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Hunter Keller
Hunter had been around square dancing all of his life, having been dragged from dance to dance by his grandparents and parents. He met and become friends with many national callers with whom he is still friends today. After the death of his grandfather - his hero - in 2002, Hunter decided that he wanted to do something that would always remind him of his grandfather, and decided to start taking square dance lessons in 2004. A mere four months later he picked up a microphone and began calling.

He is now the caller for two clubs, The 59'ers and in 2008 revived his grandfather's old club, the Checkerboard Squares. Hunter also dances with three other clubs in Billings and the surrounding areas. He called his first festival in July of 2007 in California.

Hunter is a member of Callerlab and has become a member of the Youth Committee when he attended the Callerlab convention in Colorado Springs, Colorado and became the Chairman of the Youth Committee in 2008.
 
In October of 2007, Hunter attended the 4Dance Caller's Academy in Napa, California with Scot Byars as the instructor. In June of 2008, he also attended the Yellowstone Callers College in West Yellowstone, Montana with Tony Oxendine and Jerry Jestin as the instructors. Both of these callers colleges were made possible by the Bob Mace Memorial Fund. Bob Mace was a caller that Hunter grew up around when his parents and grandparents danced. Thank you to that fund for bettering callers.
 
In 2008, Hunter was honored with a chance to become a recording artist for Royal Records. He recorded his first song, Wild Horses, in October of 2008.

Hunter's influences include, first and foremost, his grandfather, Frank Leenknecht, plus renowned callers Joe Saltel, Jerry Story, Tony Oxendine, Ken Bower, and too many more to name.

Hunter is a ten-year 4-H alumni and an active 4-H leader. Hunter credits everything he has learned throughout the past 10 years to 4-H and says that, if it were not for that program, he would not be where he is today. Hunter resides in Billings with his mother, father, brother and grandmother.

WHAT BEGINNERS CAN EXPECT AT THE SESSIONS
Sessions are being offered by the Yellowstone Square Dance Council in Billings, which will meet at Cedar Hall at MetraPark. The cost of the beginner sessions will be discussed at the first session. It's ideal if you bring a partner to dance with, but single dancers are also encouraged to attend and will be partnered up with either a new single dancer or one of the club dancers we have available.

The beginner sessions will allow all of the dancers to  master the "calls" (maneuvers) required for the Basic / Mainstream level of square dancing. Sessions are conducted every Thursday where new calls are introduced and then you dance using these  calls and the ones you learned from previous sessions. It's fun right from the start, and you'll find yourself looking forward to the next session. If a dancer needs to miss a session, they can catch up the next week since all the new calls are reviewed the following week. The Lesson Review page will track the calls learned and offer an instructional demo which are great for review and to catch up on the ones you may have missed. It should be emphasized that the idea of square dancing is having fun even while you are mastering the dance calls. As you master more of the calls you will find that the dancing begins to flow with the music more and more. Listen to Hunter Keller calling a Mainstream Song Click Here


After you graduate, you'll be able to dance at club dances or at other dances and festivals in Billings and throughout the state, country, and world. By the way, if you're out traveling you can almost always find a local square dance nearby if you want to get out and meet people or just have something to do.


The instructor will introduce new calls in a perscribed order that will allow the dancers to master the calls easier.  Some of the calls are fairly obvious, such as "circle left," others are not. But you learn them gradually and gently, with lots of review each week. Note that the  level of dancing you will be learing actually encompasses two dance levels known as Basic and Mainstream. When you graduate, you will be considered a Mainstream dancer. After dancing Mainstream for a while you will want to learn the Plus level calls. Most of the dances at the clubs and special dances are Mainstream with one or two Plus level tips during the dance.

Hunter Keller
Instructor
Most dancers remain at the Plus level. But IF you're adventurous, after a couple of years you might want to move up and learn one of the higher levels of square dancing, known as Advanced and Challenge. Here you'll learn more calls, and you'll learn new concepts like phantom dancers, mirror images, etc., to make things even more interesting (and fun). If you are interested in learning "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Modern Square Dancing" Click Here

As a newcomer to square dancing, you undoubtedly have an uneasy feeling about how you should conduct yourself at a square dance class. You possibly wonder if you are going to experience difficulty learning. You may have a dozen other questions about this new activity. Well first, please be assured you have no reason for concern. Square dancing is easy, and you will not have serious difficulty learning. Everyone in the class is a beginner, just as you, starting on the same basis, and you will all learn together. The following comments may make it easier for you to understand a few basics concerning the square dance activity.

Hint 1
SQUARE DANCING IS FUN! 
Your instructor will be doing his/her best to help you realize this from the very first night.

Hint 2
Square dancing is a casual activity. You need no formal introduction to those you have not met. There are no strangers among square dancers. Just step right up to anyone and introduce yourself. In square dancing, we are all on a first name basis. It's friendlier that way!  Wear your nametag!
Hint 3
Later, you may wish to dress in western attire, but for the sessions, just dress comfortably. Ladies can wear dresses or jeans and flat or low-heeled shoes. Gents wear comfortable slacks or jeans and long-sleeved shirts. Coats are not necessary.

Hint 4
Square dancing is a close-contact activity. Please use good judgment in your choice of jewelry, belt buckles, etc. Sharp or rough edges may scratch or catch on someone's clothing

Hint 5
On a very delicate subject, extra physical exercise or possibly the slight nervous tension of learning may cause perspiration. Your use of a deodorant might be advisable to avoid the embarrassment of body odors, which may be offensive to others.

Hint 6
On a personal note, the use of alcoholic beverages just prior to or during a square dance is not permissible.

Hint 7
Gents, remember you have both strength and weight advantage over the ladies and you should always, even in your enthusiasm, be conscious that the ladies do not like to be handled roughly.  Let them enjoy dancing too!

Hint 8
IMPORTANT!  Listen carefully to instructions and be sincere in your efforts to follow the instructions. Good listeners learn easier.

Hint 9
If during the class you do not understand an instruction, do not hesitate to ask for additional explanation from the caller, not from a dancer in your square.

Hint 10
There is no reason to feel shy or embarrassed. Just listen and follow instructions. Sooner than you think, you will be dancing to the calls.

Hint 11
Square dancing is relaxing. Take it easy! You do not have to work hard at it. You have plenty of time. Enjoy Yourself

Hint 12
Please be on time for every session and HAVE FUN!

Thur, December 1 or 8, 2011
6:30 to 7:45 pm
Cedar Hall at Metra Park (See Map - Press Here)
Hunter Keller - Caller
Casual Clothes w/Comfortable Shoes
To be discussed at first session



2010 Beginner Hoedown
Watch a slide show of the dance, games, and graduation of our 2010 beginner's class.