Profile in Callers and Cuers

  

Mike Sikorsky called his first full square dance for the Roaring 20's young adult club in July 1972 in Van Nuys, CA. Mike later discovered his Maternal Grandfather, Oscar, was an old time square dance caller, calling "Wagon Wheel" and "Red Wing" every summer Saturday night on his farm to the music being played by whatever banjo or guitar player showed up.

Mike graduated from CSUN with a Bachelor's Degree, paying his own way with the money he made from square dance calling. About Mike's square dance calling, his college friends said, "Well, it beats flipping hamburgers!"

In November 2010, Mike Sikorsky became an author, publishing Vol. I of his own defined method of Patter Calling, the Activator-Stream method, where one sequencing of calls (an Activator) has a variable allowing for at least 10 different variations. When 3 of these Activators are combined, creating a Stream, the caller has 6,000 possible different variations! The Activator-Stream Vol. II was first published in November 2011, the same year Mike was voted Most Entertaining Caller at the first ever Ozzie Awards held in Las Vegas, NV.

Mike was diagnosed with ALS in early 2026, but refused to give in to this debilitating illness. He continued to travel, call square dances and make future plans. Following a weekend calling in Washington State, Mike became ill on the flight to his next engagement on the east coast. He was taken by ambulance to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center where he was placed in ICU. Mike passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of June 20, 2026. He was surrounded by family and friends that helped him transition to his next journey.

Mike devoted his life to the square dance community. He called for 54 years and had a unique ability to connect to his dancers and fellow callers. He was a great caller, teacher, mentor, entertainer, and friend to all whom he came into contact.

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