Carl Ballou, aka CBDanceman, is a DJ, Emcee, ballroom dance teacher, and dance leader of Folk and Square Dance programs for weddings, church socials, school classes, youth organization parties, and other special events.
Carl's specialty is taking a group with little or no dance experience and introducing them to the joy of dancing. His Barn Dance program (about 2 hours) consists of fun, easy dances from America's Heritage that everyone can do - with brief instruction from the floor.
Carl has worked with groups of all ages, from school kids to seniors, and a wide range of abilities, including troubled youth and handicapped.
Let Carl show the fun he can bring to your group/organization/event.
Carl helped our group of beginners have a wonderful afternoon. He was engaging, fun and most importantly adapted to the needs of the group. Would recommend him to anyone.
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks Lauren! I had a great time leading the dancing for your Mother's 80th Birthday celebration.
The group of wary beginners all learned some new moves and had a really great time. Carl did a great job.
Response from CBDanceman:
Thank you Heather! I always enjoy entertaining new and "long-ago" dancers and sharing the social fun of "shaking-a -leg" at an old-fashioned Barn Dance.
Carl made our wedding reception so fun. He played a great mix of music as people were walking in and throughout the meal, and then while dancing. The barn dance segment was a blast. He lead a bunch of fun group dances which got lots of people involved. Everyone had a great time. I would greatly recommend Carl because he brings an awesome attitude, attention to detail and really wants you to have the party exactly how you like it.
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks Noah & Abbey, I had a great time too!
Your father gave me the best compliment - "Everybody is on the floor, dancing, laughing, and smiling!" Truly a great time was had by all!
CB Danceman is a stellar caller! He made our Church Square Dance a huge success! He knows how to engage the group--from age 5 to 85--everyone in the arena was participating. It was wonderful to see parents, kids and seniors enjoying an evening together. Highly recommend him for your next family gathering, church or school event/fundraiser.
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks Donalyn! I had a great time entertaining your Church group. I look forward to your next event!
Carl had everyone hopping for a round of square dancing and then DJ dancing later. Very professional, great to work with!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thank you David and Loretta!
I had a great time as well and hope to entertain you and your guests again in the future!
I think he would be great for dancers with more mobility & experience than our group had. We used CBDanceman for my grandmas 90th birthday. Unfortunately I mentioned to him beforehand that we were all beginners & a lot of party guests would have limited mobility. I tried to communicate this as best as possible but it seemed like the dance choices were pretty complex & overly complicated for what I was hoping for, not to mention they included a lot of turning around which I had communicated I wanted to avoid the most. He also kept calling my grandma by the wrong name so that wasn’t a plus.
Carl provides an amazing experience. Not only is he prompt, communicative, and friendly, he is also a great instructor, and guarantees our guests have a wonderful time. Cannot recommend him enough. You're guaranteed to have a wonderful time!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks Amy, had a great time as well. Already looking forward to next July 4th backyard event!
WOW! We had a wonderful time with CBDanceman at our family camp event last weekend! We have a western themed day every year and have had different entertainment for our evening program-this was by far the best engagement we've had for a dance in many years. All ages were dancing and laughing having a great time, different dances for all levels and fun for everyone. We had awesome reviews for the event on our own evaluations. "I've never felt like I could participate in the evening dance, this year was different-I was able to learn a new dance and I had fun learning it!"
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks so much Rachel, I had a blast as well. LET'S DO IT AGAIN!!!
Looking forward to future Frontier Days and Dance Events at your wonderful facility!
Carl Ballou, CBDanceman
Our 8th Grade Class had a wonderful time dancing the Virginia Reel and other moves with CBDanceman explaining how it works. We had active participation from both youth and adults which was unexpected given that many were first timers. We would definitely book CBDanceman again. Thanks / Katharine Earhart | Oakland-based fundraising event for 8th Graders & their parents.
Response from CBDanceman:
Thank you Katharine! I had a great time as well, looking forward to a new group of 8th Graders and parents next year.
Carl did a great job coordinating with us before the event and ensuring that we had thought about all the elements of the wedding - ceremony through reception. He did a great job of helping us think of music that fit all ages of people in attendance! Great that he also mic'ed the ceremony! Guests appreciated the opportunity to make requests! We had a couple of challenges with the speakers and microphones being a bit out of range for the toasts and some of the music requested wasn't played - but he did a good job improvising to ensure that it was covered. Guests got out and danced and enjoyed the evening!
Response from CBDanceman:
Hey there Stephanie, thank you so much... I had a great time too, and it was an honor to be part of your celebration. And I even missed most of the rain!
Carl called the dances during our Grandparents Week, where children and adults participated in reel dances and folk dances. He was very professional and worked well with all ages. Fun was had by all.
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks Leslie, definitely keep me on your list for next year's Grandparents Week.
Carl was amazing, and we had the best time. Thank you for coming! We highly suggest him for your event!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks Amy! I had a great time too and welcome the opportunity to entertain your group again
Carl is awesome! He made the night so fun and special for our everyone at our party. We were all 50 somethings and total beginners—Carl had us dancing in no time. We were able to request music, too. We also learned a little bit about the history of each dance and barn dances. When we weren’t dancing, Carl dj’d our favorite tunes and more that were the country style of the night. He was enthusiastic, patient, kind, thoughtful and easy to work with. We will definitely do another dance party with Carl!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thank you Debra, leading the Barn Dance for your group was a blast! It was a pleasure working with you and I look forward to your next "raise the roof" dancing event.
He was so easy to work with, patient and kind with a church group who had no idea what they were doing!! It was so much fun, everyone had a great time, thank you so much!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thank you so much Elizabeth, I had a great time "entertaining" your group. The live band you had was perfect for the event, playing great music, and keeping the toes tapping. And they were able to pick-up my cues from across the hall, allowing the participants to go from one selection to another with no down time. I hope we might be able to make this event an annual one!
Photos from this event
Our church had a family square dance and Carl was our caller for the event. We had approximately 50 participants of all ages (old and young) on the dance floor. Carl was professional and taught us well, and he was able to adjust his program on the fly to match the abilities of our inexperienced group. I'd definitely book him again and highly recommend him to anyone looking for someone for a similar event!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks so much, Toby. I had a great time too - your group was super and I look forward to another Barn Dance sometime in the future!
Mr. Ballou led a family night square dance event for Champions Special Ministries summer day camp program. This was the final party of the week. Campers, their families, and volunteers enjoyed this fun dance time together. Mr. Ballou did a great job of demonstrating and leading each dance, as well as making appropriate adjustments based on the needs of campers.
Response from CBDanceman:
Thanks Kelley, I had a great time too! Looking forward to dancing with the campers and families again next year.
This program was fun for all ages! We truly enjoyed our time, learned a lot and had a blast!
Response from CBDanceman:
thanks so much Amy. I had a lot of fun leading the dancing for your Family Reunion. It looked like everyone, from 3 year olds to great-grandparents were having a good time and I hope we can do it again sometime!
For my wife's birthday, we used Mr. Ballou for a square dance. Our group ranged from grandkids to their 89 year old great grandmother, and all ages in between. Because of his professionalism and feel for the group, Mr. Ballou made the occasion a rousing success! He led us along patiently, first without music--just teaching us the proper steps, then with music as we progressed. Everyone had a terrific time, and we can't recommend Mr. Ballou highly enough. All the kids insisted that we make this an annual event! I think we will!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thank you Don!, I had a great time too and look forward to dancing with your family again
Carl did a great job teaching my students, parents and colleagues a variety of folk dances. Everyone had fun, and I hope to have him back soon!
Response from CBDanceman:
Hi Deanna,
Thanks so much, I look forward to coming back and presenting a full evening of Barn Dancing for your students and families soon!
Mr. Ballou was a huge addition to our Family Health and Fitness Night!
Everyone enjoyed the dancing:)
Response from CBDanceman:
Hi Jennie,
Thanks for including me in your Health & Fitness night at Grace Hill. I had a great time and it looked like those who participated had fun too. I hope we might be able to do a real school Barn Dance sometime in the future.
CBDanceman was flexible with our needs, was knowledgeable and enjoyed teaching dancing to a group that had never square danced before. We had a great celebration night!
Response from CBDanceman:
Thank you Linda, your group was great and I got a lot of very positive feedback from the dancers. Lots of fun. Looking forward to providing you another dance experience soon!
Carl Ballou, CBDanceman
Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 60 - 180 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $5,000 - through American Caller's Assoc
Barn Dance Program - Family friendly dancing - ages 7 and up
This program is 2 hours long and starts with simple non-partner dances that anyone can do with a short period of instruction. Carl uses a wireless mic and demonstrates all dances in the center of the floor. Each new dance builds on the previous dance skills, and he varies the program to each group’s ability to ensure maximum participation and enjoyment. Basic contra, square dance, and circle figures are introduced, with couple, mixer, and non-partner dances included throughout the program. With 2 short breaks for refreshments and announcements, the dancing commences with fun novelty dances such as the Hokey Pokey, Macarena, and Chicken Dance. And it all concludes with the traditional Virginia Reel and Big Circle Dance.
DJ Services - For Special Events, Company Parties, Church Socials, Fund Raisers, School Functions, Family Celebrations - with a music library that spans Big Band to Hip Hop, Classic Rock to Modern Pop, Country to Electronic Dance Music, plus a fun mix of waltz, polka, swing, cha-cha, latin, mixers, and novelty dances that gets everyone up and boogie-ing.
Personable and professional, Carl's goal is to make sure everyone is having a great time and keep the event moving along. All family friendly and in good taste.
And, if you wish, you can include a Barn Dance segment where Carl introduces fun old-fashioned dances from America's Heritage that everyone can do, with a brief instruction from the floor.
Carl Ballou grew up in a folk dancing family. Born & raised in San Jose, California, he was dragged out onto the floor at a YMCA family folk dance camp at age 5 and introduced to fun dances such as Hokey Pokey and Virginia Reel. Returning to the camp each Labor Day Weekend with his family, by 14 he had learned waltz, polka, schottische, contra, quadrille, and square dances, plus other folk dances from around the world. In high school, Carl and his family were taking weekly classes and attending folk and square dance festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area. By college, he was a popular square dance caller. His love of dance and his enthusiasm for fun, family-oriented activities led him to specialize in Barn Dance programs for groups that have no previous dance experience.
Over the next two decades Carl was a Dance Leader / Emcee for schools, churches, YMCA, company parties, youth and senior citizen groups throughout the Bay Area. In 1998 he moved to the Mid-West, opened a dance hall in Branson, MO., and lead programs for local high school students, regional Girl Scout troupes and a home-schooled children’s group. He started CBDanceman when he relocated to Rogers, AR., and was featured at Street Fairs, Chamber of Commerce Events, Weddings, and School Programs.
Returning to the West Coast in 2019, his goal is to introduce everyone to a fun, old-time family-oriented experience that America grew up with - the music and dances from a variety of different cultures that influenced the growth of this country and brought people together.
Carl is also available for private and small group instruction in Basic Ballroom Dance, Custom Choreography for Bridal Couple's First Dance, and DJ/MC services for Special Events and Weddings.
Whether it’s a Church Social, Barn Dance, community picnic, youth club activity, or school function - Dancing is Fun for Everyone, Set to Music!
All that is required for CBDanceman is an electrical outlet, a sturdy 2'x6' table, and an open floor space for your group. If I am to set up on a raised stage or platform, it must have easy access to main floor, since much of my dance demonstration is done from the center of the room with a wireless microphone.
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