Robert and Louie Cromartie have delighted dancers all over the country with their skilled calling of high energy contras and squares. Based in Chapel Hill, Robert and Louie have been popular callers in the Contra dance community for many years and are also well known for the many dances they have written. Working together as a synergistic team, they will be teaching dance workshops during the games (see schedule) and will call the contra portion of the dance program for the Flora Macdonald Ball (ball tickets sold separately).

Stella Fogg was born in Gourock, a small seaside town on the river Clyde on the southwest coast of Scotland, where she learned ceilidh dancing at primary school and family gatherings. She later became a Scottish county dance enthusiast, receiving her preliminary certificate from Miss Milligan and her full certificate at TAC (Teachers Association of Canada).  Stella has been teaching Scottish country dance in the Richmond (VA) area for over eighteen years, travels extensively conducting workshops and classes and has devised many dances including, Sailor Hector – devised with fellow instructor Moira Turner in tribute to Sailor Hector McNeill, the founder of Red Springs.  She will be teaching dance workshops during the games.  See schedule for details.

Mara Shea has been playing for dancers since the 1990’s – ceilidh,
contra, English country, and Scottish country dance. With her guitar-fiddle duo band, The Elftones, she has made a number of recordings (www.elftones.com) and is frequently heard at dance weekends and concerts.  An accomplish Scottish Fiddler and winner of the Loch Norman (1999 and 2000) and Grandfather Mountain (2000) Fiddle competitions, Mara will perform with Dave Wiesler at the Friday night concert, will play for dance workshops and will also join Dave in leading the Scottish music workshop (see schedule). The duo will also team up to play the Flora Macdonald Ball on Saturday night (ball tickets sold separately).

Jim Stevenson-Mathews first played for English and contra dance bands before venturing into the world of Scottish Country in the early 90’s. With his band, Celtic Knot, he is often heard at dances in the New York area and regularly plays for workshops and dance weekends across the US and in Canada. His original tunes appear in Milton Levy’s dance book, The Tin Woodman, and several are featured on Roy Hendrie’s CD by the same title. Jim will be playing for several of the dance workshops and will make a guest appearance during the Flora Macdonald Ball (ball tickets sold separately). 

Dave Wiesler has been building a national reputation for his rhythmic and innovative piano playing for over a decade. At home in a huge range of styles, Dave plays for events ranging from studio work to concerts to dances of many flavors – contra, swing, vintage, couple dance, English and Scottish country dance.  A prolific composer of tunes and songs as well as a capable guitarist and singer, Dave’s recordings can be found at www.azaleacityrecordings.com/davewiesler/.  Dave will be featured with Mara Shea during the Friday night concert, will play for several dance workshops and will team up with Mara Shea to lead the Scottish music workshop on Saturday afternoon (see schedule). Their music will also be heard as they play for the Flora Macdonald Ball on Saturday night (ball tickets sold separately).

Barbara Youngman received her full certificate in Scottish country dance from the Thistle School of Scottish Country Dance in Banner Elk, NC and teaches for the Raleigh and Durham Scottish Country dance groups. As head of the Durham Scottish Country Dancers she leads a class every Thursday night and is involved with numerous demonstration teams.  Barbara will be teaching dance workshops during the games and working with the Ball Apprentices. See schedule for details.