Mike Gormley Square Dance Caller Resume

He got a jump start, from 1982 to 1994, calling singing calls only at "Amateur Caller Nights", guest tips at dances 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, Ken Ritucci Caller Clinic (Florida) in 2011, two different Ed Foote Caller Workshops 2012, Callerlab Convention 2011 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 attended the 2011 and 2012 conventions. He is currently serving on the following committees: Mainstream, Plus, Advanced, Community Dance, and Calling in Schools.  Mike is ASCAP and BMI licensed.   Mike is a member of the Central Florida Callers Association (2000),  the South East Florida Callers and Cuers Association (2004) and the Suncoast Callers and Cuers Association (2010).  He is  a past  member of the Toledo Area Western Dance Leaders Association (1998 - 2004). He served the Suncoast Callers and Cuers Association as Vice President for the 2011/2012 season. He currently serves a 2 year term as President through the 2013/2014 season.

Mr. Gormley teaches Plus and  Mainstream level square dance classes.  He has either assisted in or has taught in at least 19 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 80 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. Mike retired as their club caller after the 2010/2011 season, having moved to Central Florida.

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. The group disbanded after about 1 1/2 years of existance.

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.

From 1999, Mike and his wife sold their home and began a new life style called "Full Time RV'ing".   For 12 years they traveled the country in their RV while working short term jobs and enjoying life.  In April 2011, he and his wife, Colleen, moved into a mobile home in Sebring, FL. They will continue their RV'ing in the Summer months and seeks nation wide bookings.

Give him a call.  (No pun intended!)