Host Mary Wesley takes you behind the caller's mic to explore perspectives from the people who choose to stand in that curious place between the band and a roomful of dancers. Featuring conversations with callers of American social dance forms (contras, community dances, trad squares). Why do they do it? How did they learn? What is their role, on stage and off, in shaping our dance communities?
This week, Mary Wesley talks with Emily Rush, a contra caller, organizer, and DJ from Durham, North Carolina. Emily has been calling since 2013, after Rick Mohr's week-long callers workshop at CDSS Family Week at Timber Ridge. She's especially known for Rushfest—her signature blend of contra dancing to recorded pop music, which she mixes herself—and she has brought it to dance weekends and events across the country. At home she helps run a lively dance community in North Carolina's Triangle region. Emily and Mary talk about how she ended up at the caller's mic, the art of mixing recorded music for contra, working with live bands, and building dance communities that are welcoming, communicative, and fun. There's lots of laughter along the way, because Emily's mantra is simple: we're all here to have a good time - enjoy!
29 Aug 2026
Episode 35 - Margaret Bary
This episode we talk with Margaret Bary who teaches English country dance in New York City and beyond. She's also a community dance leader, ritual dancer, and dance choreographer along with he husband, Jeff. A lifelong dancer and dance educator, Margaret has a background in modern dance and holds an MFA in Dance Choreography. Underlying her work with people of all ages, Margaret believes that participatory dance fosters joy, self-expression, and connection between people.
In this conversation, Margaret reflected on the many strands of experience that inform her teaching and calling—from creative movement and musicality to observation, playfulness, and learning through the body. She shares some of her wonderful insights into the subtle skills that help create joyful, connected experiences on the dance floor. Enjoy!
26 Jun 2026
Episode 34 - Ghislain Jutras
This episode we talk with Ghislene “Gigi” Jutras, a renowned square dance caller from the "bois-franc" region of south-central Québec. Gigi shares how discovering square dance parties in a farmhouse kitchen sparked a lifelong passion for dance, music, and community. Now he’s actively calling throughout Québec and beyond, traveling in his camper van to festivals around the rich and active contemporary dance scene there. This episode, recorded nearly a year ago during a backlog of episodes, marks our return to the FTM feed—this summer, we’re excited to bring more caller conversations your way!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
31
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
76
Contact From the Mic
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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