Our Instructors

Club Caller: TIM MERINO

Tim began his square dance calling career in 1980 in Oroville, California. During those years, he called for several clubs, including the Chico State Allemanders, the Sierra Steppers, and the Table Mountain Stompers. It was a busy and exciting time, with three or four nights of calling each week being the norm. In 1984, Tim decided to step away from calling.

Tim and his wife Liz (who LOVES to Dance) rejoined the square dance activity in 2013 as “Retread” dancers. It didn’t take long for that old “calling bug” to stir again—every time Tim stepped into a dance hall and heard the music, the urge to call returned. With encouragement from dancers he had taught more than 35 years earlier, and after some thoughtful “boundary” discussions with Liz, he decided to dust off the microphone and start calling once more.

Today, Tim is a member of the worldwide CALLERLAB organization, and through that affiliation he also holds memberships in BMI and ASCAP, which provide music licensing and insurance.

Tim is also the club caller for the Mavericks PLUS Square Dance Club & also for the Jet Sets Advanced group. Both are in Roseville Calif.

Tim and Liz love to travel, and their dancing and calling have taken them to clubs and events in many states. Along the way, they’ve built friendships, shared the joy of square dancing, and brought energy to every hall they visit. In the Spring of 2025, their travels led them to Vancouver, BC, where Tim had the honor and excitement of calling a dance for our Canadian friends. More recently, Tim has been invited not only to call at local dances but also to appear at larger festivals, as his reputation for fun, energetic calling continues to grow.

Apprentice Caller: JOHN CROWSTON

John began square dancing in high school during the 1980s, where he discovered a welcoming community of dancers who became lifelong friends. It was at a square dance party that he met his wife, making the activity even more meaningful.

Over the years, John’s passion for square dancing has continued to grow, and sharing that enthusiasm with others has become one of his greatest joys. Teaching and calling feel like a natural extension of his journey, and his goal is to inspire a new generation of dancers.

John has attended several caller clinics, is preparing to complete his second Caller School, and has already had the opportunity to call at private parties and teach new dancer classes.