CALLERLAB
CALLERLAB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit standards body for modern western square dance. It maintains canonical dance program definitions and educational resources used by square dance callers, clubs, and allied organizations worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersGreenwood, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CALLERLAB does
CALLERLAB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, recognized as the International Association of Square Dance Callers, that serves as the global standards body for modern western square dance. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Greenwood, Indiana (relocated from Topeka, Kansas in October 2022), the organization operates with approximately 9 employees and an extensive volunteer committee structure. Its core function is the development, maintenance, and dissemination of the canonical dance program definitions across levels (Basic, Mainstream, Plus, A1, A2, C1, C2, etc.), which form the de facto curriculum used by callers, clubs, and dance organizations worldwide.
The organization's core products are the Program Policy Statement, the KnowledgeBase of choreography and definitions, official dance definitions, and educational resources for callers. It also runs the SSD (Social Square Dance) program and has initiated TIPPP, a Transitionary Implementation Phase of Program Policy effective September 1, 2026, following the May 2025 Program Policy revision (approved 336-112). Technology footprint is a conventional web presence hosting the KnowledgeBase and member resources; internationalization is pursued through translated definitions (Italian translations of Basic and Mainstream released July 2025) and affiliate committees (including Japan).
The business model is a member-supported nonprofit model. Revenue is generated through individual caller memberships, convention registration fees (approximately $230-275 per attendee based on observable pricing), advertising, and sales of program documentation. The CALLERLAB Foundation provides an additional philanthropic funding channel. The customer base is a long-tail of individual square dance callers, plus allied organizations and clubs that align to CALLERLAB's standards. Distribution is community-driven through annual conventions (the 50th was held in Greenville, SC in April 2025), committee work, and international liaison relationships.
CALLERLAB firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CALLERLAB
- Legal name
- CALLERLAB – International Association of Square Dance Callers
- Website
- https://callerlab.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CALLERLAB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit standards body for modern western square dance. It maintains canonical dance program definitions and educational resources used by square dance callers, clubs, and allied organizations worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CALLERLAB is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenwood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CALLERLAB business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: CALLERLAB generates revenue through annual membership fees from square dance callers worldwide. The organization offers different membership tiers including Apprentice Member (for callers with less than 3 years experience) and Active Member status.
- Convention Registration Fees: The organization hosts annual conventions with registration fees. Historical pricing shows early bird rates of $230 per caller and standard rates of $275 after early bird deadlines. Conventions include educational sessions, committee meetings, and social events.
- Online Store Sales: Sale of membership badges, caller resources, and potentially other merchandise through the CALLERLAB online store.
- CALLERADS Publication: A bi-annual digital publication containing advertisements specifically targeted at square dance callers, offering advertising opportunities for caller schools, music labels, equipment vendors, and other businesses serving the square dance community.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Apprentice Member - for callers with less than 3 years of experience |
| Subscription | Annual | Active/Voting Member - full membership for experienced callers |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Convention Early Bird Registration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Convention Standard Registration |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Annual General Meeting |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CALLERLAB product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CALLERLAB is a nonprofit membership association that maintains and publishes the globally adopted standardized square dance call definitions and program curriculum across Basic, Mainstream, Plus, Advanced, and Challenge levels (including Social Square Dancing as an entry-level program). It also delivers caller education and Accredited Caller Coach certification, an annual convention and Mini-Lab/MicroLAB events, the KnowledgeBase resource library, and the CALLERADS advertising publication for the square dance community.
Product overview
CALLERLAB is an international association of square dance callers offering a portfolio of products and services centered on standardized dance programs and caller education. The core products include progressive dance programs (Basic, Mainstream, Plus, Advanced, Challenge) with Social Square Dancing (SSD) as a streamlined entry-level alternative, all with standardized call lists and definitions. Supporting products include the annual convention, Mini-Lab/MicroLAB international events, KnowledgeBase online resource repository, caller training curriculum with Accredited Caller Coach certification, and CALLERADS digital advertising publication. The organization also provides marketing resources, translated documents, and welcoming dance environment guidelines. The CALLERLAB Foundation (501(c)(3)) supports education through scholarships. The portfolio is delivered through the callerlab.org website and knowledge.callerlab.org KnowledgeBase platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Square Dance Programs (Basic, Mainstream, Plus, Advanced, Challenge) Standardized square dance program curriculum with defined call lists and definitions at progressive difficulty levels from beginner (Basic) through advanced (Challenge C-1 through C-3A). Programs are adopted globally as the de facto standard for Modern Western Square Dancing.
- Social Square Dancing (SSD) Entry-level destination program with a condensed call list and simplified teaching approach, designed for faster dancer recruitment and welcoming new dancers into the square dance activity.
- Caller Training Curriculum Educational materials and structured resources for training new square dance callers, including caller school content, teaching guides, and coaching references.
- Accredited Caller Coach (ACC) Certification Certification program for caller coaches that ensures quality training and standardization in caller education; certified coaches are listed in the Caller Coach Directory.
- Annual Convention Annual in-person convention providing education, networking, committee meetings, and awards for square dance callers worldwide, typically held in spring with rotating host cities.
- Mini-Lab / MicroLAB International educational events (Mini-Lab in Japan and MicroLAB globally) that improve accessibility for international callers to participate in CALLERLAB activities and training.
- KnowledgeBase Online collaborative resource repository sharing ideas and experiences for square dance callers, covering caller education, choreography, clubs, marketing, and teaching methodologies.
- CALLERADS Bi-annual digital publication containing advertisements specifically targeted at square dance callers, including caller schools, music labels, notes services, equipment, and badge engravers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Standardized programs enable international dancer mobility across clubs and conventions
Companies that use CALLERLAB
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CALLERLAB technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CALLERLAB partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CALLERLAB FoundationcoreThe CALLERLAB Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds projects to preserve and promote square dancing. It operates independently but aligned with CALLERLAB's mission, providing scholarships for caller education, funding for marketing initiatives, and support for organizational activities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CALLERLAB competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Dance Masters of America: Dance Masters of America is a professional association for dance teachers across multiple dance styles, with member certification, conventions, and curriculum. It parallels CALLERLAB in structure but covers a broader dance portfolio.
- National Dance Council of America: NDCA is the governing body for DanceSport competition in the US, providing sanctioning, judging certification, and rules. It mirrors CALLERLAB's role as a dance-ecosystem governing and standards body.
- USA Dance: USA Dance is the national governing body for DanceSport (ballroom and Latin) in the US, analogous to CALLERLAB as a membership association that defines curriculum, sanctions competitions, and runs conventions for its dance community.
- Dance Educators of America: Dance Educators of America is a teacher certification and competition organization serving ballroom, Latin, and social dance professionals. Comparable to CALLERLAB in its teacher-training and certification model.
Direct peers
- International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs (IAGSDC): IAGSDC coordinates gay and lesbian square dance clubs worldwide and runs an annual convention. It works alongside CALLERLAB's standards but for a specific community segment, making it a closely comparable peer association.
- Country Dance and Song Society: CDSS supports traditional American and English country dance, running camps, certification programs, and a membership community. Its teacher-cuer training and community-engagement model closely parallel CALLERLAB's.
- Lloyd Shaw Foundation: The Lloyd Shaw Foundation promotes American square and folk dance education through curriculum, dance camps, and teacher training, directly overlapping with CALLERLAB's caller training and square dance education mission.
- Roundalab: Roundalab is the international association of round dance cuers, directly paralleling CALLERLAB's role for square dance callers. Both organizations set program definitions, run annual conventions, and certify instructors in companion square/round dance disciplines.
Regional players
- Royal Scottish Country Dance Society: RSCDS is the international body standardizing Scottish country dance, including teacher certification and affiliated societies worldwide. It is structurally analogous to CALLERLAB as a dance-style standards organization with international reach.
- International Dance Teachers' Association: IDTA is a UK-based international dance teacher certification body offering graded examinations across multiple dance styles. Comparable to CALLERLAB as a dance-teacher standards and certification organization, though based outside the US.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CALLERLAB social profiles
Digital presenceCALLERLAB financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CALLERLAB leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
CALLERLAB subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CALLERLAB funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CALLERLAB M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CALLERLAB
What does CALLERLAB do?
CALLERLAB is a nonprofit membership association that maintains and publishes the globally adopted standardized square dance call definitions and program curriculum across Basic, Mainstream, Plus, Advanced, and Challenge levels (including Social Square Dancing as an entry-level program). It also delivers caller education and Accredited Caller Coach certification, an annual convention and Mini-Lab/MicroLAB events, the KnowledgeBase resource library, and the CALLERADS advertising publication for the square dance community.
Is CALLERLAB a public or private company?
CALLERLAB is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CALLERLAB founded?
CALLERLAB was founded in 1975. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CALLERLAB based?
CALLERLAB is headquartered in Greenwood, United States, in the North America region.
How does CALLERLAB make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are convention Registration Fees, online Store Sales and CALLERADS Publication.
Who are CALLERLAB's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Dance Masters of America, National Dance Council of America, USA Dance and Dance Educators of America. Direct peers are International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs (IAGSDC), Country Dance and Song Society, Lloyd Shaw Foundation and Roundalab. Regional players are Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and International Dance Teachers' Association.
Does CALLERLAB have an API?
No public API is recorded for CALLERLAB.