Hall Of Fame


The RDC officers of the Square Dance Callers Club of Great Britain (SDCCGB) would like to recognise the individuals, couples or groups who have made a lasting contribution to the Round Dancing community in Great Britain.
Details about nominating can be found at the bottom of the page.

2015 Inductees


Susie and Gert-Jan Rotschied


Despite their considerable involvement in ECTA, Susie & Gert-Jan  have managed to be instrumental in increasing the range of rhythms and dances taught in the UK. For several years they taught at the SDCCGB Oxford RD weekends, teaching workshops and also holding Cuer training sessions. 

In 1995, after encouraging the UK Cuers to set up an accreditation panel similar to the one used by ECTA, they invited them over to the Goss seminar to participate. The Cuers continued to improve their cueing and teaching skills and were also introduced to the idea of using constructive criticism within the group, something that is still used today.

Although not being involved in the UK for some years many dancers still enjoyed their choreography and the festivals they attended to teach in Europe. 

This year they were invited back to the UK to teach at the 2015 RDC Cuer School. During the school they were presented with the award.


2014 Inductee


Babs Adam


Shown in this photo is Sandra just after presenting Babs with her award at the 2014 Week of Dance.

Babs was one of the first round dance cuers in the UK.  Her club Step-A-Rounds opened in the midlands in 1978 with nineteen couples. She often gave help and advice to others setting up their own clubs, notably Jean Preston, Marnie Slater and Sandra Higson.

In March 1990 Babs held the first British Round Dance weekend, helped by her husband John. It ran annually at Woolacombe until 2002. She also ran the November event in Torquay from 1993 until 2003. Both weekends were very popular averaging eighty dancers, who all returned with enthusiasm and new dances to their own clubs.   


2013 Inductees


Bill & Helen Viner


Shown in this photo is Helen Viner holding her certificate.
 
"I am very sorry I can't be with you today, I would so love to be there in person. Thank you so much for nominating Bill and me for induction into the Round Dance Hall of Fame. I feel delighted and very honoured, and I know Bill would have been so very proud. It is good to know that Round Dancing is still going strong and more people are enjoying it. I would like to send my best wishes to you all and wish you Happy Dancing in the future." Helen is now 91 and still lives independently, although since a second bout of pneumonia at New Year, she has had 3 further spells in hospital, returning home most recently at the beginning of March. She still loves to hear news of all her dancing friends. She was presented with her award on the 23rd March 2013 by RDC Vice Chair Judi Read.
 

Alan & Joyce Sheriffs


Alan and Joyce said they were very happy to have been   nominated and inducted into the Round Dance Council's Hall of Fame.  They're pleased that all their efforts over so many years have been acknowledged in this way, and they're glad to hear that Round Dancing is doing so well, and that some Clubs are able to attract new round dancers.

Unfortunately they no longer have a car because Alan is not now fit to drive, so they're unable to get out to see people, although they're always glad to hear news from their round and square dancing friends.

 

They were presented with their award on the 23rd August 2013.


Jean Preston


On the 22nd September 2013, Jean Preston was finally, officially, presented with her certificate and trophy of induction to the SDCCGB Round Dance Council Hall of Fame - her ever busy schedule had precluded an earlier date. The dancers at Dial A Round had asked for the presentation to be made at a club evening / party night: this included a celebration cake and bouquet of flowers as well as a poem written by a dancer. 


Judi Read and Jill Woodall made the presentation on behalf of the Round Dance Council, and John Webb, President of the BAASDC, proposed a toast wishing Jean another 35 years of successful cueing and teaching. 


The evening was attended by Jean's daughter Heather, and many dancers from a number of clubs, including some square dancers who do not dance rounds, and some former dancers, all wishing to celebrate with Jean and honour her for her many years of service to both Square and Round dancing.


Jan Farnell (now living in the USA)


Jan started square dancing in the USA in 1970 but started dancing rounds in 1975 here in England.  Like many dancers at the time she learnt some dances by heart so that she could join in and had even cued some of these dances in her local clubs but it wasn't until 1980 that she took a real round dance class herself under the tutelage of Jim and Ruth Price.


When Jim & Ruth returned to the USA Jan took over as the cuer for ‘Telemarks’ she also cued for ‘Jubilee Rounds’ and started ‘Anglian Eights RDC’.  She cued at many Saturday Night dances and weekends including ‘Night Owl’ and ‘Expo’ also she cued and taught at the National Association weekend in Nottingham in 1989.


Jan also choreographed and published many dances, one of which she taught at Nottingham. 


Jan was instrumental in starting up the Cuers section of Callers Club and wrote regular articles for the Callers Club magazine and presented these articles as Workshop sessions at the Callers Club bi-monthly meetings, 


When she returned to the US in 1990 she started up a local club called ‘Honeybunch”.


Jan Farnell piece written by Joyce Obolewicz







Photo by courtesy of Ted Baldry
















Photo by courtesy of John Hayton










Photo by courtesy of Judi & Michael Read







                 Photo by courtesy of Jill Woodall
 





Photo by courtesy of Jill Woodall












Photo by courtesy of Jill Woodall

Nominations


Anyone may submit a nomination to the RDC. Individuals may be nominated posthumously.
 
Nominations for an award will be considered on merit, with the cut off date for each year being the proceeding 30th November. If awarded the presentation will coincide with the SDCCGB AGM. 

For the Criteria and Procedures please select Nomination.