A ‘caller’ finds his calling in music and community

Sam Robbins has turned his lifelong love of music and dance into a mission to help keep Maine’s contra dance tradition alive

Sam Robbins led his peers in a traditional line-dancing workshop on May 15. Photo by Jessi Hardy.

May 20, 2026

By Jessi Hardy

DEER ISLE—Sam Robbins, a senior at Deer Isle-Stonington High School, has always loved music and dancing. As a child he was drawn to the lively energy of “old-time dances,” like contra dances, which his parents brought him to regularly. Robbins said that even as a little kid he felt “inspired” each time he went.

In addition to calling, Robbins plays the banjo, accordion, mandolin, and piano. Photo by Jessi Hardy.

“I kind of found that contra dances are [...] the cream of the crop. It’s the most fun you can have playing [music], and it’s better than just a kitchen party,” Robbins said.

Contra dances are raucous community gatherings where a “caller” teaches line dancing, integrating elements of jazz and traditional waltzes.

These days, Robbins plays in and organizes contra dances around the islands such as Isle Au Haut and Deer Isle. The hardest part, Robbins, says is finding a caller for line dancing.

“I figured if I was a caller, I wouldn’t have to find that part and I could find the band. Which is a lot easier. There are a lot more bands around than there are callers.” Robbins said.

Robbins said he likes to remain “old school” when he calls a dance by using traditional phrases and terminology. Robbins said he avoids replacing “ladies and gentlemen” with terms like “robins and larks,” emphasizing that the terminology itself is less important than the dancing.

He said he often trades off between instruments and calling when he attends contra dances. Robbins plays the banjo, accordion, mandolin, piano, among others. Still, he said that sometimes organizers have to use taped music when live bands are not available for dances.

Robbins will be attending Bowdoin College this fall but says he has no intention of stepping away from music or calling. Robbins said he has heard that the Bowdoin College community has a strong contra-dance community and hopes to jump right in, and enhance his skills. He wants to help revive the contra dance scene in Maine and to help attract a new generation of contra dance enthusiasts–including amongst his classmates at DISHS.

Robbins led a traditional line dancing workshop for his teachers and peers on May 15, as part of the school’s Hope Day celebration. Photo by Jessi Hardy.

Robbins shared his calling talents during the school’s recent Hope Day on May 15, where he taught a line dance to the entire school. 

“It will just be a little snippet to get people interested,” Robbins said.

At first, the students were hesitant, he said, but they quickly found their rhythm. By the end of the session, students were smiling, and a few may have even been hooked on the experience.

 “It was really fun seeing the whole school coming together and participating. Everyone had a good time,” said Quinn Larrabee, a classmate of Robbins’. “It was easy and doing the do-si-do was fun. We got a lot of energy out.”