A series of articles for new (and experienced) gay/lesbian/bi/trans square dancers.

Coming Soon:
These are articles currently in production. Please let me know if you'd like to preview them, or have material to contribute.

The Twins' Guide To Staging IAGSDC Convention *Due out by the end of September, 2006*
For many years, the "Evil Twins" of the IAGSDC - Anne Uebelacker and Sandie Bryant - have been asked for their input regarding how they think conventions should be staged. In this article, the Twins will finally break their silence, and disclose all of the things they think future convention committees should know about how to stage an IAGSDC convention.

Latest & Greatest:
These are the most recently revised and/or most popular articles on the site at present.

A Guide To IAGSDC Convention *Version 3.7 - Revised as of 4/6/07!*
Many new dancers are reluctant to attend the annual IAGSDC Convention because they don't know what to expect. This article was written just for them. (Or for any dancer who hasn't attended an IAGSDC Convention before.) This version of the Guide adds photos. Enjoy! Click here for the PDF version.

IAGSDC 2005 Fun Badge Tour Script
I wrote the script for the Fun Badge Tour for the IAGSDC 2005 Convention "Star Thru The Silicon Galaxy". Enough people have requested a copy that I decided to put the script online. (Please contact me directly for a copy of the script in revisable Word document format formatted for printout, including page numbers.)

Route Book for IAGSDC 2005 FBT
This is a PDF version of the route book (orignially created in Excel) that my husband, Randy Hensley, created for the 2005 Fun Badge Tour. This is here primarily for future Convention committees who want to see how we did things.

My First CALLERLAB
In 2004, I attended CALLERLAB for the first time. Here's an article that tells what it was like, so that other newer callers considering going to CALLERLAB will know what to expect. This article originally appeared in the GCA “Call Sheet” Newsletter.

TrashDance ("What A Feeling!")
As a caller ... what do you do when only 6 dancers show up? Get trashy! This article, on how to choreograph and call for 6 dancers plus two wheeled garbage cans, first appeared in the GCA “Call Sheet” Newsletter.

Things you wanted to know about gay marriage in Canada, but were afraid to ask *Revised 12/7/03*
Also known as "Allan & Randy Get Married", this article talks about my same-sex marriage experience in Vancouver on Thanksgiving weekend, 2003, and has pictures of the wedding.

An American's Guide To Gay Square Dancing In Vancouver
Last updated in October of 2003 (for the 2003 Lesbian/Gay Advanced & Challenge Fly-In), this is a complete guide written for any square dancer who's never been to Canada (Specifically, Vancouver, BC) before. Everything is covered, from the best way to transfer from your hotel to the airport, to favorite museums and sights, to how to get home again! This is a substantial rewrite of an article writtne in 2000, which was originally directed at dancers attending the IAGSDC Convention being held in Vancouver BC.

Work In Progress:
These are drafts of articles that I'm currently working on. These articles haven't yet reached what I consider to be "finished" or "polished" status. (NOTE: I am seeking feedback on these articles, to better revise them for final release.)

Goofus & Gallant Take Up Calling (Last Updated 1/18/04)
So ... one night at Convention, a bunch of friends were sitting around a table one evening, griping about GCA callers. Being a GCA caller, I sat quietly in the background and took copious notes. This article - which talks about what defines a "professional" caller - is the result. It's still too preachy for my taste, and I'm considering ways to lighten it up a little. You read it and tell me what you think.

Moving Up To Advanced or Challenge (Last Updated 1/18/04)
One of the more interesting effects I've noticed as I've aged over the years, is the more I keep my mouth shut and just smile a lot, the more stuff people will discuss openly in front of me. This article is the result of my spending several hours following a couple of favorite callers through the Plus & Advanced rooms at a recent convention, and hearing a number of dancers in those halls talk with dread about the possibility of learning to dance Advanced or Challenge levels. The intention is to provide an article that clubs can publish each year just before their A&C classes, to encourage new Plus and Advanced dancers to take the class.

Back to Basics:
These articles cover topics and questions frequently asked about by new dancers.

The Joy of Angelling
Being a club angel: what's in it for you? Some of the answers in this article may surprise you. (Keep in mind that even students with only a couple of months under their belts, can benefit from angelling a new Basic class.)

Don't Cry Over Broken Squares - Fix Them!
Ever danced in a square that suddenly broke down? Ever wish there was a way to fix things and keep on dancing with the rest of the hall? Take heart - this article illustrates several different ways to keep on dancing!

Origins of Sound Effects
Have you ever heard a new sound effect for a call, and wondered where it came from? More importantly, have you ever wondered HOW a new sound effect is created? This article traces a sound effect as it evolved from its first use into its now-popular usage all over the world.

IAGSDC Mini-FAQ
This mini-Frequently Asked Questions list was originally written to be handed out at the Medallion Project table during the IAGSDC 2003 Convention held in San Diego.

Dusty But Trusty:
Despite their age, these articles still provide solid background information for newer dancers and/or newer callers.

What's GCA Caller School REALLY Like? (Part 1 of 2)
This short article was written for SquareUp! Magazine, to promote that year's GCA Caller School. If you've ever wondered what GCA Caller School was like - or wondered what kinds of people go to a caller school - this is the article for you.

What's GCA Caller School REALLY Like? (Part 2 of 2)
This was a one-year-later followup to the original article, to show how GCA Caller School differs from year to year, depending upon who's teaching, and what the students need.

Review of 1999 (Los Angeles) Fun Badge Tour
This short piece profiled a typical IAGSDC Convention's Fun Badge Tour. In this case, I reviewed the Fun Badge Tour from 1999's Convention, which was entitled "Lights, Camera, Linear Action!". Interestingly enough, most Fun Badge Tours still follow a similar format in terms of number and types of stops...

If you would like to reprint any of these articles in your club newsletter, please click here.

Content © Allan Hurst 1995-2006 - Updated 06 April 2007