Erik Erhardt, dance caller and organizer

Table of Contents

Introduction

Erik Erhardt (Abq, NM) calls contra and English, instructs couples dance, and organizes dance in New Mexico, traveling widely for dancing and community building. In his engaging and entertaining manner, Erik’s teaching is encouraging, clear, and detailed giving all an opportunity to gain a sense of mastery at each person’s level while having something to gain for everyone. 2015 CDSS Local Hero. Thank you, FolkMADS, for giving me a place to give. Calling May 26-29, 2017 at Catapult! National Contra Showcase.

New Mexico Callers Collective (NMCC)

In Fall 2013 I began mentoring a group of young callers in Albuquerque. The new group is wildly successful, calling many dances in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, first single dances, then sharing evenings in pairs, then taking on full evenings, and in June we’ll all call at the Albuquerque Folk Festival. I’m very excited by the energy this new group is stirring in our community! Many of our callers started or contributed to the NMCC.

Book: “All Join Hands: Dances and stories“

by Richard Wilson, Erik Erhardt, and Lauren Lamont, 2016.

Hiring me as a caller, teacher, or leader

Contact me

Festivals

I believe that I have a lot to contribute for both weekend and week‐long festivals. I have years of experience calling contra, ECD, squares, family dances, unusual formations, Dutch crossing, and techno contra (and mixing music). For several years nationally, I have already been teaching waltz and Scandinavian couples dance as part of festivals. I have called at several festivals, including Stellar and Catapult!. I also teach workshops on calling, choreography, medleys, mixing music, as well as contra dancing workshops. I’ve been an organizer for about 8 years, president of my local FolkMADS, and hosted the CDSS SW Regional Organizers Conference at my university. All that being said, there are a lot of dance needs I can meet, joyfully.

What I can contribute

construct and call a crossover (techno) contra medley (1+ hour continuous)
call a contra, square, English country dance, New England and Western squares, or a family/community folk dance
contra-related workshop: Dutch crossing, contra flourishes, dance role swapping, as well as themed sessions including flow, unusual formations, chestnuts, or ECD‐inspired
teach rotary or cross-step waltz (phrasing) or Scandinavian couples dance (hambo, polska, schottische, snoa, Norwegian polka; all with variations)
teach contra dance style or flourishes
teach a contra dance calling workshop, choreography workshops, constructing crossover (techno) contra medleys and mixing music
clapping games (for kids), juggling

Advertising blurbs

Contra and English Country Dance, short bio
Prof Erik Erhardt (Abq, NM) calls contra and English, instructs couples dance, and organizes dance in New Mexico, traveling widely for dancing and community building. In his engaging and entertaining manner, Erik’s teaching is encouraging, clear, and detailed giving all an opportunity to gain a sense of mastery at each person’s level while having something to gain for everyone.
Waltz, short bio
Prof Erik Erhardt (Abq, NM) understands the subtleties of making dancing satisfying and joyful. In his engaging and entertaining manner, Erik teaches sequences of moves that can be used as is or broken down and combined in many ways. His teaching is encouraging, clear, and detailed. He believes that dancing is not about fancy moves (though, you’ll learn some), but more importantly about connecting with your partner, the music, and the flowing community on the floor.
Waltz, long bio
Prof Erik Erhardt (Abq, NM) calls contra and English, instructs couples dance, and organizes dance in New Mexico, traveling widely for dancing and community building. In his engaging and entertaining manner, Erik’s teaching is encouraging, clear, and detailed giving all an opportunity to gain a sense of mastery at each person’s level while having something to gain for everyone. As an active dancer, he understands the subtleties of making dancing satisfying and joyful. He teaches using sequences of moves that can be used as is or broken down and combined in many ways. He reaches everyone by explaining ideas in several ways, by zooming in and out to focus on the details and how they flow together to create a continuous and smooth ensemble, and by connecting with individual dancers to find the details that they need in the moment. He builds on similarities between moves while emphasizing the distinctions and nuances. He believes that dancing is not about fancy moves (though, you’ll learn some), but more importantly about connecting with your partner through timely leading and following, connecting with the music by arranging moves with the musical phrases, and connecting with the flowing community on the floor through awareness.
Crossover (techno) contra
Prof Erik Erhardt (Abq, NM) is the caller and the DJ. A meticulously-choreographed continuous 1-hour+ contra dance medley to custom-mixed electro swing and modern club music consisting of dozens of tunes and many dances will keep your feet moving and your heart pumping. Some contra dance experience is strongly recommended (at least two evenings of dance).
Scandinavian for contra dancers: Hambo, Schottische and Snoa
Contra Dances I’ve written.

Dance calendar

Annotated list of selected calendar events (last updated 5/8/13).

2014

6/ 7 Calling: Albuquerque Folk Festival, evening contra dance with New Callers (whom I mentored) with Albuquerque Megaband, Albuquerque, NM
6/ 7 Leading: Albuquerque Folk Festival, contra workshop with The Thrifters, Albuquerque, NM
5/23-26 Calling: Techno contra at FolkMADness music and dance camp, Socorro, NM
5/23-26 Leading: Waltz at FolkMADness music and dance camp, Socorro, NM
5/16-18 Leading: Waltz at May Madness, Clarkdale, AZ
2/25 Calling: Squares, Downtown Hoedown! Old-Time Square Dance at ArtBar, Albuquerque
2/20-23 Calling: Techno contra and Morris, Stellar Days & Nights, Buena Vista, CO
2/ 1 Calling: Techno contra, Tucson, AZ
2/ 1 Leading: Waltz Workshop, Tucson, AZ
1/28 Calling: Squares, Downtown Hoedown! Old-Time Square Dance at ArtBar, Albuquerque
1/26 Calling: Techno contra, 433J House party, Albuquerque
1/25 Calling: Contra Dance, Santa Fe
1/ 4 Leading: Calling workshop, Albuquerque

2013

12/28 Calling: Contra Dance, Santa Fe
12/14 Calling: Dancing with the Wolves, fundraiser, Albuquerque
11/30 Dancing: Contra, Pasadena, CA
11/30 Leading: Waltz Workshop, Pasadena, CA (with Margaret Pigman)
11/16 Leading: Calling practice
10/25-27 Leading: Morris Dancing, Boo Camp, NM
10/12 Calling: Downtown Hoedown! Old-Time Square Dance at ArtBar, Albuquerque
10/ 5 Leading: Workshop: Twirling Tricks: Safe Spinning for Contra Dance (with Danielle Boudreau)
9/28 Leading: Morris dancing, NM
9/21 Dancing: Contra, Taos, NM
9/ 7 Leading: Open mic, Albuquerque
9/ 6 Leading: Calling workshop, Albuquerque
8/31 Leading: Open mic, techno contra, Santa Fe
8/30 Leading: Calling workshop, Albuquerque
8/24-25 Calling: Techno contra, Wasatch Wiggle, Utah
8/24-25 Leading: Waltz Workshop, Wasatch Wiggle, Utah (with Lori Pimentel)
8/15 Leading: Calling workshop, Albuquerque
8/10 Leading: Calling workshop, Santa Fe
8/ 9 Leading: Calling workshop, Albuquerque
8/ 2-5 Learning: Mile-high waltz weekend, Richard Powers, Avalon Ballroom, Boulder, CO
7/27 Leading: Calling workshop, Albuquerque
7/21 Leading: Calling workshop, Albuquerque
7/ 6 Calling: Contra party at Marie’s
7/ 3 Leading: Waltz, ECD, Zweifache at Marie’s
7/ 2 Leading: Waltz lesson at Lloyd Shaw
6/29 Calling: Two 1-hour Techno contras at special 5th Saturday dance, Albuquerque, NM
6/ 1 Leading: Albuquerque Folk Festival, contra workshop with The Thrifters, Albuquerque, NM
5/24-27 Calling: Techno contra at FolkMADness music and dance camp, Socorro, NM vid1 vid2 (filmed by Michael Kirkpatrick)
5/24-27 Leading: Waltz at FolkMADness music and dance camp, Socorro, NM
5/ 3-5 Leading: Waltz at May Madness, Clarkdale, AZ
4/14 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
4/ 7 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
3/31 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
3/24 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
3/17 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
3/10 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
3/ 2 Calling: Contra Dance, Flagstaff AZ
3/ 2 Leading: Cross-step waltz, Flagstaff AZ
2/21-24 Master of Ceremonies: Stellar Days & Nights, Buena Vista, CO
2/21-24 Calling: Techno contra, Stellar Days & Nights, Buena Vista, CO
2/17 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
2/16 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
2/10 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
2/ 1-3 Dancing: Dancing Fool, Seattle WA
1/27 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
1/20 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
1/13 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
1/13 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
1/ 5 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM

2012

12/ 8 Leading: Cross-step waltz Albuquerque at Lloyd Shaw
10/26-28 Leading: Workshops, ECD and contral calling, and Morris at Boo Camp, Jemez, NM
10/12-14 Learning: Richard Powers, Cross-step waltz workshop, Albuquerque, NM
9/14 Leading: Couples dance at Pickin’ in the pines, Flagstaff, AZ
8/9-12 Dancing: International Folk camp, Socorro NM
8/5 Calling: Guiding Star Grange, Greenfield, MA
7/28-8/4 Learning: Contra callers course at Pinewoods, American week, Plymouth MA
7/ 7 Dancing: Contra, San Francisco CA
7/ 6 Dancing: Contra at Lucie Stern Center, Palo Alto CA
7/1-6 Leading: Couples dance (again!) at BACDS American Dance & Music Week, La Honda, CA – waltz, Scandi
6/30 Dancing: Contra, Palo Alto CA
6/23 Calling: Contra Dance, Santa Fe, NM
6/15-17 Leading: Hambo at Pinewoods Swing into Summer, Plymouth MA
6/10 Calling: English and Contra Dance in Albuquerque with Bo y Yo and friends
6/ 2 Dancing: Albuquerque Folk Festival
5/25-28 Leading: Waltz at FolkMADness music and dance camp, Socorro, NM
5/24-25 Attending: Doc Litchman’s squares calling workshop, Albuquerque, NM
5/19 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
5/ 4-6 Leading: Waltz at May Madness, Clarkdale, AZ
3/16 Calling: Contra Dance, Las Cruces NM
3/11 Calling: English and Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
3/10 Calling: Contra Dance, Santa Fe, NM
2/23-26 Dancing: Stellar Days & Nights, Buena Vista, CO
2/17 Dancing: Dance Flurry in Saratoga Springs, NY
2/ 4 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
1/13-15 Dancing: Contra Carnivale, San Luis Obispo, CA

2011

12/27-1/1 Dancing: Terpsichore’s Dance Holiday in Roanoke, WV (called Techno contra)
12/10 Calling: Contra Dance, Santa Fe, NM
10/28-30 Leading: Morris at Boo Camp, Jemez, NM
10/ 9 Calling: English and Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
10/ 8 Calling: Contra Dance with Karina Wilson, Santa Fe, NM
8/20 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
7/23 Calling: Contra Dance, Santa Fe, NM
7/3-8 Leading: Couples dance and calling Techno contra at BACDS American Dance & Music Week, La Honda, CA – waltz hambo post
7/ 2 Dancing: Contra, San Francisco CA
6/18 Calling: Community Contra Dance with the Albuquerque Megaband at Albuquerque Folk Festival, Albuquerque, NM
6/ 4 Dancing: Contra, East Hanover, NJ
5/13-15 Dancing: May Madness, Prescott, AZ and calling latenight ECD
4/10 Calling: English and Contra Dance Abq Noralyn, Erik, and Maddy calling, with Second Nature playing, Albuquerque, NM
4/ 1 Calling: Santa Fe 6th graders folk dance, callers: Erik and Katherine Bueler, band: Maddy and Riley Mullany
3/26 Dancing: Contra in Palo Alto CA
3/25 Dancing: Contra in San Fransisco, CA
3/12 Leading calling: Contra Dance Santa Fe Caller: Youth led by Erik Band: Karina and Mullanys
3/ 5 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
3/ 5 Leading: Rob’s 4th and 5th grade class, dancing, Albuquerque, NM
2/28 Leading: Rob’s 4th and 5th grade class, dancing, Albuquerque, NM
2/24-27 Dancing: Stellar Days and Nights in Buena Vista, CO
2/22 Leading: Rob’s 4th and 5th grade class, dancing, Albuquerque, NM
2/14 Leading: Rob’s 4th and 5th grade class, dancing, Albuquerque, NM
2/12 Dancing: Pete’s Greens Barn Benefit Dance, Montpelier, VT
2/ 7 Leading: Rob’s 4th and 5th grade class, dancing, Albuquerque, NM
2/ 5 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
2/ 5 Leading: Hambo workshop, Albuquerque, NM
1/31 Leading: Rob’s 4th and 5th grade class, dancing, Albuquerque, NM
1/29 Dancing: Fantasy English Ball (Ball), Albuquerque, NM
1/29 Dancing: Fantasy English Ball (rehearsal), Albuquerque, NM
1/24 Leading: Rob’s 4th and 5th grade class, dancing, Albuquerque, NM
1/22 Calling: Contra dance, Albuquerque, NM
1/22 Leading: Hambo workshop, Albuquerque, NM
1/21 Calling: Free contra dance at UNM Faculty club, Albuquerque, NM
1/15 Leading: Hambo workshop, Albuquerque, NM
1/ 8 Leading: Hambo workshop, Santa Fe, NM

2010

12/25 Leading: Open mic Contra Dance, Santa Fe, NM
12/25 Leading: Hambo workshop
12/18 Leading: Hambo workshop, Albuquerque, NM
12/12 Calling: English and Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
12/11 Leading: Couples dancing workshop, Albuquerque, NM
11/27 Calling: Contra Dance Santa Fe with Second Nature, Santa Fe, NM
11/27 Leading: Waltz workshop, Santa Fe, NM
11/20 Leading: Waltz workshop, Albuquerque, NM
11/13 Leading: Waltz Workshop w/Erik and Karina, Santa Fe, NM
11/12 Leading calling: Richard Wilson Dance at Lloyd Shaw with Megaband, Albuquerque, NM
11/ 6 Leading: Waltz workshop, Albuquerque, NM
11/ 6 Calling: Flashdance, Old Town gazebo, Albuquerque, NM
11/ 5 Calling: Contra dance at Winnings Coffee with Hands Five, Albuquerque, NM
10/29-31 Leading: Morris at Boo Camp, Jemez, NM
10/23 Leading: Waltz Workshop
10/16 Calling: Contra Dance, Albuquerque, NM
10/16 Leading: Waltz workshop, Albuquerque, NM
10/16 Leading: Flash dance at UNM in front of bookstore on Central, Albuquerque, NM
10/10 Dancing: Blues party at Tara’s, St. Louis, MO
10/10 Leading: Reels at Tara’s g’ma’s 80th b-day party, St. Louis, MO
10/ 9 Dancing: Contra, St. Louis, MO
10/ 8 Dancing: English, St. Louis, MO
10/ 1-3 Learning: Southeast Dance Leadership Conference, Browns Summit, NC
9/24-26 Dancing: Youth Dance Weekend, Plymouth, VT
9/17-19 Dancing: Pickin’ in the Pines, Flagstaff, AZ
9/10-12 Dancing: English and contra with Karina and Richard Wilson, Oklahoma City, OK
9/ 5 Dancing: International, Cedar Crest, NM
8/28-9/4 Dancing Learning: Pinewoods English & American Dance Week, Kathy Anderson squares calling course, Plymouth, MA
8/14 Calling: Contra Dance, Santa Fe NM
7/31 Leading calling: Contra dance New Callers, Albuquerque, NM
7/31 Leading: Waltz workshop, Albuquerque, NM
7/25 Organized: English Country in Santa Fe, hosted by IOOF
7/24 Leading calling: Contra Dance Santa Fe New Callers, Santa Fe, NM
7/24 Leading: Youth dance and singing event, Santa Fe, NM
7/ 3-10 Dancing: BACDS AmWeek American Dance and Music Week, Mendocino, CA
7/2 Dancing: English, Palo Alto CA
6/26 Leading calling: Contra Dance Santa Fe – Caller: Open Mic Band: SF Megaband
6/26 Leading: Callers practice before Open mic
6/19 Dancing: Albuquerque Folk Festival
6/18 Dancing: FolkFest: Without Borders Dance, Albuquerque, NM
6/13 Calling: contra medley at English and Contra Dance Albuquerque, NM
5/28-31 Leading: Youth waltz at FolkMADness Music and Dance Camp, Socorro, NM
5/22 Leading: Waltz workshop, Edelweise, Santa Fe, NM
5/15 Leading: Waltz workshop, Edelweise, Albuquerque, NM
5/ 9 Leading: New callers contra dance at Lloyd Shaw, Albuquerque, NM
5/ 2 Leading: New callers practice at Erik’s apt, Albuquerque, NM
5/ 1 Calling: Contra dance, Albuquerque, NM
5/ 1 Leading: Basic waltz workshop with Karina Wilson, Albuquerque, NM
4/24 Leading: Basic waltz workshop with Karina Wilson, Santa Fe, NM
4/17 Leading: Basic waltz workshop with Karina Wilson, Albuquerque, NM
4/10 Leading: New callers contra dance practice, Santa Fe, NM
3/13 Calling: Contra dance, Santa Fe, NM
3/ 6 Leading calling: Contra dance Albuquerque, NM
3/ 6 Leading: New callers contra dance practice, Albuquerque, NM
2/28 Leading: New callers contra dance practice, Albuquerque, NM
2/18-21 Dancing: Stellar Days and Nights, Buena Vista, CO
2/12-14 Dancing: Dance Flurry, Saratoga Springs, NY

2009

12/26-1/1 Dancing: Christmas Country Dance School, Berea, KY
12/12 Dancing: Greenfield, MA
12/11 Dancing: Dance Spree, Northampton, MA
10/29-31 Dancing: Boo Camp, Jemez, NM
10/17 Sound: contra sound
9/25-7 Dancing: Youth Dance Weekend, Plymouth, VT
8/15 Dancing: Durango, CO
8/ 1 Dancing: Glen Ecco, MD
7/18 Leading: Schottische and Snoa, Albuquerque, NM
6/27 Leading: Schottische and Snoa, Santa Fe, NM
6/ 6 Leading: Hambo workshop, Albuquerque, NM
6/ 6 Calling: Contra – one dance, Albuquerque, NM
5/16 Leading: Hambo workshop, Albuquerque, NM

… and dancing back through 1998

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