Chasing Tradition: Square Dancing in the Catskills

The latest episode of Kaatscast–The Catskills Podcast explores a long-standing tradition of square dancing at a family home and barn, in Ashokan, NY.Host Brett Barry and production intern Olivia Sippel put on their dancing shoes and joined the fun, recording tales of traditional Catskills square dancing, and the musicians who are passing it down to a new generation of enthusiasts. Fiddler and caller Earl Pardini leads the festivities at this particular event, which goes back to the 1970s. The barn where it's held has all the warmth and joviality of a Charles Dickens scene, and we felt very much welcomed into a mostly friends-and-family affair. Featuring conversations with the Chase and Sparer families, the episode highlights deep-rooted Catskills traditions and includes insights from folklorist Ginny Shear and square dance caller Dane Scudder, who learned to "call" from a legend.