Via a grant from the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS), Birmingham Footmad will host a series of seven workshops for you to learn how to call and/or sharpen your calling skills, culminated by a Footmad graduation dance on April 18, 2026, where you get to teach and call. The workshops will take place at the YWCA Saturday afternoons 3PM to 5PM before the regular Footmad dances that start at 7PM. The first workshop will take place January 17th, 2026, with the last one on April 18, 2026.
We charge a $35 registration fee that covers all seven workshops - a real bargain.
To register, send an email to Joyce Cauthen's gmail address joycecauthen.
We charge a $35 registration fee that covers all seven workshops - a real bargain.
To register, send an email to Joyce Cauthen's gmail address joycecauthen.
Description of Workshops
Each session will offer an hour of instruction on an area of dance leading such as teaching dance figures, non-gendered calling, working with live music, planning a program, and more. This will be followed by an hour of mentored calling practice by participants, allowing you the opportunity to grow your skills in a supportive and welcoming environment. Jim and Joyce Cauthen and friends will provide live music during that time. Then, after a dinner break, you’ll have the opportunity to dance to your mentors and observe them in action as they call our Saturday Night dance.
The final date in April will be a graduation dance, with calling by the workshop participants. Come to all seven sessions and watch yourself grow!
The final date in April will be a graduation dance, with calling by the workshop participants. Come to all seven sessions and watch yourself grow!
- Instructors
Robbin spent 30 years as a well-known caller of contras, squares and community dances. She served on the calling staff for numerous CCDS weeks at Pinewoods camp, was Director of Family Week, and taught contras, play parties, and Alexander Technique at Christmas Country Dance School in Berea, KY. Robbin is the Founding Director of the Summer Kodály program at George Mason University, where she taught graduate level certification courses in Kodály pedagogy. Currently, Robbin has been enjoying exploring dance musicianship, playing in the bands Reelplay and Shapeshifter. Robbin teaches piano and Alexander technique lessons in Atlanta, GA.
Cis began her calling career in 1987 and overcame stage fright to do it. Since then she has gained national and international fame, known for her welcoming demeanor, enthusiasm, and skilled teaching. She calls traditional contra and square dances, also teaches modern western squares and has experience with English country dance. She is a particular favorite of Footmad, having called multiple Footmad Mentone dance weekends throughout the years.
Diane danced for several years with the Cincinnati Lindy Circle, a performance swing dance troupe. She has called dances and led workshops in contra, clogging, swing, and other couples dances at hundreds of evenings, festivals, and workshops across the U.S. and abroad. She also plays the fiddle and is a member of the Green Grass Cloggers, in North Carolina. As a caller, she draws from southern Appalachian and New England traditions, depending on the audience and the band.
Since beginning his calling career in 1997, Seth has called dances and dance weekends across the United States (including our fair city) and in Bonaire, Canada, England, Denmark, France, Germany, and Greece. He has also organized multiple dance weekends and dance weeks (Florida Rhapsody (1997-2001), Bonaire Dance and Dive (2005), Terpsichore’s Dance Holiday (2015-2019), Rhapsody Adventure in Paxos, Greece (2025)). He maintains a website dedicated to dancing which includes multiple resources for callers. Passionate about teaching dance leadership, he has taught contra, square, English, and community calling intensives.
Janet is based in Atlanta GA where she has been a mainstay for 30+ years. With smooth walk-throughs, infectious humor and a dash of southern charm, she has delighted dancers throughout the US Whether with zippy contras, rowdy squares, or quirky odd formations, she brews up fun for every crowd. Janet uses both dance and song to draw people into community, and her Sunday Singings have long been a joyful feature of many a dance weekend.
Wendy (Brasstown, NC) is a self-described “dance maniac.” Her passion for traditional folk music, song, and dance caught fire in 1991 on a youth dance tour of Denmark. Today, she leads English Country, American contras and squares, community, and partner dance around the USA and abroad. Wendy programs music, song, and dance classes at John C. Campbell Folk School. As a piano and accordion player, she has a deep understanding of the relationship between music and dance. She served on the Lloyd Shaw Foundation and CDSS boards, is a CDSS nominating committee member, and the Cumberland Dance Week program director.