CBDanceman Square Dance Caller from Grants Pass, OR

Dance Leader/Instructor/DJ Services Carl Ballou, aka CBDanceman, has been a dance leader for over 30 years, MC-ing Folk and Square Dance programs for Churches, Schools, Scout Troupes, YMCA groups, youth organizations, and other functions from the West Coast to the Mid-West. Carl's specialty is taking a group with little or no dance experience and introduce them to the joy of dancing. His programs (about 2 hours long) consist of fun, easy dances from America's Heritage that everyone can do - with brief instruction from the floor. Carl has worked with groups of all ages, from school kids to seniors, a wide range of abilities, including troubled youth and handicapped, and even a young adult church group where half the dancers were deaf. Carl is also available for private and small group instruction in Basic Ballroom Dance, customized choreography for Bridal Couple's First Dance, and DJ services for Special Events and Weddings. Carl Ballou grew up in a folk dancing family. Born & raised in San Jose, California, he was dragged out onto the floor at a YMCA family folk dance camp at age 5 and introduced to fun dances such as Hokey Pokey and Virginia Reel. Returning to the camp each Labor Day Weekend with his family, by 14 he had learned waltz, polka, schottische, contra, quadrille, and square dances, plus other folk dances from around the world. In high school, Carl and his family were taking weekly classes and attending folk and square dance festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area. By college, he was a popular square dance caller. His love of dance and his enthusiasm for fun, family-oriented activities led him to specialize in programs for groups that have no previous dance experience. Over the next two decades Carl was a Dance Leader / MC for schools, churches, YMCA, company parties, youth and senior citizen groups throughout the Bay Area. When he moved to the Mid-West, he opened a dance hall in Branson, MO. Unfortunately, the Branson Dance Barn closed after one year, but he continued to lead programs for local high school students, regional Girl Scout troupes and a home-schooled children's group. Retuning to the West Coast, he continues to provide Oregon and Northern California communities with a unique and much needed social activity. His goal is to introduce everyone to a fun, old-time family-oriented experience that America grew up with, before TV, the internet and Covid-19. The music and dances from a variety of different cultures influenced the growth of this country and brought people together. Whether it's a Church Social, Barn Dance, community picnic, youth club activity, or school function - Dancing is Fun for Everyone, Set to Music!