It’s Houston, it’s summer, it’s hot—too hot to walk outside.  But you still need to exercise.  So your best options are #1 hitting the treadmill in the gym…or #2 walking the air conditioned mall, right?  But after the first 1000 “tread-mall” miles, boredom sets in.  Time for option #3: Square Dancing.  Yes, that’s right, square dancing.  Did you know that a typical evening of square dancing is the equivalent of 2 hours of walking?  Best of all, this “walking to music” comes with mental challenge (following calls) social interaction (dancing) and lots of laughter (mistakes were never so much fun).  It’s inexpensive (typical dance admission is $5.00) and no two dances are ever the same.  There are more than 20 active square dance clubs in the greater Houston area, with several hundred dancers, open to couples and singles alike. Each club features different callers and options like line dancing or round dancing, special events., so you can dance almost every night of the week at a different club.  Most clubs offer basic lessons annually, so there are always classes going on from BASIC to PLUS, and on up. To learn more about square dancing in the Houston Area go to…….

Submitted by Ann Bugh

Garland Smith: Square Dance Caller & Entertainer

Square Dancing is a great activity for any kind of social event. Square Dancing provides a synergy and team-building experience that is unlike any other activity that I know of.  Garland Smith specializes in providing square dance and line dance entertainment for parties and social events.  Garland uses Square Dancing, line dancing, circle mixers, contras, and other specialty dances to provide a unique party experience that will leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

In 1957, Wade Driver learned to Square Dance from his father. Doc Driver in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was born. It was then that he performed his first singing call and has been calling ever since.

From 1957 until 1966, Wade attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and served his time as an officer in the Navy. Upon discharge from the Navy, he began to pursue a civilian career while continuing his education at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta.

In 1975, after moving to Houston, Texas, Wade quit his regular job to pursue Square Dance calling as a full time profession. In December of 1975, he produced the first records on the “Rhythm” label.

Since 1975, Wade has made Rhythm Records one of the top Square Dance labels in the world. He personally has recorded such hits as “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend”, “Boogie Grass Band”, “Dream Lover”, “New Attitude”, and many others. The success of the label is due primarily to Wade’s management and musical skills.

Wade and his wife, Helene, live in Spring, Texas. In addition to calling at home, he travels all over the world calling various Specials, State Conventions, Square Dance Resorts, and other Festivals. He has called in almost every state in the union as well as Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, England, Germany, Sweden, Austria and Canada.

In addition to his Calling career, Wade is a realtor with First Millennium Realty. This allows him the freedom to cut back on his traveling, but still call as often as he likes.  Helene is from Vasteras, Sweden and is a registered nurse specializing in orthopedics.

Wade has three children, two step children, and four grand children.

Wade has been a member of CALLERLAB since 1975 and is a past member of the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee. He is a  recipient of the CALLERLAB Milestone Award. 

Wade says, “Those of us who have made our living as Square Dance Callers owe it to the activity to put back into the activity as least as much as we have taken out. Square Dancing is a fun recreation. Callers should make sure that it always stays that way”.

Content from Wade Driver Website:  Wade Driver: Professional Square Dance Caller

Garland Smith: Square Dance Caller & Entertainer

Square Dancing is a great activity for any kind of social event. Square Dancing provides a synergy and team-building experience that is unlike any other activity that I know of. Garland Smith specializes in providing square dance and line dance entertainment for parties and social events. Garland uses Square Dancing, line dancing, circle mixers, contras, and other specialty dances to provide a unique party experience that will leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

With over 43 years of experience, Bob Baier serves as one of the nation’s finest square dance callers. Bob’s introduction to square dance calling came at the early age of 15 after taking square dance lessons at the age of 11.  He learned to call from Jim Hale and Red Dongue in 1970 at the Houston Callers Association. Since this time he has enjoyed being involved in square dancing and calling. Bob s calls in excess of 220 dance sessions a year.

Bob instructed his first square dance class in 1971 with 2 different teenage groups in Houston. Since he left Texas A&M in 1976 to become a full time professional square dance caller, he has been a featured caller for many festivals and dances in over 36 states and internationally in countries including Canada, Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Germany. Bob worked with the Winter Texas in Pharr South for 19 years before taking a full time job with the Harris County Toll Road. He is the field operations supervisor for the Patrons Emergency Assistance Team, or P.EA.T. It is Harris County’s first responders for their toll road system. He has been with H.C.T.R.A. for 10 years.

In Houston he calls at various clubs around town and teaches two weekly mainstream/plus clubs (Frontier Squares and Hey Lollies) and an Advance group (Bob’s Best).

Born and raised in Houston Texas, Bob is married to his long time love Dena. He has two wonderful children Michelle (28) and Young Bob (26). Michelle is a graduate of U.T.D with her master’s degree in Communications Disorders. She and her husband Dustin live in Kingwood Texas and have a 28 month old daughter, Lauryn. She is Bob and Dena’s 1^st grandchild and the apple of their eye. Young Bob also lives in Kingwood and works for Harris County Fleet Services in Houston.

Bob records for Elite Records, which is owned by one of his best friends, Pat Barbour. He is an accredited member of American Callers’ Association. He is also BMI/ASCAP licensed. He also has a new record coming out called “Come on ring those bells” on Ego records produced by his good friend Paul Cote.

When asked what he does in his spare time, he smiles and says square dancing, water skiing and “I just look forward to seeing you in a square.”

Content taken from Bob Baier’s Website:  Bob Baier: Professional Square Dance Caller

Garland Smith: Square Dance Caller & Entertainer

Square Dancing is a great activity for any kind of social event. Square Dancing provides a synergy and team-building experience that is unlike any other activity that I know of. Garland Smith specializes in providing square dance and line dance entertainment for parties and social events. Garland uses Square Dancing, line dancing, circle mixers, contras, and other specialty dances to provide a unique party experience that will leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Call it a hoedown, shindig, barn dance, or whatever creative name you can think of, there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned Square Dance.  Square Dancing provides a synergy and team-building experience that is unlike any other activity that I know of.   It’s a wonderful activity for entertainment at any kind of social event.    A good Square Dance Caller will have your group dancing in less than a minute, guaranteed… no previous experience required! You’ll be amazed at how quickly your group will respond and how much fun you’ll have!  Your guests will leave with a smile on their faces and a song in their heart!  If you are on the committee responsible for booking entertainment for your party or social event, book a Square Dance Caller.  Your group will have a memorable evening.  And you’ll be a star!

Garland Smith: Square Dance Caller & Entertainer

Square Dancing is a great activity for any kind of social event. Square Dancing provides a synergy and team-building experience that is unlike any other activity that I know of. Garland Smith specializes in providing square dance and line dance entertainment for parties and social events. Garland uses Square Dancing, line dancing, circle mixers, contras, and other specialty dances to provide a unique party experience that will leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

It always amazes me, the response I get in TX when I tell people I square dance. Most folks—especially in Texas—respond, “Oh yeah, I know what that is. I’ve square danced before. We had to do that in grade school. No thanks.” Growing up in VA we DIDN’T get the opportunity to learn this traditional American dance form in grade school. I was introduced to it through my parents. In the Navy, my dad was stationed all over. No matter where they went, all they had to do was locate the nearest square dance club, and they were instantly welcomed, at home, and meeting new friends. Since the basic square dance calls are standard worldwide, they could dance anywhere, whether the caller had a TX drawl or a New Yawk accent. I learned as a teen, in a young adult club that camped, danced, performed, and loved all the flourishes and western wear costumes. My folks advanced from BASIC to PLUS, and onward. They hosted dance workshops in our den, served as club officers, and loved square dancing from the time they learned in their 30s to their 80s. At their 50th anniversary party, there were more than 40 square dancers among the 200 family and friends who came to shower them with congratulations—all lifelong friends met on the dance floor. So if you danced in grade school, consider that you may not really “know all there is to know” about this wonderful dance. To learn more, check out…..

Submitted by Ann Bugh

Garland Smith: Square Dance Caller & Entertainer

Square Dancing is a great activity for any kind of social event. Square Dancing provides a synergy and team-building experience that is unlike any other activity that I know of. Garland Smith specializes in providing square dance and line dance entertainment for parties and social events. Garland uses Square Dancing, line dancing, circle mixers, contras, and other specialty dances to provide a unique party experience that will leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.