Diane Silver - Contra Dance Calling
What Others Have to Say ...

"Last night's dance was the best combination of dances, your calling, music and energy I have ever experienced at a contra dance. I was high as a kite when I walked out. You were great!!! Thanks for a great dance."

-- David Wiley, organizer, avid dancer.



"As both an experienced life-long folk dancer and a parent, I’m thrilled to find Diane’s monthly dances. She has a rare skill of bringing together dancers of all ages and all levels of experience into one big fun experience for everyone—without overly challenging the less experienced and without ho-humming the highly experienced. There’s always something fresh and new. Under her enthusiastic leadership, everyone just naturally helps each other and delights in each other, and the evenings are full of magic."

-- Elana Kann, Asheville Dancer, Family Dance parent.



"Solid Silver? Of Course! That's Diane Silver, and she's awesome! She's a real fine caller, and she used to be a regular at the Nelson dance until she moved down to North Carolina. Boy, are they lucky!"

-- Note by Bob McQuillen, August 2003, for Dance #96, The Solid Silver Jig, in Book 12 of Bob's Note Books.



Diane Silver is known nationally for her ability to take a room full of novice dancers up to full speed contra in the course of an evening while simultaneously delighting the experienced dancers in attendance.

-- ContraCarolina promotion for Davidson College Green Ball


"I loved your variety.  You called dances and moves I've never seen before."

-- Asheville dancer.



"... the energy and attitude were right where they needed to be -- good and positive.  Thanks!"

-- Celo dancer



"The things we love about (Diane's) calling:
-- Hilarie Burhans, Hotpoint String Band



"I had to leave after the first half-hour of your calling yesterday, regrettably, but I wanted to register my appreciation and joy over how creatively, patiently, and skillfully you wove and choreographed the calling of the never-ending dance. The whole idea took on a new meaning and new challenge for me after that, one that other callers I saw didn't reach or even stretch out for. Gosh, it was really neat! "

-- Jane Weaver, Musician, Marathon Medley Contra Dance



"I just wanted to thank you for a most wonderful first ever family dance event at our school!  You are fabulous!  It was amazing to me to watch as you so skillfully directed our diverse and energetic crowd into a wonderful semblance of joyful movement!  EVERYONE loved this event and was hoping that we could do more!  For sure, they wanted to make it an annual event!

"So, please convey my gratitude and appreciation to your musician friends as well.  They were GREAT, too!  I look forward to using their CD in my music classes so that the students can make up some of their own dances.

"Again, I speak for all of us here at Mt. Madonna School and thank you for your wonderful work in this world bringing families together in joyful celebration. "

-- Sarojani Rohan, Organizer & Music Teacher, Mt. Madonna School, Watsonville, CA, 2005
(The great band was Changeling).



"Your enthusiasm and ability to articulate what our feet needed to do was wonderful, not to mention your talent."

-- Lisa Waggoner, Student, Clogging Workshop, John C. Campbell Folk School, 2006



"Their (Diane & Darlene's) calling was great!  I felt I had gotten my money's worth after just the first night."

-- Dancer, Pigtown Fling, 2003



"You are one of the best callers I have seen, and I cannot think of anyone better.  I've attended some festivals where big name callers were featured, and I would rank you right up there, maybe a notch better.  I was very impressed, and you made an ugly situation (poor attendance) nearly disappear.  Your dances were great, and I do not think I had previously danced any of them (4 years dancing). "

-- Ed Park, Chattanooga

"Diane, thank you so much for the dance! I especially appreciate your encouragement and spirit of collaboration. Folks are still talking about the clogging lesson!"

-- Don Burger, Organizer, Brevard Contra Dance

"I am the lady that came with my partner that had never been contra dancing before. We had a blast, the caller was excellent for 1st time dancers; she set the dances up very nicely and didn't have too many moves to remember. I am very happy that was (my Partner's) first dance experience."

-- New Dancer, Jonesborough, TN

"I was in your clogging and swing workshops this weekend.... I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed the workshops and the dances. I think the WWUp was one of the best weekends ever."

-- Paul Sullivan, Winter Warm-Up, 2006

Contacts for references available upon request.

If you would like to add your testimonial to this page, please feel free to e-mail it to me.  I'll be glad to post it.

Home