Square Dance Caller/Teacher & Round Dance Cuer/Teacher
Skip and Betty Ann began square and round dancing in 1976 in Stuttgart, Germany and Skip began calling that same year. From 1977 to 1980 they served as Treasurers of the European Association of American Square Dance Clubs and in 1979, Skip qualified as a full member in the European Callers and Teachers Association.
In 1980, after serving twenty-one years in the US Navy, Skip retired and he and Betty Ann settled in Portland, Maine. In 1981, Skip began calling for the Single Adult Squares of Maine and in 1984 for the Shaker Valley Squares, he continues today as club caller for both clubs. In 1987 Skip became club caller for the F & G Squares and the SAGE Swingers calling for both clubs until 2000. Skip is a member of the Tri-State Callers Association and served two terms each as Vice President and President. Skip is active in the New England Council of Callers Association and has served three terms as Secretary, two terms as Vice Chairman, and two terms as Chairman. He has also served as a member and as Chairman of CO-OP’s Guidelines Committee. He has chaired three NECCA Clinics, including a Co-Chairman of the first CALLERLAB “Minilab” held in the United Sates. Skip is a member of CALLERLAB and he and Betty Ann have attended twenty annual CALLERLAB Conventions. Skip has also served as the Vice-Chairman and Chairman of CALLERLAB’s Plus Program.
Betty Ann began teaching round dancing in 1988. She is a member of The Maine Teachers of Round Dance Association and has served as Treasurer and Skip as Secretary. Both are members of the Area Coordinating Council of Round Dance Teachers and ROUNDALAB. Betty Ann was a member of the Classics Committee and is currently a member of the Phase III Committee. Betty Ann currently cues and teaches for the SASOME and Shaker Valley Squares clubs as well as her own “Let’s Dance” Round Dance Club.
Skip and Betty Ann have attended twenty-four New England Square and Round Dance Conventions since 1981. They showcased and taught round dances at the 1996 and 2005 Conventions and were the Caller and Cuer Programmers for the 2002 and 2003 Conventions
Skip and Betty Ann are members of the Overseas Dancers Association and was the General Chairman of their Portland, Maine Reunion in 1990. They also received the OSDA’s highest honor, the Julius and Miriam Nestor Award, for outstanding service and exceptional devotion to OSDA and to Square and Round Dancing.
I am proud and extremely privileged to recognize their many years of devoted work on behalf of the square and round dance movement, by inducting them into the Square Dance Foundation of NE Hall of Fame.
