Clark Baker

Clark started dancing in 1974 at MIT's Tech Squares. In 1976, for his undergraduate thesis, Clark wrote a computer program to generate "smooth, flowing, danceable" Plus and Advanced material. He started calling in 1977; in the mid-1980's he developed several computer programs to assist in writing choreography. Currently he calls for a local C3 group and a handful of challenge weekends around the US. He has called in Germany, Sweden, and Japan. He and his wife dance Plus through C3, his younger daughter dances Advanced, and he really enjoys local contra dance scene.

Clark has been an active member of Callerlab since 1980 and is presently the chairman of the definitions committee, and a member of its Board of Governors. His choreographic reputation is for problem solving, technical accuracy, and testing the dancer's knowledge of the basics.

Upcoming Events

2008
Sep 6-7	Baypath Barn C3A Weekend, Clark Baker and Todd Fellegy, Boylston, MA Baypath Barn, 119 Central Street, Boylston, MA [Find a hotel]
Sep 19-21	West Coast Gay A&C, Push Open The Golden Gate, South San Francisco, CA Callers: Clark Baker, Saundra Bryant, Vic Ceder, Anne Uebelacker Local callers: Rob French, Harlan Kerr, CJ Smith, John Sybalsky, Fen Tamanaha, Richard Tuck Embassy Suites Hotel, 650 Gateway Blvd, South San Francisco, CA [Find a hotel]
Oct 3-5	Fall Challenge Weekend, C1-C2, John Sybalsky, Clark Baker, Northwood, NH Lake Shore Farm, 275 Jenness Pond Rd, Northwood, NH [Find a hotel]
Oct 24-26	Berkshires Invitational C4, Clark Baker, Vic Ceder, Lenox, MA (facility unspecified), , Lenox, MA [Find a hotel]
Nov 8-9	C-Gulls, Clark Baker, C4, Fort Myers, FL Tony Rotino Center, 5817 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral, FL [Find a hotel]
2009
Jan 2-4	New Years Weekend, Vic Ceder, Lynette Bellini, Clark Baker, Northwood, NH Lake Shore Farm, 275 Jenness Pond Rd, Northwood, NH [Find a hotel]
Jan 24-25	Importers, C3 and C4, Clark Baker, Deerfield, IL Deerfield Community Center, 836 Jewett Park Drive, Deerfield, IL [Find a hotel]
Mar 6-8	Tech Squares Weekend (private), Hard Plus, Tim Marriner, Mary Pickett, Troy, NH The Inn at East Hill Farm, 460 Monadnock St, Troy, NH [Find a hotel]
Apr 6-8	Callerlab Convention, Kansas City, MO The Airport Hilton, 8801 NW 112th St, Kansas City, MO [Find a hotel]
Jul 22-26	iPAC 2009, International Plus, Adv., and Challenge, Barmstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Also: Percolators web site Callers: Sandie Bryant, Tim Crawford, Clark Baker, Jirka Scobak, Dave Wilson, Bronc Wise, Michael Kellogg, Bjorn Andersson (facility and address unknown), Barmstedt, Germany [Find a hotel]
Jul 26-Aug 1	C3B Teach Week (Compact Class), Clark Baker, Plon, Germany Koppelsberg, (address unknown), , Plon, Germany [Find a hotel]
Aug 14-16	PACE So-Cal, Clark Baker, C3-C4, Temple City, CA Temple City Womens' Club, 9704 Woodruff Ave., Temple City, CA (and other locations) [Find a hotel]
2010
Jan 23-24	Importers, C3 and C4, Clark Baker, Deerfield, IL Deerfield Community Center, 836 Jewett Park Drive, Deerfield, IL [Find a hotel]
Mar 29-31	Callerlab Convention, East Region, East Region [Find a hotel]

Weekly Schedule

Every Thursday, C3B 7:30 - 10:00, call before visiting.

The Challenge Square Dancing Handbook

Written in 1978, this book concentrates on concepts since they were so poorly covered in other square dance dictionaries. It is now out of print and there are currently no plans to reprint. I recommend the Callerlab definitions and the Ceder Chest.

Monster A2

This CD is a complete dance consisting of challenging A2 all position choreography called with energy at a snappy pace. The material will test the skills of experienced and adventurous A2 dancers, while proving very interesting to all dancers through the C3A level. A great exercise for higher level dancers who wish to practice with their A2 or C1 friends. Monster A2 is very danceable, but nobody will walk away bored! We offer a paper entitled Monster A2 which covers the content and application of this CD in greater detail. You can order the CD from http://www.g2ideas.com/cdw/index.html.

Articles by Clark Baker

• Challenge Square Dancing: Myths and Responses
• Square Dance Programs...What's the Difference?
• The Twisted Concept
• Another description of the Twisted Concept (from Ceder Chest)
• Hexagon Squares
• Square Games
• Fun - a definition
• Calls Database, in somewhat readable LISP, and huge (over 1 megabyte)
• Explaining Traditional Squares and Contras to MWSD folks
• How I became involved with computers
• A quick explanation of the "Rule of 78"
• Barstool Dancing
• Helping in a square
• Alternative Patter Music
• C2 Teaching Order
• C3A Teaching Order
• C3B Teaching Order
• Disposable Experimentals
• Gimmicks: A talk I gave at Callerlab 2005
• Contra dances that include Clark as an author
• Musings on definitions
• Introduction to the PPC Initiative (a talk Clark gave at Callerlab 2005)
• Western Style Square Dancing is in trouble
• Will Square Dancing Survive?

Contact Information

Last updated Thursday 14 August 2008