Bios

Stan Russell, Square Dance Caller Extraoridinaire

Stan Russell has been calling square dances for the past 28 years. He recalls that he even had the urge to do so when he first started square dance classes at the tender age of 14. When I asked what it was that fascinated him about calling, he said that in his youth he was not particularly athletic, but calling was something that he could do and do well he has done!

He says his biggest challenge was learning to sing. While still in high school he joined various chorales and worked his way up to concert choir. He took voice lessons to polish his singing skills and it was many years before he really felt comfortable.

Stan is married to Brenda who often accompanies him to the dances and is an exemplary dancer in her own right. Their daughter Emily attended our square dance classes whe she was 12. This young lady has mastered square dancing and won the hearts of everyone who has danced with her!

What else does Stan do? He tried his hand at real estate for a number of years. He now works for radio station WKDY 1400 in the Spartanburg area. He says he loves his job, which is in the area of sales and production. He also writes and records commercials for the station. In his spare time, he loves to cook and does most of the cooking at home. His favorite dishes involve Cajun and Creole.

His advice to square dancers who want to improve: Go to lots of dances. Treat it as a vocation instead of a hobby. Seek out opportunities to attend workshops. Go back through the classes several times. Read the manual several times and review the challenging calls till you really know them well.

When asked what it is about square dancing that he likes best, Stan replied that it’s the feeling of being part of a great big family no matter where you go. It’s the expression of affection through hugs and good times that makes square dancers a special bunch of people.

Salute to Our Wonderful Round Dance Cuers!

At all first Saturday dances, Matthew Temples and Ramona Stowe will be cueing for Southern Lights. They come to us from Cornelia, Georgia. Matthew has been teaching for 7 year and both have been teaching for five years. They cue for 5 square dance clubs. Matthew & Ramona are members of Roundalab, the Georgia Round Dance Teachers Association and are BMI/ASCAP licensed.Matt works full time with the Georgia Department of Transportation as a road design engineer out of their Gainesville, GA office and Ramona is a retired buyer/purchaser for G.E

On all third Saturday dances, Lou and Al Krech ce at Southern Lights, In addition to cueing special dances for a number of other clubs, Lou teaches two line dance classes during the day, she and Al also teach round dance lessons in Columbia and Greenville and dance with the National Carousels Club #232 in Columbia.

Lou, who has attended and cued at five national conventions. is a member of ICBDA (International Cued Ballroom Dance Association); DRDC (Dixie Round Dance Council); Roundalab (for which she serves on committees that review standards for phase 2 and 3 dancing); and the South Carolina Callers Association (which she has served as Secretary for the last five years). The Kreches have three children and two grandchildren.