Dana Schirmer
Berryton, Kansas
Beginning as 4-H square dancer, Dana belonged to a youth club before becoming a charter member of the Sunflower Steppers Square Dance Club in Osage City. He has been square dancing for 47 years and joined KSDA in September 1986. He was a member of the Ottawa Travelaires in Ottawa; Sunflower Steppers of Osage City, and the Kuntry Kuzzins, Shawnee Swingers, Top-Kan Twirlers, and Old Timers, all of Topeka. He is a current member of the Kansas City Plus, Mission, KS and Friendship Squares, Advanced Workshop, and Plus Squares all of Topeka. Dana has accumulated 32 years as club president in the various clubs.
With the encouragement of Bill and Jerry Abbott (dedicated Northeast Kansas callers) and friends, Dana started calling in 1977. He helped to form the Shawnee Swingers, a singles club in Topeka, in 1978. He became the club caller for Kuntry Kuzzins in 1979 and Top-Kan Twirlers in 1985, both of Topeka. Currently, Dana calls for Kansas City Plus, Mission, KS, and Friendship Squares, Plus Squares, and the Advanced Workshop, all of Topeka. He has accumulated approximately 140 years as a club caller and has instructed over 100 Mainstream classes.
Dana is a member of CALLERLAB, Kansas Square Dance Callers Association (KSDCA), Northeast Kansas Square Dance Callers Association (NEKSDCA), and Kansas Square Dance Association (KSDA). When not calling a dance or promoting square dancing he travels to area dances as a square dancer, not as a visiting caller. Since the beginning of the NEKSDA Travel/Visitation Program in 1976, Dana has received the NE Travel Bar each year for traveling to 10 clubs or KSDA functions to dance.
At the State level, Dana has served as President of KSDCA 11 times. He has been Caller Coordinator for the Kansas State Square Dance Convention 8 times, and has accumulated 20 years as a member on various State committees. Dana has called at 34 State Conventions and 12 National Conventions.
A member of CALLERLAB for over 30 years, Dana has attended 24 CALLERLAB Conventions. He was Mainstream Committee Chairman for 10 years and Vice Chairman 4 years. Dana was CALLERLAB’s representative to the Canadian Mini Lab in 2008 and the 50th All Japan Square Dance Convention in 2011. He presented education sessions at 8 CALLERLAB Conventions, the Canadian Mini Lab, and Japan Square Dance Convention. Dana is currently serving as Executive Director of CALLERLAB.
When Kansas announced its intention to bid to host the 57th NSDC in 2008, Dana volunteered to serve as Chairman of the Business Committee, a very time consuming and important committee. He and his committee were instrumental in making the 57th NSDC one of the most successful and profitable Nationals in the history of the event.
Dana was Caller Coordinator for the first Kansas Conclave in Hutchinson. He created and coordinated the Kansas State Convention After Party for 5 years. Dana was Keynote Speaker for the 63rd NSDC in Arkansas and the 2012 Nebraska Prairie Conclave. In 1980, the Topeka Area President’s Council, was formulated by Dana and has operated for many years. Director of the Kaw Valley Callers’ School, Dana has conducted 11 caller schools in Kansas. He has assisted one school each with Karl Edwards and Jon Jones. As a staff member at Kirkwood Lodge, Osage Beach, MO, Dana provides dance entertainment for non-square dance families vacationing at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Dana has developed a wide range of music to fit each occasion as he focuses on creating an upbeat and fun dance at any level, and he works daily in a versatile and professional manner to promote square dancing and to make it more enjoyable for every dancer. He is indeed a Kansas caller who gives his all to square dancing and one that Kansas dancers are proud of!