Catapult! The National Contra Showcase: Mary Wesley

Mary Wesley:

Hometown: Ferrisburg, VT

Contact: mary@marywesley.com

Profile:

After seeing several other young callers in action I was inspired to find a way to participate in and contribute to the tradition and community I had so fallen in love with. I started asking other callers how they got started. One person let me call a guest slot at a dance, then another. Then someone told me about Lisa Greenleaf's contra dance caller class at Pinewoods American Week. I attended that summer. About a year later with a few more guest calling slots and a few small community dances under my belt I decided I needed some peer support to help me improve my calling. I started the Mad Robin Callers Collective in Burlington, VT in the fall of 2009.

As a group we gathered to practice and talk about calling and worked to get gigs as a group. Together we learned how to handle a whole evening and our gigs were opportunities for each of us to call and get feedback. With the support of this group I eventually started to get more solo gigs but I continue to call with the Mad Robins as there is always more to learn, together!

Others describe me as friendly, energetic, patient, encouraging, passionate, excited, inclusive, accessible and FUN!

Come see for yourself in May in Atlanta.

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