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Loretta McKinney

Top Performer

Dexter, MI

Contact for rates

Square Dance Caller

Travels up to 300 miles

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Square Dance In The Barn

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Red River Valley

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Solomon Levi

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Birdie In The Cage

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Girl Scout square dance

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5 Videos 6 Photos

Overview

Loretta McKinney is a Michigan square dance caller who specializes in teaching easy square dances, circle dances and longways set dances to people who have little or no dance experience. Her friendly, easy-going style and clear explanations get everybody moving quickly and ensure everyone has a lot of fun. Loretta's fee includes a professional quality sound system and recorded music. She can also provide a live band for an additional fee. House parties, graduations, barn dances, hoedowns, hay rides, school groups, church groups, scout groups, wedding receptions and historic events are all great places to include old-time dancing.

Reviews

38 reviews

Linda M.

January 13, 2026

Absolutely terrific!

Lorretta and her husband were absolutely amazing. They got the staff engaged with dancing and learning the steps. I would highly recommend her for any event that includes group participation and square dancing. She and her husband were both very lovely people and it was our pleasure and honor meeting them.

Hired as: Square Dance Caller

Loretta McKinney

Thank you for the great five-star review, Linda! Jim and I had a fun time at your Christmas party square dance. We enjoyed spending time with your group and we hope to see you again.

Loretta & Jim

Kris D.

September 24, 2025

Verified review

Wonderful Event

Loretta and Jim were wonderful at our Fall Fest at our church on Sunday! They arrived in ample time to set up their very professional equipment. They were both extremely nice and understanding and have a great love and knowledge for their passion and shared it with our parishioners. They added so much to our event! Thank you Loretta and Jim!!!

Hired as: Square Dance Caller

Loretta McKinney

Thank you for the wonderful review, Kris! We had such a nice time at the festival and we were glad to be a part of the celebration. We hope to see you again!

Jill M.

September 23, 2025

Verified review

We had so much fun!

Loretta and Jim were punctual, friendly, and professional, and we had so much fun!
We hired Loretta for our daughter’s wedding, and they both came and did a tag team job.
Jim was especially sweet and helpful, as he assisted one of our guests who is blind. She got to participate in the dances and had a blast. He also partnered with a 9-year-old girl who needed and a partner at one point, and that was sweet.
Loretta and Jim made the dances fun and easy to learn. This made the wedding so special and memorable. We would totally do it again!

Hired as: Square Dance Caller

Loretta McKinney

Jill, thank you so much for the wonderful review. We had such a nice time at the wedding reception. The location was beautiful! We’re looking forward to seeing you again.

Wendy W.

May 17, 2026

Verified review

Dulcimer and guitar = Perfect touch to event!

We had all the fixings for my dad's 89th birthday, but what really made it special for him was the live music. The hammered dulcimer and guitar pair so well together, and so does Loretta McKinney and her husband, playing easily together the upbeat and easy-to-listen-to music! All of our birthday guests enjoyed the music, too; all the requests were played; and my dad enjoyed visiting with Loretta about the dulcimer. It was a most pleasant experience and I will definitely ask for them again in the future!
Thank you, Loretta, for showing up when you said you would arrive. That means a lot to the party planner!

Hired as: Dulcimer Player

Shiloh S.

March 2, 2026

Verified review

👍

They did fantastic! We had a blast! They were great at including the little kids!

Hired as: Square Dance Caller

Loretta McKinney

Thank you for the five-star review, Shiloh! It was a pleasure meeting all of you. Remember - you need more square dancing in your life!!

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Booking information

Price range: Contact for rates

Languages: English

Gig length: 60 - 240 minutes

What to expect

Clients can expect a variety of dances beginning with the easiest and increasing to slightly less easy. All dances are selected with the intention that guests will succeed at them and have fun. Most dances can be danced by any combination of persons; gent/lady couples are not a requirement. The ability to tell left hands from right hands IS a requirement. All figures of every dance are explained with directions in plain English and a minimum of "dance lingo." Loretta McKinney is professional in appearance and demeanor. She arrives in time to set up her equipment without interfering with other events that may be on the program.

About

Loretta McKinney started playing hammered dulcimer in 1989 and started dancing in 1990. She started playing for dances in 1992 and started teaching squares, circles, longways sets, contras and old-time dances in 2007. Loretta enjoys and excels at teaching non-dancers how to dance. She teaches beginners what to do using plain English with a minimum of "dance lingo." Loretta can provide a sound system and recorded music or a live band, whichever best suits the client's needs. Loretta can perform in a dress, "business casual" attire, Western wear or Civil War era historic clothing. Clients enjoy working with Loretta because she recognizes that she is there to insure their event is a success and works to accommodate their needs.

Services offered

Square Dance Caller Dulcimer Player

Upcoming booked events

June 2026

06

Saturday

26

Sunday

Children’s Birthday Party

11:30am - 1:00pm

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Northville, MI

25

Saturday

House Party

8:00pm - 10:30pm

•

New Hudson, MI

04

Saturday

07

Saturday

Wedding Reception

8:00pm - 9:00pm

•

La Salle, MI

28

Corporate Event

9:00pm - 11:00pm

•

Washington, MI

23

Saturday

20

Sunday

Private Event

All-day event

18

Friday

Home School Cotillion

6:30pm - 10:00pm

11

Friday

House Party

7:30pm - 9:30pm

•

Niles, MI

06

Sunday

Providing live music for square dancing

2:00pm - 5:00pm

04

Marshall Civil War Ball

7:00pm - 10:00pm

06

Friday

Ypsi Alehouse Performance with Pearl Street String Band

5:00pm - 7:00pm

August 2019

09

Friday

Holiday Party

1:00pm - 1:45pm

•

Walled Lake, MI

05

Monday

Retirement Party

2:00pm - 3:00pm

•

Birmingham, MI

Circle dances such as La Bastringue, Pat A Cake Polka
Longways sets such as Virginia Reel, Opera Reel
Triplets such as The Margate Hoy
Contras such as Haste To The Wedding, Johnny Appleseed
Squares such as Solomon Levi, Red River Valley, Hot Time In The Old Town

Influences and inspiration

Glen Morningstar, Phil Jamison, Roger Simpson, Richard Wild

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