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CALLING HISTORY OF GARRY DODDS

In the spring of 1965, while living at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, I found some singing call records which my mother had borrowed, and had some fun singing along with them. That fall, I learned to dance with the Polar Teens and called my first tip in December 1965.

During the next year, I produced a weekly 1/2 hour Square Dance Radio Program at CHCL Radio, where I was working part-time. Assisting my tutor, Bud Hickson, we started a class in Bonnyville, Alberta, which became the club known as the Beaux & Belles. In the winter of 1966, Bud and Chet MacKay conducted a Callers Clinic on the Base, which I completed.

Moving to Victoria in 1968 to attend University, I became involved with the Swinging Singles and continued calling under the guidance of Ron Tucknott and Dave Routley.

Activities from there:
    • December 1969 - started calling for the Salty Wheels       on Salt Spring Island.
    • 1971 - started a class in Sooke called the Sooke       Rustlers.
    • 1972 - started a club at UVic called the Tangle Foot       Twisters.
    • 1974 - became club caller for the Triple C's.
    • 1977 - while helping John Corrigan to learn to call,       started a workshop group for experimental       movements.
    • 1978 - This group became Victoria's first Plus club        - the Star Twirlers.
    • 1999 - started calling for the Diamond Squares of       Ladysmith (Mainstream). Along with this, was co-host       caller for the Country Maples Campout
    • 2000 - , Pat Zeeman began cueing with me for
      Star Twirlers. This partnership worked well, on and off       the stage, and Pat began to cue at all of the       dance functions that I was calling for. She was       quickly accepted by both the Star Twirlers and the       Diamond Squares as their cuer.
    • From 2003 - the host caller / cuer for the Country       Maples campout.
    • January 2004 - start of Covid- called and cued for the
      Travelling Squares of Nanaimo
    • 2011-2014 – shared calling and cueing for the       Amalgameighters of Lanzville.
    • Called on the B.C Square Dance Jamboree program for       10 years.
    • 2014 – Started calling / cueing for the
       FrontierTwirlers.
    • Taught new dancers classes since 1971.
    • Taught Plus program classes since 1978.
    • Teaching A1 and A2 since January 2013.
    • Co-Chair for BC Festival "Oceanside 2013".

I have been honoured by being the featured caller in a number of functions including:
    • Kitsap Square Dance Council Labour Day weekend       Campout (Bremerton Wa.).
    • International Dances in Port Angeles.
    • Two weekend events for the Sourdough Stompers,       Whitehorse, Yk.
    • Circle 8's Square Dance Club in Quesnel.
    • MacKenzie Promenaders, MacKenzie BC.
    • Sam Steel Days in Cranbrook, BC.
    • Spring Jamboree in Prince George, BC.
    • Various UVISDA Association Dances.

Joined the Victoria & District Caller-Teachers Association in November 1969:
    • Became Treasurer in 1973.
    • 1974, took on the position of Lottery Ticket Chairman       and held the position for 10 years.
    • Since then served several terms as Treasurer, Round       Dance Chairman and Vice- President (currently).

I joined Callerlab in 1978 and currently serve on the Plus Committee, the Overseas Caller Liaison Committee and the Caller Training Committee. I am working towards developing my caller training skills with the goal of becoming accredited by Callerlab as a Caller Coach. I have been priveledged to have worked with Daryl Clendenin at his Caller's School in 1997, 2006, 2008, and have conducted Callers' Schools in Nanaimo in September 2003 and 2007.

We have been attending as many campouts as possible including Circle 8 Ranch Plus weekend with Daryl Clendenin, Jerry Junck and Doug Davis.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of the dancers that have supported me and made the past 57 years so enjoyable. Would not have been able made it without you.

Now: BC Directors to the Canadian Square and Round Dance Society and Vice-President to the CSRDS.

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