There’s something electric about a room full of people moving together to live music—laughing, spinning, and stumbling through a dance they’re learning as they go. As a square dance caller, Annick Odom helps build that joy from the ground up. She loves calling because it brings people together in real time, in real space, with no experience needed and no performance required, just a willingness to give it a try. Dances are intentionally beginner-friendly and welcoming to all. She teaches figures in a relaxed, low-pressure way so everyone can feel successful, whether it’s their first dance or their fiftieth. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s connection.
Square dancing has a long, complex history shaped by many cultures, from European country dances and African American calling traditions to Appalachian kitchen floors and queer dance halls. While the public image of square dancing has sometimes felt narrow, Annick embraces it as a vibrant, living tradition with room for everyone. She strives to create spaces where all identities are welcomed and celebrated, including using gender-neutral language when requested and adapting her approach to the needs of each group.
Annick has called dances in Brussels at Muziekpublique’s American Roots Weekend, at the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Pittsburgh’s Steel City Squares, at Arthurdale Heritage, for the WV 4-H Dance Weekend, and for the Morgantown Friends of Old Time Music and Dance at the Encore, among others. She is available for community events, weddings, festivals, barn dances, workshops, and more, as a caller, fiddler, or bassist.
Square dancing has a long, complex history shaped by many cultures, from European country dances and African American calling traditions to Appalachian kitchen floors and queer dance halls. While the public image of square dancing has sometimes felt narrow, Annick embraces it as a vibrant, living tradition with room for everyone. She strives to create spaces where all identities are welcomed and celebrated, including using gender-neutral language when requested and adapting her approach to the needs of each group.
Annick has called dances in Brussels at Muziekpublique’s American Roots Weekend, at the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Pittsburgh’s Steel City Squares, at Arthurdale Heritage, for the WV 4-H Dance Weekend, and for the Morgantown Friends of Old Time Music and Dance at the Encore, among others. She is available for community events, weddings, festivals, barn dances, workshops, and more, as a caller, fiddler, or bassist.
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