Rick Gittelman’s Profile

  EARLY CAREER 

Rick began calling and teaching Square Dancing in 1974, in Philadelphia, PA while still in high school. He was inspired by his uncle and aunt- Henry and Lydia Vender (deceased) who were avid Dancers and Round Dance Cuers. Rick’s parents Dave and Shirley (deceased) were also very supportive of his calling career. He co-founded one of the area’s first single dancer friendly Square Dance Clubs- Lone Rangers, in the Philadelphia area. He served as the club caller from 1976-1985 and became busy guest calling for several other area clubs. His friends at Lone Rangers, which is still in existence, helped and supported him in the early days of his calling career, he still calls for them, he is very grateful to them. Rick became very busy calling and teaching in the Philadelphia area in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s and at the same time worked full time in a retail business with his father. He began traveling out west to Arizona and Colorado in the mid 80’s and began to expand his career to part time traveling caller. He fell in love with Arizona and in the mid 1980’s began spending part of the year in the Phoenix area. Rick is well known for his creative choreography, excellent teaching skills, variety of music, great sense of humor and singing voice.

GO WEST YOUNG CALLER

Rick’s dream was to be a full-time caller and to live in the southwest. In 1985 he began traveling back and forth- Phoenix- Philly then in 1990 he gave up his retail career, moved to Phoenix and never looked back. He became a full-time caller. He soon became very busy calling and teaching all over Arizona and expanded his travels to California, Colorado and eventually all over the U.S.A.  In 1995 he relocated to Tucson and immediately called for several clubs. He was the club caller for the Green Valley Squares from 2004-2024, calling and teaching, making wonderful friends and memories over the 20 year stint. “I am fortunate to actually have pursued my dreams and had my dreams come true,” Rick.                                                                                                      

CAREER as a FULL TIME TRAVELING CALLER (1993-2023)

Rick began traveling extensively and has called all over the United States.  His annual spring-early summer tours (mid-April through June) expanded over the years and eventually encompassed over 20,000 miles of driving, flying and calling for several clubs in several states. This annual tour included Colorado, the Midwest, the East Coast and South. The summer would find Rick calling in the Sacramento area, Nevada and southern California.   

                                                                                                                            

RICK MEETS KAREN

In calling trips to southern California Rick met his life partner, soulmate, companion, love of his life and best friend Karen. She later became his partner. Karen became his traveling companion for several years. Besides dances, Karen and Rick visited friends and family and took time sightseeing. This included visiting historical sights, local attractions, national parks, monuments, etc., Karen’s favorite hobbies included state capitals and attending different baseball games all over the U.S. Their adventures also included a Mexican Riviera Square Dance Cruise in 2022. Rick cherishes those fond memories. “Best time of my life” Rick. Sadly, Karen became very ill in mid-2023 and died in December of 2024. Rick stayed by her side in Carson City, Nevada- her family home- during her entire battle. Rick took a hiatus from his busy calling schedule but continued calling on a very limited basis. He canceled all his road dances and did not call at home as he stayed with Karen in Carson City, NV. Being away from Tucson for well over a year took its toll.                                                                                         

RETURNING TO THE SCENE

Since returning to Tucson in early 2025 Rick has spent time rebuilding his square dance clubs; Tucson Twirlers, The Fun Bunch Plus DBD and Rick A Shays Advanced. He taught some new dancer classes and resumed guest calling for several clubs in Arizona. He was elected president of Southern Arizona Callers/Cuers association for the 2026 calendar year and has been very active. Rick has been very proactive in helping newer callers and has worked on helping callers and dancers with the new mainstream and plus lists that take effect in September.              In late December of 2025 Rick made the decision to return to calling on the road. His first tour was in Northern Nevada, Sacramento area and Southern California. He put the word out and began filling in his schedule on the road. Rick thanks so many callers and dancer friends nationwide who helped him get on the road again. It was quite a task. In April he did a short tour in Colorado. In late May and June he resumed calling in the eastern U.S.A. Summer will find him in California again. He will also be in Tucson on and off this summer calling for his hometown clubs and dancers. Rick thanks the area callers for filling in at his clubs while he tours. ” I am overwhelmed by the kindness of the square dance community who were so supportive of me during the hardest time of my life and have continued their support in my journey returning to the square dance scene, locally and nationally” Rick                     

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!        

I am joining Gold Rush- Square Dance Records-(Music) as a recording artist. Thank you Scott and Shawn Brown and Lisa Minton for inviting me. Look for my new singing calls coming soon!             

AJO AMIGOS A VERY SPECIAL SQUARE DANCE CLUB- Special Memory                   

From 1991 through 2002 Rick traveled to the remote town of Ajo, AZ to call for the Ajo Amigos. Ajo was an old mining town but became an attractive haven for winter visitors. Rick would travel to Ajo, 140 miles from Tucson, to teach a class, call a club dance and stay overnight and teach a Plus workshop every week from November through March. The Ajo Amigos really lived up to their name, says Rick. “They were one of the friendliest group of dancers I ever had the experience of calling to. It was one of the highlights of my calling career.”

RELATED ACTIVITES

President of Central Arizona Callers Association 1992-1995

President of the Southern Arizona Callers & Cuers Association-SACCA since the mid 1994-2022 and again 2026 

Mentors New Callers 

Co-Chairman for the Tucson Square Dance Festival since 2008 (sponsored by SACCA)

Active member of CALLERLAB, since 1981 serving on several committees. Mentors and coaches many other square dance callers. To see my full schedule click on website links.

Taught Square Dancing in Tucson area

Substitute School Teacher in Tucson, AZ

YOU CAN FOLLOW RICK AND HIS SQUARE DANCE ADVENTURE ON FACEBOOK!