From the Mic

Episode 18 - David Smukler

Episode Summary

This episode we hear from the most excellent David Smukler. A dance caller, scholar, organizer, choreographer, teacher, champion of chestnuts…the list goes on. He grew up singing folk songs with his mom and began dancing contras in New Hampshire as a teen. In 1981 he was drafted to call for his local dance and has been calling ever since. David helped create an innovative Central New York gathering for callers, as well as the world’s first Contra Prom. David has recently returned for another term on the CDSS board and is next in line to serve as board president!

Episode Notes

See the From the Mic website for great bonus content, including pictures and audio, transcripts, and more. Click here to download the transcript directly.

And the Country Dance and Song Society for information about Contra and English country dance across the continent.

• Learn more about David on his website including some of the dances he’s written!
  • In the show David mentions these dances:
    • Robin Hood
    • Maid Marian's Fancy
    • David’s Triplet #1.5 (A.K.A. “Corner Triplet,” by Linda Leslie)
• Also make sure to check out his book (co-authored with David Millstone):
  • Buy the book: Cracking Chestnuts: The Living Tradition of Classic American Contra Dances
  • Also useful is this amazing online video library, which shows examples of every dance in the book

 Sound bites featured in this episode (in order of appearance):

• David calling the traditional chestnut British Sorrow for the Country Dancers of Rochester at Harmony House in Webster New York in April, 2023 with music by "Confluence" (Nadine Dyskant-Miller and Barbara Dyskant.)
• David calling the traditional dance “Careless Sally” at the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend in 2009 with music by George Wilson, Deanna Stiles, Bob McQuillen