I was first introduced to square dancing when I was about 10 years old. I admit it, I loved it from the start. Why? Because I finally got to hold hands with the cutest girl in the 5th grade. While the other guys didn't want to touch the girls, I was Mr. Don Juan. By the time I was 12 I was dancing to a real caller twice a week, and was calling my own dances when I was 13. Tom Miller was calling in his early teens too. Tom made a full time career out of it, I'm just a hobbyist having a good time.

It's funny, we seem to get a lot youth interested in calling. At the past few Callerlab conventions we've recognized these young people's interest and showcased them a bit. Getting back to the 5th grade thing, nowadays when I go into a elementary school to teach square dancing, the boys still won't hold the girls hands and the gals don't want to get 'boy germs' on them. That's when I get out the box of surgical rubber gloves to have them each wear a pair. It works like a charm. They love it. Here's a clip of, get this, a young pre-teen GIRL calling.

Wow! Or how about the little dude calling in this video clip? Reminds me of me when I wasn't even as tall as the Yak Stak speakers when I first called at a Talent Show Night at a square dance.

I love the hip hop music the youth callers have. I use it too. It's something different rather than that banjo and fiddle jive. This next one is a compilation of kids calling. Notice their reading, and the dancers reaction time on the execution of the calls.
It's fun watch, it's painful to listen,but these are our future callers, who will hopefully save our activity. Way to go! DID YOU ALSO NOTICE HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DANCING IN ALL OF MY VIDEO CLIPS I AM SHARING?
After carefully viewing all 3 of these, I would love to hear your comments. www.cory-ographics.com