[Callers] Tony Parkes LCA

The late Tony Parkes will be honored November 22, 2025, as a recipient of the Lifetime Contribution Award from Country Dance and Song Society. The event takes place at the Scout House, Concord, MA. A renowned caller of contras and squares for more than 50 years, choreographer, musician, band leader, textbook author, workshop leader, dance historian, and organizer, Tony was widely recognized as the preeminent traditional New England caller at the time of his death. The November 22 program will be mask optional. It begins at 4 PM with a square dance session taught and prompted by Tony himself! (on recordings), followed by an award presentation, a potluck supper (6 PM), and an evening dance (7:30 PM) of contras and squares called by Annie Kidwell, Ben Sachs-Hamilton, and Lisa Greenleaf, with music by Stove Dragon: Oliver Scanlon, Max Newman, Rose Jackson, Sam Zakon-Anderson. (Note that the language on Tony’s recordings is gendered. The evening dance will use role terms robins and larks.)