Art LaVigne Square Dance Caller
Square Dance Caller & Recording Artist
301-491-1108
Bio
![Art Flyer Photo.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fa10db_51e5c792eff6420c8c740eccfb1674b1~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_27,w_266,h_266/fill/w_372,h_372,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/Art%20Flyer%20Photo_JPG.jpg)
Art started Square Dancing in 1976 at the age of 12 at the “Teen Travelers” in Lowell, Ma. He graduated in June of 1977 the week after graduation their caller Phil Kandrut held an amateur caller night. Knowing this was coming up Art taped Phil’s calling, studied it for hours and memorized it exactly.The night of the dance Art got up and did the singing call he studied (Send Her Roses) verbatim to what Phil did on the tape. Phil was so impressed that he let Art do another later that night.
Art’s mom and dad, who were in attendance at the time, were so excited they contacted their caller who had an old sound system for sale and bought it for Art as a present. Less than four months later, at the ripe old age of 13, Art did his first solo dance – a father and daughter dance for the Girl Scouts of New Hampshire (which he did every year till 1991).
In 1980 he attended callers school at “East Hill Farm” in Troy NH with Al Brundage & Earl Johnston.
In 1980 he called his first club level dance at the “Depot Squares” in Shirley Ma.
In 1982 He became club caller for the “Twirling TNT’s” in Manchester, NH
In 1985 He met his wife Amy at a square dance.
In 1986 Amy and Art got Married
In 1988 He became club caller for the “Two Hearts as One” in Gardener, MA
Also in 1988 He became club caller for the “Spindle City Squares” in Lowell, MA
Besides his three clubs Art also called as a guest caller at many clubs in New England.
Has Called at the National Convention and New England Convention
In 1991 Art’s “real” job moved him to Maryland. It was hard to leave his clubs behind. He settled down in Hagerstown.
Club caller for the “Gateway Swingers” in Frederick, MD were he was their caller until they folded in 1998.
In 1997 he became club caller for the “Gad-Abouts” in Hagerstown, MD
In 2012 Art recorded his first singing call "Hip To Be Square" on Alter-Ego Recordings and in 2013 he recorded "The Way" also on Alter-Ego.
In 2015 he begin recording with Gold Rush Records with the singing call "The Living Years" and in 2016 "Love Song"
Art and Amy have two Children:
Sondra who was born in 1988
Randy who was born in 1990