1997 Honor Dancers

Louis & Nancy Hyll

• Lloyd Shaw Foundation Workshops 1962, 75-78, 84
  
• Bannerman Family Folk Dance Camp 1974-75
  
• Kentucky Dance Institute 1975, 77, 79-80, 87, 90
  
• Bluegrass Dance Holiday 1992-94
  
• Various MVFD Ethnic Folk Dance Workshops 1972-96 (too numerous to list individual workshops)
  
• Oglebay Folk Dance Camps
  
• Berea Christmas Country Dance School
  
• Yorktown Contra Dance Holiday
  
• Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance

• Miami Valley Folk Dancers 1971-97
• Country Dance and Song Society of America 1984-97 (Historical American dance & Contra dance)
• American Callers Association 1996-97

• YMCA Community Dances 1948-58
• Miami Valley Square Dance Club 1958-59
• Lohrey Square Dance Club 1958-62
• Dayton Square Dance Club 1958, 1962-63, 1971-72
• Boots & Ruffles Square Dance Club 1958-62
• Lewisburg Promenaders 1971
• Squares A Go Go 1971
• Dayton 2 x 4's 1971
• Enon Shooting Stars 1971-76
• Dayton Whirlaways 1971-72
• Date'n 8's 1971
• Delco Square Dance Club 1973-76
• Silver Squares 1973, 1976-77
• Rose E. Miller Squares 1977-80
• Queen City Contra Club 1974-75, 1980
• Kettering Historical Dancers 1975-82
• Open Squares 1978-79
• Dayton Contra Dance Club 1973-78
• Springfield Country Dancers 1983-86
• Lloyd Shaw Foundation 1984-91 (American dance forms)
• Zivio Yugoslav Dancers 1983-90
• Bagatelle French Dancers 1990-92
• Corinth Friendly Squares 1987-94
• Urbana Senior Squares 1987-94
• Miami Valley Callers Association pre-1958, 1971-72, 1981-90
• ContraLab 1986-92
• CallerLab 1988-95

PROMOTION OF DANCE THROUGH LEADERSHIP: Perhaps the Hyll's greatest contribution to recreational dance has been the introduction of thousands of non-dancers to recreational dance. They have presented hundreds of one-time programs and classes in square, folk, contra, historical, and line dancing to community groups, schools, scout groups, universities, church groups, professional and business organizations, handicapped and disabled groups, private parties, block parties, wedding receptions, hospitals and nursing homes, mentally retarded, drug rehabilitation centers, historical societies, re-enactment groups, and folk groups. Additionally, many fledgling dance leaders have been helped by the Hylls with encouragement, advice, support, and materials. Lou Hyll began square dance calling in 1949 as a substitute for the YMCA community dances (before western- style square dancing evolved). As square dancing evolved, Lou continued his calling and taught western-style square dance classes for the City of Dayton in 1957, 58. One of these classes became the Miami Valley Square Dance Club. He was the club caller for the Lohrey Square Dance Club 1960-61, Rose E. Miller Squares 1977- 80, Corinth Friendly Squares 1987-94, and Urbana Senior Squares 1987-94. The Hylls also led the Kettering Historical Dancers 1975-82 and the Springfield Country Dancers 1983-86.

Lou Hyll began square dancing in 1948 as a very young adult. He was active in many YMCA Y-Singles activities, including community square dances. Here he began his avocation as a square dance caller, learning to call as a substitute for the regular caller. In 1954 he met his future bride, Nancy, in the YMCA Chorus, and they began dancing together at YMCA community dances. In 1957, Lou and Nancy married. Lou continued to call, teaching square dance classes for the City of Dayton in 1957-58. Lou has been the club caller for several clubs over the years. In the late 60's the Hylls began specializing in programs for non-dancers. In the 70's, the Hylls expanded their dancing and leadership into the related forms of folk, contra, line, and historical dance.

Lou and Nancy have been active in many clubs over the years. So many that it is hard to count them. They include early square dance clubs (Miami Valley Square Dance Club, Lohrey Square Dance Club, Boots & Ruffles Square Dance Club), clubs that still exist or have merged (Dayton Square Dance Club, Shooting Stars, Whirlaways, Date'n 8's, 2 x 4's), contra clubs (Dayton Contra Dance Club, Queen City Contra Club), historical clubs (Kettering Historical Dancers, Springfield Country Dancers) and folk clubs (Miami Valley Folk Dancers, Zivio Yugoslav Dancers, Bagatelle French Dancers).

Perhaps the Hyll's greatest contribution to recreational dance has been the introduction of thousands of non-dancers to recreational dance. They have presented hundreds of one-time programs and classes in square, folk, contra, historical, and line dancing to community groups, schools, scout groups, universities, church groups, professional and business organizations, handicapped and disabled groups, private parties, block parties, wedding receptions, hospitals and nursing homes, mentally retarded, drug rehabilitation centers, historical societies, re-enactment groups, and folk groups. Additionally, many fledging dance leaders have been helped by the Hylls with encouragement, advice, support, and materials.

Lou first became involved with the Miami Valley Folk Dancers (MVFD) in 1953 and participated in related events for about a year. Then in 1971, the entire Hyll family (Lou, Nancy, and two daughters) began dancing with MVFD on a regular basis. It wasn't long before the Hylls became active, valued members of the club. Through the years the Hylls have been Program Committee members, Equipment Committee Chair, Workshop Chair, Publicity Chair, Representative to the Miami Valley Dance Council, and Representative to the Pavilion Support Committee. They have provided refreshments, planned and led Ethnic Sunday programs, and planned and led Thursday evening programs. Nancy has typed many syllabi for weekend workshops and written articles for the MVDC Dance News. They have introduced and reviewed many dances for the club (especially squares, rounds, and contras). They have helped MVFD promote folk dance through their participation in numerous demonstrations and festivals including the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, MVDC Day in the Park, and Tri-City Folk Dance Festival.

For 25 years as active members of the Miami Valley Folk Dancers, and for 49 years as pioneers of recreational dance in Dayton, the Miami Valley Folk Dancers are proud to name Louis and Nancy Hyll as its 1997 Honor Roll Dancers and nominee for the Miami Valley Dance Council Honor Roll Couple.