Endorsements

Just wanted to thank you both again for calling at my daughter’s wedding reception. I think it was a first for the Hotel Northampton! Everyone had a wonderful time and loved the fact that it was a different wedding reception. You made it easy for anyone to give it a try. We had 7 year olds dancing as well as a 93 year old!! That’s entertainment that spans all ages!! So thanks again. You and your wife made the reception very memorable and just plain fun!

Jodi Kinner

Dear Cliff,

It was a pleasure working with you and your wife on the Zeman Rehearsal Dinner. Your product, service and professionalism were impeccable!

As an Event Planner working to coordinate catering, entertainment, even decor, etc. can be challenging and stressful. Working with you and your wife made the entertainment aspect one less thing I needed to worry about. The client was extremely pleased with the quality of your music and your enthusiasm while giving square dance lessons.

I hope we have the pleasure of working with you again on future events.

Thank you again for a very enjoyable evening. Best Regards,

Melinda Georgeson

Event Manager, Newport Yachting Center

Dear Cliff,

We were delighted with the way our daughter’s wedding reception turned out. Having you and your wife as “callers” work out well. Everyone danced and wanted to dance some more. You definitely know how to pull a crowd in. I was impressed with the clarity of your instructions. Clearly no one in the group had square-danced in a decade yet you were able to teach the steps to our crowd of 120 easily. I hope that our paths cross again.

Should we have a square dance, you are the only one we’re “calling”. I have recommended you to many a friend already!

Thank you for making our evening special.  With kind regards,

Private Wedding

Ridgefield, CT

Dear Cliff,

Sunday’s square dance was simply wonderful! Of course, the fact the the weather was perfect and we could have the entire sophomore class dancing together under the stars made a great evening even greater. However, it was you and your lovely wife, Senta who made the event the success it was. The kids are still a-buss with how cool it was!

Both of you made it clear from the start that the evening would be a great success. You accomplished that goal with your professionalism, expertise, and good will. You took the event seriously, yet at the same time, made it very clear that it was a terrific opportunity for fun.

We owe you special thanks for helping the kids to realize that there would be plenty of same sex partners…and it didn’t matter one bit. Even the square of boys who seemed to believe that square dancing could be a contact sport settled right down with Senta’s support and positive attention. Looking out at the 100% involvement of a class of sophomores in high school simply warmed my heart!

You helped the kids to learn some new steps, open up to one another, and let go in a way that paved the way for them to have a very good experience, not just Sunday night, but into the next day and…hopefully…into their school year. We thank you both for the happy memories you gave them.

We do hope that we can have you as an annual event!  Most sincerely,

Ruthanne Marchetti

Loomis and Chaffee School

Dear Cliff and Senta,

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm regarding performing at Canyon Ranch. It’s nice to now that the guests are enjoying their time square dancing!

Thanks again. It’s such a pleasure to work with such nice people.  Sincerely,

Lesliann

Canyon Ranch

Dear Cliff:

I want to confirm in writing what a pleasure it working with you and Red over the past seven years that the Tumbling Leaves Festival has been at Bennington. Each year you and your staff are well organized and prepared when arriving on campus. Any potential concerns have been voiced well in advance leaving ample time to make adjustments if necessary. Having worked with a great number of conference and festival coordinators, I can truly say that this is not often the case. Your communication with me throughout the various weekends has always been courteous and professional when problems or concerns arose.

I would gladly recommend you to anyone concerned, and look forward to working with you in the years to come. Sincerely,

Douglas E. Krause

Director of Personnel Bennington College Bennington, VT

Dear Cliff,

I just wanted to drop you this quick note to thank you for the time that you and your band took to come to Camp Rising Sun and play with Pete Seeger and to teach us square dancing. The music that you do and your wonderful abilities as a caller made this concert a memorable event. I can’t believe that square dancing can be done to Beatles tunes and Old Time Rock and Roll. The other members of the band are wonderful musicians and I would appreciate it if you could convey our gratefulness to them also.

Thank you again for coming and we will see you next year, hopefully. Cordially,

David T. Ives

Executive Director, Camp Rising Sun

Dear Cliff and Senta,

What an evening of music and dance you put together on the Museum terrace this summer! Your ease with people, and natural joy of square-dancing helped to get rhythm and movement throughout the crowd.

It was such a pleasure to see so many people enjoying themselves with your calling, Senta’s facility with arranging the squares and the foot-tappin’ tones of the Housatonic Philharmonic! We loved it!

Sincerely,

Melinda Georgeson

Director of Education, Norman Rockwell Museum

Dear Cliff,

Thank you so very much for playing at our Keep the Fields event at Bartlett’s Farm. It was a huge success both for our guests who so enjoyed the music and also financially for our campaign. The Square One Band added a festive note and provided marvelous entertainment.

I was delighted to see that so many of our guests actually got up and danced! Your fine calling and Senta’s gracious encouragement and instruction helped everyone to enjoy square dancing – even those with no previous experience.

The joy of country music was infectious and everone had a grand time. If we try to repeat the event next year, I hope that you will return to Nantucket.

Again, a special thank you to each member of your band.  Sincerely, 

Linda Holland

Executive Director, Nantucket Land Council

Dear Cliff, 
Thanks to you and the Square One band, members of the Dedham Country Day School community had a fantastic evening last Friday. It has been the talk of the school for the last two days. Many people commented that they haven’t had that much fun in a long time. Everyone appeared to be smiling the whole evening through.

The music was terrific and the dancing loads of fun and a great workout! Not once throughout the evening did we have to encourage people to leave their seats and get up and dance. You called them up to dance and they were there. You and Senta were wonderful in leading us through the dances.

I would be pleased to recommend you to anyone, and hope that we can host this event again in the next few years and invite you back.  Sincerely, 

Julie S. Hagan

Director of Development, Dedham Country Day School

 Dear Cliff,
I want to thank you for the fabulous entertainment that you, your wife, and the band members provided for our Employee Holiday Party on January 10, 2002 at The Berkshire Blues Cafe.

Despite some initial skepticism about square dancing, everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. It was particularly helpful to have one person calling the dances and one person assisting and interacting with each square of dancers. This team effort made it much easier to learn the combination of moves for each dance.

As well, I think we all got a little more of a workout than we ever expected. You may see some new faces at your square dancing classes taking dvantage of the exercise benefits and the entertaining interaction.

Thank you again for a very enjoyable evening – Best Regards,

Gretchen Fairfield

Human Resources Assistant, Red Lion Inn

To whom It May Concern:

During the summer of 1995 Cliff Brodeur and his band led a square dance in Red Hook, New York for the American Russian Youth Orchestra, for which I was director of development. This group of thirty-six young men and women, hailing from Russia, Kazakhstan and the United States, had come together for three weeks of training and rehearsals at Bard College (under the direction of Bard College President and American Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director, Leon Botstein) before touring together as an orchestra in performances across the United States.

Initially there was a bit of reluctance about attending a square dance. The musicians in the American Russian Youth Orchestra were all highly-trained, classical musicians. The Russian ones had never been to a square dance. But an evening with Cliff Brodeur and his band left the group euphoric. And the event turned out to be one of the high points of the orchestra’s two month training and tour together. It was an ice-breaker and a bonding experience. A fluent knowledge of English was not necessary to participate. By the end of the evening a new chemistry and trust had grown between our American and Russian musicians.

Cliff Brodeur led the evening and taught our group how to manage the steps of line and square dancing with grace and good humor. A very good time was had by all. I would not hesitate to recommend Mr. Brodeur for working with people of all ages. Sincerely,

Theresa R. Schaff

American Russian Youth Orchestra, Red Hook, NY

 To Whom It May Concern:

It is with pleasure that I write a letter of support for the grant application submitted by Mr. Cliff Brodeur regarding the establishment of a local square dance program.

Mr. Brodeur, a nationally known square dance caller, has been the primary caller for the Pittsfield Squares throughout the group’s fourteen years of existence. The funding of this grant would enable Mr. Brodeur to begin a pilot square dance program at the Allendale Elementary School in an effort to bring cultural enrichment to the youth of Pittsfield. I had the opportunity to witness Cliff Brodeur’s skills first hand at the Williamstown Council on Aging forum. I can attest to the overwhelming enthusiasm and interest in square dancing that was shared by both young and old alike. Dancing seems to be an area where generations can meet and enjoy a cultural experience. This pilot program may be the first step toward establishing square dancing as a folk art.

It is without reservation that I recommend the appropriation of funding for this pilot program. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if I may be of further assistance. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter. Sincerely,

Jane M. Swift

Massachusetts State Senator

More Endorsements!

Cliff and Y’all!
Square dance bows of humble gratitude for the amazing evening you gave us Saturday.Thank you!
That was our first-ever barn dance and you and the entire band made us look so good that there have been numerous shout outs to make it an annual hoe-down!
Cliff – you are magnificent!  We loved the dancing and only wished we could have “danced all night!” — just kidding.
Would be interesting to know what the longest sets you all play – seemed the younger set were becoming more and more at ease with the fun as the evening unfolded.
John and I are so happy with how the evening went.  You all are troopers for being so wonderful in such heat.  Perhaps we’ll plan a winter fling one of these years, but I believe you were saying Cliff that summer is only time we can count on the magnificent group gathered this Saturday.Let us know what you recommend for future booking.
Thank you again.
Elizabeth and John


Square One entertainment provided us with a fantastic barn dance experience from start to finish. They were prompt and professional.  The musicians were excellent. There was a nice mix of slow dancing, line dancing and square dancing, and the instruction made the line and square dancing accessible even to beginners.  At one point we had seven squares worth of people do-si-do-ing and promenading,  with onlookers clapping and stamping on the sidelines– and everyone was smiling!  It was a huge success, and it is STILL the talk of the town, two weeks later!  We will definitely use Square One for our next Barn Dance!
Thank you again for a wonderful night!!
Kristin


If you want to experience an evening of great music and traditional dance, Cliff Brodeur and the Square One Band are the perfect choice. The band of nationally known musicians are terrific at setting the mood for a rousing Virginia reel or a smooth Tennessee waltz.
Cliff and his wife Senta combine to call the dances with just the right amount of persuasive charm, encouraging everyone to join a square and get moving.
We have enjoyed Cliff, Senta and the Square One musicians at a number of our organization’s fundraising events, and there is no doubt that they set the stage for an evening which all participants, dancers or not, enjoy. Their energy and skill in encouraging participation and creating an atmosphere of fun with wonderful musicianship has in no small way contributed to making these evenings a success.
Leslie Reed-Evans
Executive Director Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation


YMCA Camp Sloane


To anyone who wants a professional square dance callers, I recommend Cliff and Senta Brodeur!
Cliff and Senta are terrific! They have called our four Girl Scout Father/Daughter Square Dances every year since 2008 and we couldn’t be happier with their work. They are professional, engaging and just do a fantastic job. Our girls and dads come in hesitant to dance but Cliff and Senta have a way of engaging everyone to participate and they always end up dancing and leaving with a smile. Our Girl Scouts are age 6 – 12 but Cliff has a way of mixing it up which appeals to all ages. I highly recommend Cliff and Senta and would be happy to speak to anyone who has a question or concern.
Mary Ellis 
Scarsdale Edgemont Girl Scouts 
Scarsdale, New York


Dear Cliff and Senta,
On behalf of my wife and me, I would like to thank you for coming to our Rehearsal Dinner as our Square Dance caller. It was a wonderful occasion where to sets of families and friends from different sides of the Atlantic where able to come together, many of them meeting for the first time. The relaxed setting and fun atmosphere was a perfect way to bring everyone together.
The reason why we asked you to lead the dancing for us was based on my memories of you two calling the Square Dances when I was a counselor at a nearby summer camp. This reputation led me to track you down and invite you both to help us celebrate our wedding weekend. I have heard nothing but positive comments from all the guests saying how much fun they had, how easy it was to pick up the moves and most of all, enjoy themselves. I think this is a testament to Cliffs ability to round up the people and put them at ease and make the dancing fun, easy and enjoyable.
And as always, Senta was fabulous at helping out on the dance floor, making sure people found partners, and partners found other partners to dance with.
Thank you both so much for everything that you did to help us kick-off what turned out to be a wonderful wedding weekend. If anyone ever asks whether I know a good square dance caller for any kind of event, I will certainly point them in your direction.
Thank you again and all the best for the future.
Tom


Hi Cliff,
You beat me to it. I was going to write and thank you and the band for a fantastic night of entertainment during the barn dance. We were all amazed at how you and your wife managed to teach all of the dances so quickly to a group of inexperienced people. Everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed the music tremendously. The non dancers just enjoyed the talent and the enthusiasm of your band, which was above and beyond what I had hoped. I am so grateful that you made the trip out here! Of course its fine to use the video from the party on your website, I will tell our folks to keep an eye out for it.

Many thanks,
Margaret & Ken


Dear Cliff and Senta,
It was wonderful to see the parents, children and teachers enjoying  the group dances you led at our PTO Picnic and Square Dance. So many  parents commented on how fun the evening was and what a great job you  and Senta did. Thank you so much. We look forward to booking you for  another PTO event.

Best Regards,
Lesliann Furcht
Undermountain Elementary PTO


Dear Cliff:
We want to let you know how very much you and Senta brought to our wedding festivities in New York in July!  Our family and friends have showered us with compliments about the Hoedown-Barbecue and the pure pleasure it brought them, especially combined with the formality of the wedding and reception the next evening.  Your programming embraced every age and interest: we particularly appreciated your planning the children’s dancing!  It was so much fun to see the little cowpokes dancing so happily, learning new music and steps that they could execute.

When my son Mike and I started planning this rehearsal dinner, we hoped it could have the flavor and style of a “down home” gathering, as the wedding itself would be very formal; we were so excited to learn about your company, as we knew square dancing  would create the perfect ambience.  Others who had brought you and Senta to their varied celebrations and events, from birthday parties on the lawn in Westchester to a Southern church’s Couples Retreat, were unanimous in praising the enormity of the effect you and Senta created.  No matter the age or cultural background, you were always able to draw everyone into the fun!

And so it proved that wonderful night in Croton Park!  We’ll always remember sharing such a truly wonderful evening. Thank you, Cliff!

Best regards,
Micki C. Fox (aka mother of the Groom, Mike Tweed)


Cliff,
Thank you, your wife Senta and the Square One Band for making the Nantucket Lighthouse School’s Home Grown Hoe Down the successful event that it was.  Party goers raved about your music.  I was amazed by your ability to bring everyone on to the dance floor, even the most reluctant dancers among us.   We can’t wait to have your back next fall for the second annual Lighthouse School Home Grown Hoe Down!
Sincerely,
Cheryl Evans, Administrative Director, The Nantucket Lighthouse School


Cliff,
The buzz on Nantucket is huge. Everyone loved it. We are having a wrap up meeting early next week but we are all hoping to do it again next year….

If you go to our local newspaper, Inquirer and Mirror…go to picture galleries for this week they have a bunch of photos of the hoedown. I will forward others as they come up…

Megan Maltby, Director of Membership Services
Great Harbor Yacht Club, Nantucket, MA 02554


“Cliff, We are happy to refer anyone and everyone we know to you and your band! You were the best and really made Robin’s party special. I was especially impressed with the caliber of musicians who made up the Square One band that evening. I cannot imagine a better sounding group to compliment your fantastic square dance calling. And Senta’s professionalism and efforts to keep all the rookies in line were appreciated by all. Thanks again for your wonderful entertainment.”

Ted and Robin


“Cliff and Senta were wonderful with our students! They chose dances that were appropriate for each age group they worked with, and the students were all active in learning square dancing. It’s such a great way to bring the community together.”

Sarah Carlin, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA


“Dear Cliff,

Thank you so very much for participating in the Opening Activities of the 2007 Conference of the Association for Conservation Information. Your good cheer, good music and presentation set the stage for this Conference exactly as we had hoped.

Your challenge was to gather these individuals from all parts of the country, most of whom knew few or no other members of the organization, and turn them into a group. It was a “tough sell” but your persistence won out and the folks who participated commented that they had truly enjoyed the experience. The “porch sitters” noted that they had enjoyed the music. Most important, a great majority of the participants commented on the fact that they felt relaxed, welcomed and included. This was a particular goal of the Conference organizers and the fact that it worked is a tribute to you and your delightful group.

Thank you for getting this conference off to an excellent start. If you you should ever want a reference I will be glad to provide.”

Ellie Horowitz, Conference Coordinator


“Dear Cliff and Senta,
Thank you for a wonderful evening! The feedback from everyone has been so positive — it was the best family fun night ever hosted at St. Thomas School.
We were so impressed with how nicely you managed such a large number of young childre. At one point, there must have been nearly 200 people on the dance floor!
Your mix of traditional square dances and more modern hits such as the “hokey pokey” and “celebration” kept everyone involved. We were exhausted at the end of the night!

You and Senta were a pleasure to work with — professional, flexible, and most of all, fun. Thank you again for all your efforts.”

Sheila O’Donnell, HSA Fundraising Chair, Fairfield, CT.


Hi Cliff,
The Hoe Down was the talk of the school all week. Everyone enjoyed themselves and thought you & Senta made it such a great time!

If I get more of a committee together, maybe next year we’ll do it again! We at Braintree High School want to thank you for making square dancing so easy and so much fun!!
Susan, Braintree High School