Will Bowling

Artist Biography

Residing in Oneida, Kentucky, Will Bowling is a Clay County square caller in the style of the Carcassonne and Pine Mountain communities of southeastern Kentucky. Originating in New England as an evolution from social dances in England, France, and other parts of Europe, square dancing is a group-orientated folk dance that has been a part of Appalachian social fabric for centuries. Often accompanied by live old time and bluegrass music, couples arrange themselves in a square and whirl through a sequence of steps shouted by the caller. The Carcassonne Square Dance is the oldest community-organized square dance in Kentucky, and in the summer of 2005, Bowling participated in his first of many dances at the Carcassonne Community Center. Under the tutelage of Charlie Walker and Peter Rodgers, Bowling progressed from dancer to caller, learning the distinct structure and progression Carcassonne style. Now the regular caller at the Carcassonne Community Center, Bowling has called dances hosted by Appalshop, Hindman Settlement School, and other community centers and gatherings around eastern Kentucky.

“These community dances help maintain a sense of traditional heritage, provide a public gathering place, and preserve local culture,” says Bowling. As the number of callers dwindle, he “view[s] his role as caller as central to helping maintain these dance opportunities and the subsequent community benefits they provide.” With the support of the Folk and Traditional Arts Master Artist Fellowship, Bowling intends to attend community square dances throughout Appalachia; interview callers, dancers, and organizers; and incorporate their approaches to honing his craft as a caller and advocating for traditional dance cultures.