Square Dance With Jim Wass
- Riverdale, MD
- Square Dance Caller
- $375-3500
Jim does square dance parties for people who don't ordinarily square dance. Square dance parties can be designed for children, adults, couples, singles,...
Beth Parkes
Claremont, CA
$500-$2000; discounts for nonprofit organizations
Travels up to 1.5 hours
Virginia Reel at Father-Daughter Dance
Overview
If you're looking for a square dance caller for your special event, check me out. I specialize in non-dancers! Your guests will start moving to music in 60 seconds, and in minutes they'll be having the time of their lives. Every event is customized to your group's size, age, and ability. I use the best in live or recorded music and professional sound.
Square dancing brings people together. It's ideal for a school, church, or temple party; a birthday, anniversary, or wedding rehearsal dinner; a barbecue, clambake, hayride, or company picnic; a get-acquainted night at a convention; or any kind of fundraiser. Call or e-mail me, and make your next party unforgettable!
Reviews
13 reviews
Emma W.
May 17, 2026Wonderful night!
Beth was absolutely phenomenal -- a lot of guests at our event (my mom's 60th birthday party!) were a little older or unsure of themselves as dancers, but she made everybody feel comfortable right away. In the end we had about forty people dancing and clapping (and absolutely cracking up when we inevitably made plenty of mistakes). After the dancing, four separate groups of guests came up to me to ask for Beth's contact info! She is a natural teacher and a complete delight and we were SO lucky to have had her as our caller. One of the best evenings I've had in a long time!
Hired as: Square Dance Caller
Trinity D.
February 23, 2026So much fun, highly recommend!
Beth was absolutely fantastic at our event! She brought such positive, engaging energy that immediately got everyone involved. Guests who knew each other and those meeting for the first time were all able to jump in, start dancing, and genuinely have fun. She did an excellent job reading the room and adjusting to the energy throughout the night. As beginners, we especially appreciated how clearly she explained the square dances and made everyone feel comfortable participating. She was extremely easy to communicate with during the planning process, which made everything smooth and stress-free. Beth also generously allowed us to use her speakers and microphones at no extra cost, and she was very flexible with timing, even when our event ran a bit past schedule. She brought a fun atmosphere to our event. Highly recommend!
Hired as: Square Dance Caller
Stephanie M.
May 12, 2024Beth brought the music, the dancing, and the laughs!
Hiring Beth to do dance calling at our wedding made the entire event! Everyone was dancing and laughing and having a great time, and it was such a fun and unique way to celebrate our wedding reception. One of our other vendors said she'd been doing weddings for many years and had never seen anything like it. It was a blast!
Hired as: Square Dance Caller
Victoria T.
September 4, 2023Really great
Tony was super fun. Such an accomplished caller!
He kept the dancing going at just the right pace with a perfect amount of instruction
Everyone had a great time
Thank you Tony😀💕
Hired as: Square Dance Caller
Martha F.
August 21, 2023Perfect
Toni was very skilled at getting all kinds of people out on the dance floor and guiding us through a number of very fun dances. Our friends really enjoyed the evening and I would totally recommend Tony as a caller, he read the crowd well and kept things very lively.
Hired as: Square Dance Caller
Booking information
Price range: $500-$2000; discounts for nonprofit organizations
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 240 minutes
What to expect
Beth will get your guests up in a big circle, put them at ease with a few words, and get them moving to lively, inspiring music -- in 60 seconds or less. Within minutes everyone will be smiling, laughing, and discovering new joy in their lives as they perform complete dances like the Virginia Reel -- dances that Americans have loved for centuries.
Above all, she makes sure that your party is all about YOU! Every minute of every event is customized to the group's size, age range, couple or single status, and level of ability (boy/girl couples or 50/50 gender balance not required). Without singling anyone out or making them uncomfortable, she will take your guests from a standing start to the heights of square dance success.
About
Beth Parkes have over 40 years of experience getting groups of all sizes and types to square dance easily and painlessly. Beth started calling while in college in the '70s. Beth both learned from, and was influenced by, many of the great callers of past generations, and her driving passion is to keep the tradition alive. She is a well known caller for experienced dancers, but gets some of her deepest satisfaction from introducing people to the joys of music and dance for the first time.
Beth's client list includes Boston College, Harvard University, New England Conservatory, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Museum of Science, Revels, Inc., and dozens of other colleges, corporations, and nonprofits -- as well as a multitude of families, schools, churches, temples, and Girl Scout troops.
Additional booking notes
All you need to provide is an open flat space (10-15 square feet per person recommended) -- and of course the people! (Any number can play -- we've worked with groups from a dozen to 500.)
We provide complete instruction tailored to your group, the best in live or recorded music, and a professional sound system with brand names like Bose, Electro-Voice, Pioneer, and Shure. We can play background music during other segments of your party, and we have a wireless hand-held mic that you may use for announcements, blessings, or toasts.
Services offered
Past booked events
May 2026
16
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Los Angeles, CA
February 2026
21
Saturday
Campus Event
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Whittier, CA
May 2024
04
Saturday
Wedding Reception
11:00am - 2:00pm
•
Andover, MA
January 2024
19
Friday
Nonprofit Event
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Hampstead, NH
September 2023
10
Sunday
Campus Event
1:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Andover, MA
03
Sunday
Sporting Event
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Princeton, MA
August 2023
19
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 11:00pm
•
Somerville, MA
May 2023
20
Saturday
Fundraiser
8:00pm - 10:30pm
•
Waban, MA
September 2022
04
Sunday
School Assembly
1:30pm - 3:00pm
•
Andover, MA
July 2021
17
Saturday
Personal Occasion
7:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Greenland, NH
March 2020
07
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:30pm
•
Scituate, MA
September 2019
29
Sunday
Anniversary Party
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Dover, MA
August 2019
31
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Stratham, NH
10
Saturday
Festival
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Granville, MA
December 2018
07
Friday
Christmas Party
7:30pm - 9:30pm
•
North Granby, CT
September 2018
22
Saturday
Birthday Party
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Winchendon, MA
Team
Beth Parkes
Folk/Square/Contra Dance Caller/Instructor
Set list
"How long should we plan to dance?" is one of the most frequently asked questions.
1.5 to 2 hours of actual dancing is ideal for folks who aren't used to it. This is broken up into sets of between 30 and 45 minutes; the length of breaks depends on the mood and energy level of the crowd. (The breaks are for your sake! Teens will often go the full 2 hours without a break.) Each set is complete in itself; guests are welcome to participate in as many or as few as they wish.
A typical party lasts about 4 hours; Beth is happy to play background music during social hour and dinner. If you have a favorite playlist, she can run it through her professional sound system between our sets.
Setup requirements
One electrical outlet (3-prong grounded) with no power-hungry devices (coffeemakers, ovens, long strings of lights) on the same circuit. For live music, add a minimum 6 x 12 foot stage area and armless chairs for the musicians (typically three).
Testimonials
Everyone loved the dance you called for us. One old faculty hand told me the next morning, "I knew I'd have a GOOD time, but I didn't know it would be a GREAT time." Most people attributed the evening's special flavor to your particular calling style -- enthusiastic, knowledgeable, flexible, encouraging, charming, and graceful.
– Middlesex School
I never thought it would be possible to get college students to square dance, but you did it!
– Boston College
Your energy and enthusiasm really made the evening a success, and your teaching was clear and easy to follow. Congratulations on a terrific job!
– Boston Food Bank
If you can teach dances to klutzes like us, you can teach ostriches to do deep knee bends!
– American Camp Association
Report Beth Parkes
Square Dance Caller
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