About John V Casey – Square Dance Caller
John V Casey has been a Square Dance Caller since 1977, after joining the Garden City Promenaders and being taught to Square Dance and Call by the late Bill McHardy.
In 1978 I called for Rose City Wranglers in Warwick Queensland after Kevin Rettke (who started the Club) moved away from Town. It was a weekly gig on Monday nights and I travelled the 80kms from Toowoomba to do the calling.
In 1979 I completed a 12 weekend Callers School run by the Late Bill McHardy.
Eventually I convinced Reg Hendy to take over the calling for Rose City Wranglers and I started Track 2 Square Dancing at Highfields, just North of Toowoomba Qld in 1979. I called at Highfields for 18 months until I started Police training in September 1980. I had to move to Brendale in 1981 as there was no vacancy in the Police Service in the Toowoomba area.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention at Cloudland, Brisbane in 1979.
I became a member of the Queensland Callers Association in 1980 and was Vice President in 1997 – remaining a member until 2009.
I was also Vice President of the Square Dancing Society of Queensland in 1997.
I was a member of the Australian Callers Federation from 1980 to 2009.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention in Brisbane in 1982.
In 1983 I completed a Callerlab Callers School run by Vaughan Parrish from the USA.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention in Canberra in 1984.
In 1985 I started Track 2 Square Dancing again – this time in Albany Creek at the local Community Hall.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention in Perth in 1985, where I was asked to Call when a top caller had reported in sick.
In 1986 I completed a week long Callers School at Casino NSW – run by Brian Hotchkies.
In 1986 I also started calling for Pine Rangers at Clontarf Qld, where I shared the Club with Lynette Warrington (now McPherson) until 1988 when Lynette took over full care of that club.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention in Geelong in 1987.
In 1987 I started a Square Dance Class in Kingscliffe NSW. This Track 2 Square Dance Class was on Friday nights and continued until 1995.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention in Sydney in 1988.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention in Hobart in 1989. On the boat over to Tasmania all the official callers became ill and I was asked to call for the dancers in what was really rough conditions. I managed to call to the end of the programmed time. In appreciation, I was given a call at the National as a guest caller.
After resigning from the Police Force in 1990 I began my time as a full time Square Dance Caller/Badgemaker. I had started making badges in 1979 and the idea was expanding. I had moved my calling from Albany Creek to our own venue at Sandgate Qld.
I attended and was a programmed caller at the National Square Dance Convention in Brisbane in 1990.
In 1991 I started a Track 2 Square Dancing at Palm Beach Qld. This Class started on Friday Mornings after I was contracted to call at Fishermans Wharf on Thursday nights at the Spit at the Gold Coast in support of a Bush Band. This Thursday gig lasted for eighteen months but the Palm Beach Classes continued until 1994.
In 1990 I attended a Callerlab Minilab at Coolangatta Qld.
In 1991 I completed a week long Callers School at Casino NSW – run by Brian Hotchkies.
In 1992 the late Eric Wendell asked me to call for his City 50+ Club at Brisbane City Hall. I called at this Club until I passed the teaching on to Kay Walker in 1998.
I also attended many Queensland Callers Association Classes run by David Smythe between 1993 and 1997.
In 1992 I also started Track 2 Square Dancing at the Metro Arts Centre in Edward Street Brisbane Qld. These 2 hour Classes were on different mornings and afternoons and included
1. Easy Mainstream - - - - - 2. Dance By Definition Mainstream
3. Easy Plus - - - - - - - - - - 4. Dance by Definition Plus
5. Line Dancing
These Classes continued until February 1998 When I received a letter from the State Government advising that I could no longer use the venue at Metro Arts as they needed it for an aboriginal to teach tribal dancing – I was given 2 weeks notice to quit.
I attended and was a programmed caller at the National Square Dance Convention in Sydney in 1995.
I attended and was a programmed caller at the National Square Dance Convention in Newcastle in 1997.
I attended and was a programmed caller at the National Square Dance Convention in Adelaide in 1998.
I attended and was a programmed caller at the National Square Dance Convention in Brisbane in 1999.
During these same years Track 2 Square Dancing Class also had a Mainstream night and a Plus night at Mitchelton Qld.
In 2000 I became the caller for Helensvale Senior Citizens Group and remained with them until 2004 when I moved to Bundaberg Qld.
I attended the National Square Dance Convention in Caloundra in 2003.
In 2006 I was again in Logan just south of Brisbane and I called for Southport Meals on Wheels and also Logan City Square Dancers at Crestmead – Both being beginners classes through to Mainstream.
In 2008 I was awarded the Silver Microphone Award by the Australian Callers Federation for 25 years Square Dance Calling.
In 2013, after moving to South Australia I spent 6 months calling for Paddlesteamers Square Dance Group. I also joined the South Australia Callers Association and Rejoined the Australian Callers Federation.
Now in 2014 on Tuesday 22 April I have again started teaching the Basics at Victor Harbour Senior Citizens Club.
Website: jvcsquaredance.com