Miami Valley Dance Council

2005 Honor Roll Dancers

Louis and Nancy Hyll

Miami Valley Folk Dancers

Dayton, Ohio

Louis and Nancy Hyll are truly pioneers of recreational dance in Dayton, Ohio. They began dancing traditional squares in the late 40's/early 50's. As square dancing evolved into early western-style and on to club western-style the Hylls grew with it. Through the years the Hylls also explored related dance forms - folk, round, contra, historical, clogging, and line dancing.

Lou Hyll began square dancing in 1948 as a young adult, active in YMCA 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. In 1957, Lou and Nancy married. Lou continued to call, with his young family in tow. In the late 60's the Hylls began specializing in square dances 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.

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 beginner programs in square, folk, contra, historical, and line dancing to any kind of group imaginable. Additionally, many fledgling dance leaders have been helped by the Hylls with encouragement, advice, support, and materials.

But the Hylls have not been just dance leaders. They have also been hard working committee members in clubs, doing typing, sewing, organizing workshops with other leaders, participating in demonstrations, providing refreshments, etc. In their 57 years of dancing, the Hylls have been members of 23 Dayton area dance clubs. Their longest association is over 30 years with the Miami Valley Folk Dancers.

Lou first became involved with the Miami Valley Folk Dancers (MVFD) in 1953. 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, as unpaid volunteers, 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. As unpaid volunteers, they have taught and reviewed many dances for the club. They have helped MVFD promote folk dance through their participation in numerous demonstrations and festivals.

Today, although no longer able to call and with limited ability to dance due to health, the Hylls still actively support the dance community with visits; handmade items for auctions and door prizes; technical advice, costumes, and support for demos; and financial support to clubs and events. They sincerely want the dance community to thrive and continue.

For 57 years as pioneers and ever-stalwart supporters of recreational dance in Dayton, the Miami Valley Dance Council is proud to name Louis and Nancy Hyll as its 2005 Honor Roll Dancers.