| Mike Gormley began square dancing in 1980 learning Plus
level squares
and Phase III rounds.
He got a jump start, from 1982 to 1994, calling at "Amateur
Caller
Nights" and informal camping square dance weekends.
Eventually in 1994, the Toledo Area Western Dance Leaders
Association in Ohio (TAWDLA), sponsored a volunteer mentorship
program. Out of 3
interested callers, Mike was the only one to finish the program.
His
primary mentors were Phyllis Gilson of Adrian, Michigan and Randy
Stephenson
from Walbridge, Ohio.
Mike is a graduate of the Ed Foote Caller School (Pennsylvania) in
1995 and the Midwest Callers School (Indiana) in 1999. The Midwest
Callers School was a scholarship grant from TAWDLA.
Mike also has attended caller training seminars at national and state
conventions, the Michigan Square Dance Callers Association Fall Workshops
(1995 and 1996), Rural Callers Association (Florida) in 2001, the
Don Hanhurst DBD seminar in 2003, and Comedy Workshop at the Marathon
Community Theater in 2008.
Mike began calling full dances in 1995. He has called at the
1996, 1997, and 2007 U.S. Nationals, 1998 Canadian National Convention,
seven Ohio Dance Conventions, local festivals, special dances and
is often asked to call a guest tip while dancing with various clubs.
His experiences include working with the dynamics of live bands.
Although Mr. Gormley calls thru Plus level, he believes
Mainstream
is the solution to square dancing's long term needs. Therefore,
when calling at the Mainstream level, he strives to call an interesting
mainstream material. One Night Stands are also part of his
qualifications and experiences.
Mike also offers Phase II rounds, line dances, contras
and
mixers in his program. He has been know to throw in a yodel or
two
in his calling.
In 1995, he joined the American Callers Association and in 2004 he changed
his membership to CALLERLAB as a Full Member. He is currently
serving on the Committee for Community Dance. Mike is ASCAP
and BMI licensed. Mike is a member of the Central Florida
Callers Association (2000) and the South East Florida Callers
and Cuers Association (2004). He is a past member
of the Toledo Area Western Dance Leaders Association (1998 - 2004)
Mr. Gormley teaches Plus and Mainstream level square dance
classes. He has either assisted in or has taught in at least
12 classes. His method is to teach by the definition of the
call and takes as much time as necessary for a full understanding
of those calls.
In April of 1998, Mike started an email list for Toledo, Ohio area
square and round dancers. It evolved into what now is know as
"SquareDanceToledo" on the Yahoo Groups server with approximately
70 members.
October 2001, Mike started a new caller run Mainstream
club in Central
Florida known as the "4-Corner Squares". The club was
passed on to Ted Hughes beginning in the Fall of 2004.
Also in April of 2004, Mike began the club calling duties of Plus on
Tuesdays and Mainstream on Thursdays for the Long Key Squares
in the Florida Keys. He also started the "Long_Key_Squares"
mailing list on Yahoo Groups.
In February of 2006, the "Key West Community Dancers" was
formed. Mike was asked to be the caller. With this dance group new
dancers are welcome every session. It has since evolved into a caller
run group.
In December of 2002, Mike was asked to assist in making a
television commercial for kids ages 9 to 13 years old. It was a
joint venture between
"The Center for Disease Control and VERBNOW.COM". The
commercial
emphasized the verb "swing" and the square dance call "swing" is to be
included
in the commercial along with other forms of "swing" found on a tennis
court,
baseball field, and on children's playgrounds. The
commercial aired during the 2003 calendar year on the ABC, NBC, CBS,
UPN, FOX,
and Warner Brothers television networks.
In the Fall of 1999, Mike and his wife sold their home and
began
a new life style called "Full Time RV'ing". They now travel
the
country in their RV while working short term jobs and enjoying
life.
Hence, Mike now has the opportunity to call/teach in your area.
Give him a call. (No pun intended!)
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