stand in that curious place between the band and a roomful of dancers. Featuring conversations with callers of American social dance forms (contras, community dances, trad squares). Why do they do it? How did they learn? What is their role, on stage and off, in shaping our dance communities?
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Episodes
  • Episode 28 - David Kaynor
    Nov 8 2024

    See the From the Mic website for great bonus content, including pictures and audio, transcripts, and more. Click here to download the transcript directly

    And the Country Dance and Song Society for information about Contra and English country dance across the continent

    More about the Granges
    • The Montague Grange is no longer active as a Grange, but the Grange Hall, now know as the Montague Common Hall, is still an active community hub now lovingly maintained by the Friends of the Montague Common Hall, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They host social dances and music in the space along with many other events. The organization is currently fundraising for future improvements to the building.
    • The Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, MA celebrated 150 years in 2023! The Grange membership, which still includes many dancers and musicians connected to the contra dance community, has worked to broaden the mission of the Grange to encompass many facets of community enrichment (including dance!)
    • The Capitol City Grange in Montpelier, VT is also still active as a Grange and still hosts regular contra dances on first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month, along with many other community events and activities.
    More about David
    • David's obituary, June 1, 2021
    • Before David's passing in 2021 The Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation happened over zoom and the recording is still available.
    • With help from many, many contributors, Sue Songer has assembled a wonderful book about David called "David Kaynor: Living Music and Dance," which also includes many of his musical compositions as well as writings about dance and dance calling.
    • Midnight in Montague - Betsy Branch and David recorded a wonderful album INSIDE the Montague Grange Hall called "Midnight in Montague." Betsy is working on getting the album up on Bandcamp and also having it reprinted for purchase on CD. Stay tuned here for more info.
    Thanks to Vermont Folklife

    We extend a special thanks to Vermont Folklife, a statewide cultural research and education nonprofit that loaned Mary the equipment to make this recording with David and then placed a copy of the recording in their Archive so the file wouldn't become lost in the ether of Mary's personal, digital files. (Fun fact: Mary now serves as the Director of Education and Media at Vermont Folklife!)

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Episode 27 - Diane Silver
    Sep 30 2024

    See the From the Mic website for great bonus content, including pictures and audio, transcripts, and more. Click here to download the transcript directly

    And the Country Dance and Song Society for information about Contra and English country dance across the continent

    Sound bites featured in this episode (in order of appearance):

    • Diane calls the dance Roll Around by Cary Ravitz with music by Steamshovel with the Chattahoochee Country Dancers in Atlanta in 2014
    • Diane calls the dance Silver Anniversary by Jim Kitch with music by Steamshovel with the Chattahoochee Country Dancers in Atlanta in 2014

    Other links:

    • Diane's website!
    • Dance Safety guidelines from Asheville's Old Farmer's Ball
    • Diane shows up in this great local news segment on contra dancing in North Carolina
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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Episode 26 - George Marshall
    Aug 8 2024

    See the From the Mic website for great bonus content, including pictures and audio, transcripts, and more. Click here to download the transcript directly

    And the Country Dance and Song Society for information about Contra and English country dance across the continent

    Show Notes

    Sound bites featured in this episode (in order of appearance):

    • Clip of George calling the dance Worth the Wait by Dana Parkinson at the Glen Echo Contra Dance in 2012 with music by Swallowtail
    • Clip of George calling the dance Salute to Larry Jennings by Ted Sannella and Russell Owen at the Greenfield, MA contra dance in 2011 with music by Wild Asparagus
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    1 hr and 38 mins

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