Copyright 2011 - Matthew R. McGovern

All About Matt

I started to take square dance lessons when I was eleven years old. I started with my grandmother in West Springfield, MA. I danced for around ten months and then began to think (with some influence of area callers) "Hey Maybe I Should Become a Caller myself". So, I did!

At one of Steve Garret's round dances lessons in East Hartford, CT, I called my first singing call. He from then on would let me do a tip each week to practice and get better. Steve helped me get my first calling date at a real club, this was the Surfside Eights in Westerly, RI.

The first dance I called was actually put on by Myself and another caller, Dave Smith, it was a Fourth Of July Dance and was held at the Hayloft in Sturbridge, MA. Dave and I did three dances together, two of which were on the Fourth of July, and one Labor Day Dance.

I attended two caller schools, one in 2006, and one in 2008, these were held by Ken Ritucci and some other caller coaches. They were fun, learned how to call better, and met some callers from different countries, including Russia!

Fast forward to the present, I am currently calling a couple times a month for different clubs all across New England. Overall square dancing in general has been a terrific experience for me, and has allowed me to meet great people from all over the world. I would like to thank all the different callers, people at different clubs, and many more who have helped me get started calling, and whom still help me today.    

Matt Calling for the Hayloft Steppers in Sturbridge, MA