JCCFS: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What’s your background in your medium? How did you get started?

NM: I started calling square dances in the late 1980s. I’ve called dances all over the country, including at several weeks and weekends. In an effort to increase the interest in calling square dances, and increase the skill level of square dance callers, I co-founded the Dare to Be Square weekend with Phil Jamison in 2003. We sponsored it for 3 years at Warren Wilson College, and after that it spread to locales around the country put on by their local communities. I feel that our doing that was in large part responsible to the spread of interest in traditional square dance. My main passion is spreading the joy I get from square dancing, and can’t wait to share some of that with my students.

JCCFS: Tell us more about your class’s specific technique or process.

NM: For the most part, we will dance, dance, dance! I’m planning to focus primarily on Appalachian dance – to include square dances, couple dances, and flatfooting. We will likely spread out to some other “Appalachian-adjacent” dances – and discuss their relationship to Appalachian dance. In addition to dancing, I want to share videos, records, and books, when we need to give our bodies a break.

JCCFS: What can students expect to leave your class with?

NM: When you leave the week, my hope is that you are energized about Appalachian dance and want to “spread the love” in your home communities. At the very least, you will have spent the week enjoying each other and enjoying the dance.

JCCFS: What do you enjoy most about teaching?

NM: I am a teacher at heart, so calling square dances comes naturally for me. Teaching dance is great because I get immediate feedback about whether I’m getting through to my students or not! Every time I teach, or call a dance, I learn something new that helps me the next time.

JCCFS: What attracted you to the Folk School? What are you most excited about for your first time teaching here?

NM: I have heard about the Folk School since I was a kid. My granddaddy was a large animal vet for the USDA and this was part of the region he traveled in, and I think he even treated animals at the school. In the early 90s, my younger brother and I attended the Winter Dance Week here, and when I relocated to NC in 1994, I have occasionally come to the Folk School to call evening dances. I’m thrilled to be able to spend a week here – the campus and the surrounding area are beautiful, and the culture of the campus is so welcoming.

JCCFS: Where do you draw inspiration from for your work?

NM: I started square dancing in Pittsburgh, PA, in the early 1980s, where there were four dance callers who called the Friday night dances (they each had a different week): Dolores Heagy, Larry Edelman, Marlin Whitaker, and Ron Buchanan. They are each stellar callers, and while I have danced to many others over the last 40 years, they are my original influences. I could name many more, but I know I would leave someone out….

My other inspiration is the music. Kenny Jackson is a fine example of a fiddler who can fill the bill! I have been dancing to his fiddling, and calling to his fiddling, for the past 30 years or so. I am thrilled he can join me!

JCCFS: What’s one piece or craft object you’ve made recently that you are proud of, and why?

NM: Again, the thing I am probably proudest of is helping start Dare to Be Square. If students are interested in hosting one in their home community, I’m certainly willing to help with whatever guidance I can give!