Every contra dance is a journey, and no journey is complete without a guide. Callers provide directions for the dancers and suggestions to the musicians to provide the optimal atmosphere, harmonizing between the choreography of the dance and the tempo and grace of the music. The table below highlights the local callers of New Mexico by region.
To call a FolkMADS dance, see the contact page.
To learn how to call or mentor new callers check out the NM Callers Collective.
All callers have these responsibilities. If you feel like a caller is not meeting their responsibilities please contact one of the dance committee chair persons or any board member.
New Mexico CallersListed by region, but many will travel! |
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| Albuquerque Area | |
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Ben Werner started calling in 2013 after moving to Albuquerque. He grew up contra dancing in upstate New York, and has flourished as a caller in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Callers Collective provided the perfect environment to learn the basics and to hone his skills. He enjoys calling in ABQ and SF and is excited to begin calling in the greater Southwest area. |
| Bill “Doc” Litchman | |
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Erik Barry Erhardt Website |
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Kit French has loved English Country Dance since his first encounter with it at Pinewoods Camp on Cape Cod at age eleven. He is delighted to nourish the Albuquerque dance community by calling, organizing the Second Sunday ECD/Zesty Contra series and the annual ECD Ball, and by collaborating with the Mad Robin Fourth Friday ECD series. Do come! |
| Kris Jensen: Website | |
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Lauren Soherr-Hadwiger |
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Lewis Land: Lewis Land began calling contra dances in Las Cruces in 2003 under the guidance of Lonnie Ludeman, and has been calling at various venues around New Mexico ever since. Lewis recently relocated to Albuquerque, but when he lived in far away Carlsbad his calling gigs always involved driving very long distances, and he was often reminded of that anecdote about the contra callers’ experience, “driving hundreds of miles for dozens of dollars”. His primary goal when calling a dance is simply to bring joy into the lives of the dancers, there’s really not much more one can aspire to in life. |
| Marj Mullany | |
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Merri Rudd: Website Merri Rudd, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a well-known dancer and caller in the Southwest. She has called dance weekends around the west, as well as many local gigs. Merri’s repertoire includes contras, English country, and an occasional square. Her dances are often replete with literary quotes, funny quips, and lots of fast swings, gypsies, and medleys. Merri’s gentle, relaxed style puts everyone at ease. Her contagiously enthusiastic calling and high-energy dances leave you connected to the music, clamoring for more. She especially loves working with the band to make a tune and dance collide in joy. |
| Noralyn Parsons | |
| Santa Fe/Los Alamos | |
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Jake Turin Jake Turin started contra dancing in 1983 with the Tucson Friends of Traditional Music and has been dancing on and off ever since. He has been part of the FolkMADS community since 1992 and began calling dances after his retirement in 2018. He is grateful to Will McDonald and Merri Rudd for their inspiration and encouragement and to all the wonderful musicians and dancers in our Land of Enchantment! |
| Katherine Bueler (505-316-1476) Katherine Bueler, as a caller, loves being a catalyst for dancers’ good times, and tries to be responsive to the energy and desires of the dancers and the musicians to whom these events truly belong. Katherine has been calling contra and community dances for about 10 years, and looks forward to many more. She is inspired by and feels an allegiance to the warm and welcoming spirit that has imbued New Mexico’s contradances since their inception. She owes an eternal debt and gratitude especially to Richard Wilson for his inspiration and mentorship, but also to New Mexico’s many other fine and caring and fun and committed dancers, callers, and musicians. |
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Will McDonald
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Donna Howell started dancing as an Irish Step Dancer. Looking for something less competitive to do to the music, she took up contra dancing. She has been calling contras for 32 years. She has called in 10 states and has been invited to call and/or present workshops at numerous dance camps. She also teaches and calls period dances at reenactments and historic gatherings. Donna has taught social couple dances like waltz, swing and two-step for 25 years, most recently at the Genoveva Chavez center in Santa Fe. From 2008 until 2019, Donna hosted a dance music and history program on Santa Fe Public Radio during which she interviewed numerous contra and English musicians and bands and publicized New Mexico contra dances and folk festivals. You can reach her via email. |
| Taos/Las Vegas/Northern NM | |
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Rebecca Hall: from Taos, teaches English Country Dance, which she learned at Pinewoods Camp. “I hope the Key to the Cellar, keeps the Bee in Your Bonnet, fixes the Hole in the Wall and pays the Jovial Beggar.” |
| Durango, CO | |
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Wendy Graham is a self-described “dance maniac” who serves up delicious and nutritious dances for all with infectious enthusiasm and a smile. Wendy hosts regular folk and social dances (including Latin, Swing, Blues, Country Western Two Step, and Waltz) in Durango, Colorado. She also calls community dances, dance weekends, and dance weeks throughout the U.S. and abroad. She has been involved with folk music, song and dance for over twenty years. Find out where in the world Wendy is at www.perkypantsdance.com. |
| Las Cruces/Southern NM (Southern New Mexico Music and Dance Society) |
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| Lonnie Ludeman | |