Our Caller & Cuer

Square dancing runs in the Brendzy family. Ray and Christine Brendzy, their son Nicholas and daughter Caitlyn all dance and each of them, except Christine, also call and cue.

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.

Randy & Marie Preskitt Randy and Marie started dancing in the late 60’s with teen square dance clubs in the Seattle area.  Randy got behind the microphone early as a square dance caller in 1971 and got his first club in 1977. He started cueing in the 80’s when it became standard for all round dances to be cued. Randy gave up calling in 1996 to focus all his attention on round dancing.  

Randy and Marie met in 1978 at the Penticton Jamboree in British Columbia, Canada.  They were married in 1979 and have been dancing together ever since. Randy and Marie have 2 round dance clubs: “The Monday Bunch” dancing Phase 5 & 6 and the “Happy Rounders” dancing Phase 3 & 4. Both clubs dance at the Hayloft in Lynwood, Washington. But he just couldn't give up calling forever, and now also calls and cues for the “Shirts N Skirts” teen club of which their children are members.

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!