Our Caller & Cuer
Ray Brendzy - Caller
Ray Brendzy began square dancing at the early age of seven, when he was dragged to his first class by his parents. After his first year of dancing, Ray developed an interest in calling. The following year he joined a youth square dance club where he became proficient in all aspects of square dancing: calling, round dancing and square dancing. He annually participated in a local teen competition, and received many awards for his abilities. He is still the only competitor to receive the senior calling championship for five consecutive years. He became club caller for the youth group at eighteen. He remained with them for twelve years and channeled his efforts into producing some of the finest youth callers and dancers in the Lower Mainland.
Ray has called for many clubs over the years. He currently has clubs in the Vancouver,BC area. He is also an avid dancer, and tries to get out at least one night a week. He has recently completed a C3A teach, and is doing some calling at that level as well. Ray enjoys traveling with his calling, and is often out of town.
MaryAnn Callahan & Craig Cowen - Cuer
MaryAnn & Craig started dancing together in 1991, teaching round dancing together in 1992, in Mountain View, CA.
MaryAnn got involved in Square & Round Dancing & Clogging as a teenager in Medford, Oregon. Upon moving to Northern California, MaryAnn partnered with Craig Cowan for 12 years. After Craig moved to Seattle, MaryAnn danced & choreographed several routines with other instructors. Craig continued to be an active participant in round dancing in Seattle, WA and Sandpoint, ID.
Craig is a 3rd generation square & round dancer. As a teenager in Fremont, CA Craig starting round dancing at Phase 3 and fast tracking to Phase 5. After moving to Seattle, WA Craig started working with Doug & Janet Seavy who were instrumental in training youth dancers for competition and exhibitions.
MaryAnn & Craig refreshed their partnership in 2013. They have been featured and cued at several California Festivals, Oregon Festivals, Nevada Festivals, Idaho Festivals, ICBDA conventions and also the Square Dance National Convention. Based in Northern California, MaryAnn & Craig cue & teache Phase 2 through 6 ; teaching a Phase 3-4 Transition class where students concentrate on proper dance position, figures & execution of figures, and lead/follow in the different rhythms, a Phase 4-5 and a Ph 4-6 Carousel Club #325 called “Moonlight Dancers”, that she and Craig had originally started in 1992.
MaryAnn still square dances through Challenge 1, Craig to Advanced 2 and both Craig & MaryAnn enjoy all types of dancing as much as possible. They are also privileged to be working previously with Darryl Lipscomb and currently with Romney Tannehill at McCloud Dance County’s A2 week.
MaryAnn & Craig are active members of ROUNDALAB, participating on several committees, Northern California Round Dance Teacher’s Association (NCRDTA); and International Choreographed Ballroom Dance Association They also choreograph routines from Phase 2 to Phase 5 which can be found at www.mixed-up.com/moonlight or www.ncrdta.org/callahan or at the www.roundalab.org/cuesheets site.
Phil “Phil-Billy” Ramey - Host Caller
Born and raised in the Mid-West, “Phil-Billy” grew up on good old-fashioned barn dancing in West Virginia. After being discharged from the Navy and moving to Arizona, his family reunions and visits home always seemed to come with a bit of that barn dancing. But it wasn’t until his move to California that he discovered more modern square dancing. The appeal was irresistible and in no time at all, he was taking lessons.
Over the next 25 years of square dancing, more than one caller said, “YOU need to be a caller!” His crazy work hours put the kibosh on that. But after retirement in 2012, he received a birthday card from several square-dancing friends with a receipt inside to a callers’ school along with a note saying “Now, No Excuses!”
And they were right! Phil-Billy Ramey went to caller school, moved to Oregon and is now the Club Caller for the Star Promenaders in Medford!