Jim Buechler

Dance Caller, Taos, New Mexico

All my dancing (Contra, English Country, Scandinavian) prior to 1996 was done around Boston and Cape Cod. I was dancing with the late great caller and choreographer Ted Sanella when he and I were both (alas) young, when he did nothing but squares and nobody was as yet doing contras. When I returned to Boston after ten years, the callers were Ted, Tony Parkes, Todd Whittemore and Ralph Page. Contras were in, squares were fast going out. I don't remember Ralph Page very well except that one night he scolded me and Hope during a walk-through. Nevertheless I intend to get to the Ralph Page Memorial Weekend in New Hampshire sometime soon.

 

We moved to Taos in 1996 and helped to re-establish the monthly Taos dance, which had lapsed, shortly after. I've been calling this dance in alternate months since November 1999. In addition I've called at fundraisers and other special events-type dances as well as for the regular series in Durango and Santa Fe.

 


As for the kinds of dances I call, the program I did in Santa Fe in July of 2001 should give some idea:

The Lady of the Lake, but with the parts re-arranged and a flourish or two added;

Double Balance Contra, my own dance;

Scandinavian circle waltz mixer as danced at the monthly Gamaldans in Boston;

California Contra, by Tony Parkes;

Holy Trinity Hey, a Paul Balliet dance changed slightly and re-named for the parish hall we used in Taos until recently;

Summer of '84, by Gene Hubert;

Bicycle Chain Rotation, my own dance;

For Those Who Cared, by Tony Parkes;

What the Hey, by Becky Hill;

and Sugar Hill Zombies, by Gene Hubert.

During intermission I taught the Norwegian (or "walking" or "sound-check") Polka, with which many contra dances around Boston begin the evening. We danced it to begin the second half.

I like the California Twirl figure. I like dances that separate partners and re-unite them later. I like elegant dances such as waltz contras in the style of The Duke of Kent's Waltz, but I like boisterous, or robust, dances as well. I like to call one or two of my own dances; otherwise why write them.

Click here to email Jim.

FolkMADS home