What People Are Saying
Hi Eric,
Finally sending off the following quick review to post on your website. As it turns out, my comments are very similar to many of the others there!
You brought a wonderful, easy-going and joyful energy to my 70th birthday celebration, with your music, calling the square dance steps and by setting the stage for all to participate! You invited our guests to the dance floor at the beginning, saying - “everyone can square dance!” Then you presented the basic dance steps in a straightforward manner that was simple to follow! And you reminded us that we could always all “GO BACK HOME” if our square fell behind! Before I knew it, most of our guests were dancing, laughing and having a lovely time! We even had to move the tables further apart to make more room for all the squares!!!
My husband and I were hoping that our guests might share the pleasures of dancing/moving together to upbeat music! Although both of us enjoy folk-dancing, many of our guests that day were not dancers, and perhaps even a little reluctant to join a square! Somehow, you had everyone out on the dance floor at one point or another during the afternoon, and having a good time too!
Many of our guests asked us where we had found you, because you brought a professional and also a unique cheerful, relaxed presence to the whole experience for all of us. That is in addition to calling the dance steps and getting folks dancing!
Thank you so much, for making my birthday celebration party a resounding success!
All the best,
Minette
What a fun 60th birthday dance party. My friends were somewhat skeptical at the idea of a square dance as most of us had not danced since elementary school. Yet, Eric brought his presence, sense of humor and ease to our party! Although many of the guests didn't know each other, Eric knew how to get the group warmed up and within a few minutes there was laughing out loud, and folks helping each other to take the next steps. Comments I've heard from my guests include 'I didn't even now what I was doing in the beginning, and soon, I felt like I knew how to square dance'... "What a splendid evening. I"ll remember this birthday party for a long long time." "What a clever idea for a party." and I say, Hey turning 60 was a blast... maybe I'll even have a square dance party next year too! Couldn't have been any more fun!
Thanks Eric!!
— Lindy W., Mill Valley
We brought Eric in to provide background music and to get everyone dancing at our 80th Birthday Party. There were 70 guests. We were totally satisfied by his performance. He more than met our expectations.
We had given him the criteria for the event: Music Genre, Dancing setup, and the mixed type of guest, from young to old, and able to infirm. He responded perfectly.
He set up effortlessly and on time.
He got enthusiastic participation by all the partygoers.
Eric explained the intricacies of square and line dancing so well and with such gentle confidence that everyone danced happily. More than one of the guests said this was their first square dancing experience and they loved it. We received many gushing compliments about his style and presentation.
We highly recommend Eric. He is a great performer and a talented professional.
— Peter B., Oakland
For over 10 years Eric Henerlau has provided recreational experiences through Modern Square Dance to a number of agencies I've been associated with. Eric brought Modern Square Dance to Delancey Street Foundation, a non profit that provides life skills for formerly incarcerated people. He also provided his services for the "very first" Square Dance for the women inmates at the San Francisco County Jail, Recently, Eric joined us at Good Shepherd Gracenter, a home for women in recovery and we've used him for 12- Step recovery events. Eric provides the music and his teaching style make it simple and easy to follow. Modern Square Dancing is fun, exciting and a great way to mix & mingle.
— Sandra Munoz, San Francisco
Hi Eric,
I've been working on our party for several months....all aspects ? food, decor, bar, entertainment....and dancing. I had a picture in my mind of how I wanted it to be....the look, the food, and I hoped our members would enjoy square dancing to go with our theme of an evening picnic on a farm?......but...I was a little nervous about the numbers who would participate.
WELL....you just made it perfect!!! And I can?t thank you enough. You nailed it all...and you made it easy for people who were nervous about dancing and being out there having fun.
For the last 2 days, I?ve had emails & phone calls saying this was the best Welcome Back Party...EVER! .....and you were like the pied piper of hamlet...you pulled the people out on the dance floor...you made it sound easy and non-threatening.....and everyone had such a good time.
And, I thank you so much. You are good....andyou just made our night perfect.
— Mickie L, Sausalito Woman's Club, Sausalito, CA
For my wedding rehearsal dinner in Ben Lomond, CA, I hired Eric for an evening square dance for about 100 guests. Having square dance be part of my wedding was something I knew I wanted to do for a very long time and Eric delivered the perfect night! It brought back all the wonderful memories I had of square dancing every summer at camp.
It was such a pleasure to work with him through the whole process. He was professional, organized, and very clear about the services and equipment he could provide. On the day of, he arrived early and set up quickly. After helping gather everyone to the lawn, we enjoyed over an hour of instructive square and line dances. It was the perfect icebreaker to help bring a large group together. I particularly enjoyed how Eric eased everyone into it by starting off all together and then eventually breaking down into our 4 couple squares (especially since most people were unfamiliar with square dance or didn't think they could do it).
Since then, my friends and family have talked about what a great activity square dancing is and how they didn't realize how much fun it could be. It was truly the perfect start to our wedding weekend and helped a group of strangers become friends. I highly recommend Eric for your square dancing needs and to be a part of any occasion to make it unforgettable!
— Julie L, Los Angeles, CA
Thanks so much for making my 70th so much fun for everyone. How you managed to get 60 very intelligent non-square dancing adults to go from laughing hysterically at not knowing their left from their right to clamoring to be included in a square so as not to miss a moment of fun is beyond me. But I think it has something to do with not only your obvious mastery of calls and dances, but also with some sixth sense that lets you take a room full of beginners who you cajole, tease, encourage and nudge with humor and warmth so that within minutes, instead of being self-conscious, they are completely confident and have given themselves over to a great good time! As a bonus, your musical selections added just the right background for supper. Many of my friends have asked if I can keep turning 70. In the words of the Grateful Dead: Never had such a good time in my life before / I'd like to have it one time more.....
— Sarah S.
Rootin' tootin' fun! That's how the attendees described the evening at St. Stephen's
Square Dance Dinner. Our diverse guests' ages ranged from 3 to 93 years, yet
Eric Henerlau had them all dancing up a storm. People were surprised just how
easy and fun square dancing can be when you are being guided by a fun, intelligent
caller like Eric. It was unanimous. We want to square dance with Eric again and again.
— Johnna Coats
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Belvedere, CA
Eric Henerlau was our caller for a spring hoe-down for our church youth group .
Eric did a phenomenal job calling out line-dancing instructions for our students, and he provided us with both friendly and fun service for the event. The event was a huge success and a ton of fun, and none of this could have been possible without Eric.
Eric is extremely professional, and he brings great joy and enthusiasm to our events. We can't wait to have him host another event at our church!
Andrew Engle, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley
Eric is truly the life of the party. He can read the crowd well and interpret what it is they desire. He plays music that is multi-generational, and that gets everyone on the dance floor. He overlays current music with square dancing calls and dances which entices even the shyest of teenagers to join the fun. Eric interjects humor and levity which makes for an awesome party. We have him back every year, so that is testimony as to how much we enjoy and appreciate him as a square dance caller.
— Eileen P, Sonoma, Ca