Dances
Bands and Callers
These are the performers who call and play for us. The list grows as we find and invite new players and callers.
Bands
Hibernia Station
This fine band, just chock full of young people, hails from Jefferson City, Missouri. Ed Galbraith is the band leader, and many of the musicians are members of the Galbraith family.
Tu'Penny Uprights
The Tu'Penny Uprights, shown to the right, have been playing English Country Dances together for about five years. They have played for the performance troupe Dance Discovery in performances at the Missouri Museum of History, the Lincoln Library and Museum in Springfield, IL, numerous performances during the Lewis and Clark celebrations, and at John Ramsey's 75th Birthday Ball in Berea, Kentucky.
Martha Edwards plays fiddle, Paul Wexler plays clarinet and recorder, and Kristin Graham plays keyboard. They are often joined by Mike Brown on bass and Ben Schreiber on fiddle.
Playford's PaJaMa
Playford's PaJaMa had its beginning back in the 1990s, when Stringdancer and the Groovemongers shared a billing at the River Rendezvous dance weekend. By Sunday that weekend, the two bands had merged for the English dance (the Stringmongers?) and a desire was born to repeat the experience. That desire was realized in 2010, when Pam Carson Stoll (fiddle, fife and drum), Jane Knoeck (keyboard) and Martha Edwards (fiddle) came together for a dance at Webster Groves ECD in January and the Nashville, TN, Playford Ball in March.
Kristin Graham and Bob Borcherding
Bob Borcherding played fiddle for English and contra dances in St. Louis for many years before moving to Chicago, IL. He is an old friend with a meticulous interest in traditional music. Bob and keyboardist Kristin Graham, who is well-known to St Louis English and contra dancers, enjoyed playing together often before Bob moved away. We are delighted to have them back together again to play for the Webster Groves English Country Dancers.
Callers
Billy Boyer
Billy graduated from Saint Louis University in Music in 2009, and has been dancing since he was a teenager. An accomplished keyboard player, he became an excellent caller as well, in a very short time. Billy and his father Larry Boyer founded the St. Louis Youth Contra and has written several fine new dances.
Martha Edwards
Martha has been the violinist with Tu'Penny Uprights since its inception, but discovered a passion for dancing the dances as well as playing them several years ago. That passion has now blossomed into calling the dances, too.
Chrystal Gallacci-Jones
Chrystal became interested in English Country Dancing after seeing a troupe perform at a living history event. She now dances with Dance Discovery, the St. Louis English Country Dancers and the Childgrove Country Dancers. She also serves as Vice President of the Board of Dance Discovery.
Bob Green
Bob has been dancing with Dance Discovery since its inception, and began calling in 2007, continuing his career as a dance instructor. He has a particular interest in writing dances, and has written quite a few fine contra dances and English Country Dances.
Kimberly Hall
Kimberly has been dancing and calling English Country Dances for nearly ten years, in addition to teaching ballet. She and her family started a very successful English Country Dance, the Jovial Beggars, in Southern Missouri, attended by scores of young people.
Dr. John M. Ramsay
"Dr. John" began dancing as a member of the Berea College Country Dancers in 1947. He returned to the College in 1973 as Director of Recreation Extension and took his troupe of college students on eight international tours. He directed the internationally respected Berea College Christmas Country Dance School for more than two decades, led workshops for the Sonnek Society, Orff teachers, 4-H groups, Headstart teachers and many, many more. He has a PhD is in Animal Breeding and he has called himself a "dancing dairyman." Since retiring, he and his wife moved to St. Louis and have been popular dance leaders among home school groups. He is the Artistic Director Emeritus of Dance Discovery.
Missy Reisenleiter
Missy has danced and performed for many years, including historic dancing in Civil War groups to current memberships in Dance Discovery, the St. Louis English Country Dancers and Highland Mist Scottish Country Dancers. She has taught English Country dancing to church groups and school groups, and continues to sharpen her skills as one of the callers for the St. Louis English Country Dancers. She also serves on the board of the St Louis English Country Dancers and is the Artistic Director and President of Dance Discovery.
Mark Rice
Mark was introduced to country dancing at an early age by his parents, who were both Berea College Country Dancers. His early training was complemented by Dancing Masters at the Berea College Christmas Country Dance School (including family friend John Ramsay). Mark has led dancing for proms, weddings, and youth and church socials. He especially enjoys teaching the thrills and skills of country dancing to beginners. He is an active participant and board member of Dance Discovery. His banjo repertoire favors old time fiddle and dance tunes.
Jonathan Sivier
Jonathan has been involved in traditional dance since 1987 and has been leading dances since 1992. He is one of the English country dance editors for the Country Dance and Song Society Newsletter, and is currently working on reconstructing the music and dances from New Harmony, Indiana. Jonathan is one of the leaders of the Central Illinois English Country Dancers, and is often invited to call contras, squares and English Country Dances around the country.
Kay Tomlinson
Kay has been dancing English Country Dancing for many years, both with St. Louis English Country Dancing and Dance Discovery. She's been calling English since 2007. She is the holder of two PhDs, one in botany and one in depth psychology.