REFERENCES/Perspectives

Perspective from an Organizer/Manager/Dancer:

I recommend Kelsey Hartman as a contra dance caller, because she brings great energy & enthusiasm to the room, has a big collection of fun dances, and is good at reading dancers’ abilities and programming to meet their needs. She has a pleasing, projecting voice, clear, succinct teaching, & great personality that dancers love. She is a fabulous waltzer & teacher and I feel lucky I get to learn from her. She is in high demand among the Bay Area Contra Dances and I am grateful for all she does for our dance community as a caller, programmer, twirly skirt maker & donor, and of course fabulous dancer.

Claire Takemori, South Bay Dance Organizer and Bay Area Dancer

Perspective from an Organizer/Manager/Dancer:

Kelsey, I wanted to compliment you on your fabulous calling at our NBCDS San Rafael dance recently. I was shocked when I came in to see at least 20 newcomers in your lesson. It is usually so hard to integrate that many new dancers. You said with gusto at the end of the lesson how excited you were to have so many newcomers! You encouraged them to dance with experienced dancers, which we all did.

It was also one of the smoothest dances with newbies that I've attended in my many years of dancing, because of what you did next. Your directions and walk-throughs were all clearly stated. I was so relieved that you called every dance all the way through for most, or all, of the evening. That led to the newcomers being very successful. I've seldom seen a caller do that. Your enthusiasm for contradancing is infectious. You have become a fabulous, professional caller!

Marlene Mahan, NBCDS Member and Dance Manager