When In Doubt Swing (WIDS) History

(Almost) Every spring since 1991, NTTDS has held a weekend dance festival, featuring a nationally known band and caller. The name "When In Doubt, Swing!" came from Penn Fixx at the 1992 event. The name stuck, and the rest is history.

Here is a list of all of them. How many can your remember ?

• 2025: April 25-27, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Jeremy Korr     Band: STEAM!: Alice Boyle (fiddle, viola), David Firestine (mandolin, bouzouki), Robert Rosenberg (guitar, banjo), Claire Zucker (bodhran, concertina, flatfooting, vocals).
• 2024: April 26-28, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Wendy Graham     Band: The Gaslight Tinkers: Joe Fitzpatrick (Drums), Garrett Sawyer (Bass), Peter Siegel (Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo), Karina Wilson (Fiddle).
• 2023: NONE
• 2022: NONE
• 2021: NONE
• 2020, CANCELLED: April 24-26, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Wendy Graham      Band: The Gaslight Tinkers: Joe Fitzpatrick (Drums), Audrey Knuth (fiddle), Garrett Sawyer (Bass), Peter Siegel (Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo).
• 2019: April 26-28, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Bob Isaacs      Band: Tempest: Chuck Abell (guitar, vocals), Tim Ball (fiddle, vocals), Eric Metzgar (drums), Larry Unger (Bass).
• 2018: April 20-22, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Seth Tepfer      Band: Stringfire: James MacQueen (Fiddle), Caroline McCaskey (Fiddle), Patti Cobb (Piano), Erik Ievins (Bass, Cello).
• 2017: April 21-23, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Joseph Pimentel      Band: Maivish: Adam Broome (Guitar, Bouzouki, Jaw Harp), Jaige Trudel (Fiddle, Cello), Cedar Standistreet (Fiddle).
• 2016: April 15-17, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Susan Michaels      Band: Syncopaths: Ashley Broder (mandolin), Christa Burch (bodhran), Ryan McKasson (fiddle), Jeff Spero (piano).
• 2015: April 17-19: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Cis Hinkle from Atlanta      Coracree from Philadelphia: Jane Rothfield (fiddle, banjo), Allan Carr(string bass, guitar), Bill Quern(tenor and 5 string banjo, melodeon, mandolin, harmonica), and Joe DePaolo (percussion).
• 2014: April 25-27: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Steve Zakon-Anderson      Band: Ladies at Play from Oklahoma: Miranda Arana (flute, foot percussion), Kathy Dagg (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, tenor banjo), Shanda McDonald (violin, accordion), Garrette McDonald (percussion), and Allison Hicks (keyboard).
• 2013: April 19-21: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Adina Gordon     Band: Rodney Miller and The Blue Ribbon Dance Band: Rodney Miller (fiddle), Sam Bartlett (mandolin), Max Newman (guitar), Mark 'Pokey' Hellenberg (percussion)
• 2012: April 20-22: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Nils Fredland     Band: Elixir: Nils Fredland (trombone, vocals), Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Jesse Hazzard-Watkins (trumpet, flugelhorn), Anna Patton (clarinet, vocals), Owen Morrison (guitar, foot percussion).
• 2011: April 29 - May 1: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Bev Bernbaum     Band: Magic Foot, from Brattleboro, VT: Colin Lindsay (fiddle, concertina), Chris 'Junior' Stevens (button accordian), Brendan Taaffe (fiddle, guitar).
• 2010: April 23-25: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Bob Dalsemer     Band: Evening Star: Claudio Buchwald (Fiddle, Piano, Banjo), David Crandall (Flute, Sax), John Devine (Guitar), Steve Hickman (Fiddle).
• 2009: April 24-26: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Lynn Ackerson     Band: Moving Violations: Van Kaynor (Fiddle), Becky Ashenden (Piano), Ron Grosslein (Fiddle, Mandolin), Chuck Corman (Bass, Guitar, Percussion).
• 2008: April 4-6: Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Nils Fredland     Band: Footloose: Pete Campbell (piano, bass), John Davidson (fiddle), David DiGiuseppe (accordion), Dean Herington (clarinet, sax), Jim Roberts (percussion).
• 2007: May 4-6: Sokol Athletic Center   Caller: Joseph Pimentel      Band: Latter Day Lizards: Peter Barnes (piano/guitar/flute/harmonica), Dave Langford (fiddle/guitar), Bill Tomczak (clarinet/saxophone/banjo uke/dumbek), and special guest Stuart Kenney (bass).
• 2006: April 1 - 3: Sokol Athletic Center   Caller: Gaye Fifer     Band: The Great Bear Trio: Teenage brothers Andrew (fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, banjo, nyckelharpa, ukulele, bass) and Noah (fiddle, mandolin, percussion, didgeridoo) VanNorstrand and mother Kim (piano).
• 2005: April 1 - 3: Sokol Athletic Center   Caller: Jim X. Borzym     Band: The Avant Gardeners: Laura Light (fiddle), George Paul (piano, accordion), Roger Gold (guitar), Scottie Williams (percussion).
• 2004: April 30 - May 2: Sokol Athletic Center   Caller: Susan Kevra    Band: Domino from Quebec: Rachel Aucoin (piano), Richard Forest (violin), Sabin Jacques (accordion).
• 2003: April 4-6, Sokol Athletic Center   Caller: Mary Devlin    Band: KGB: Julie King (piano), Claude Ginsberg (violin, viola, concertina), Dave Bartley (mandolin, guitar, cittern, etc.).
• 2002: April 5-7, Sokol Athletic Center   Caller: Beth Molaro    Band: String Beings: Laurie Fisher (fiddle), Art Shuster (mandolin), Tom Troszak (guitar, drum), "Wailin" Cailen Campbell (fiddle).
• 2001: April 6-8, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Kathy Anderson
  Band: Clayfoot Strutters: Lee Blackwell (drums, guitar), Dave Grant (bass), Mark Roberts (banjo, flute), Jeremiah McLain (piano, accordian), Pete Sutherland (fiddle, piano)
• 2000: March 31-April 2, Dallas Opera Rehearsal Hall    Caller: Peter Amidon
  Band: Popcorn Behavior: Sam Amidon (fiddle), Thomas Bartlett (piano), Keith Murphy (mandolin, guitar), with Mark Hellenberg (percussion)
  Cajun Dance workshop by Cory Turner and The SoRelle Brothers Band
• 1999: April 16-18, Global Hall    Caller: David Kaynor
  Band: The Greenfield Dance Band: Mary Kay Brass (piano, accordian), David Kaynor (fiddle, guitar), Van Kaynor (fiddle), Stuart Kenney (bass)
  Waltz workshop by Phyllis Richmond. Hambo workshop by David Kaynor.
  Also music by Blunn Creek from Austin: Max Cappleman (fiddle), Chris Peterson (fiddle, mandolin), Sylvi Salinas (piano), Tim Wooten (harmonica), Roy Wilhite(bass)
• 1998: April 17-19, Lakeview Christian Church    Caller: Lisa Greenleaf
  Band: Footloose: Pete Campbell (piano, bass), David DiGiuseppe (accordion, mandolin), Ted Ehrhard (fiddle), Dean Herington (clarinet, guitar, piano)
  Hambo workshop by ???
• 1997: April 25-27, Lakeview Christian Church    Caller: Frank Hall
  Band: L7's: Bruce Molsky (fiddle), Rafe Stefanini (fiddle), Beverly Smith (guitar)
  Smooth Mountain Dance Workshop by Nancy Biehler
• 1996: April 26-28, Walnut Hill Lutheran Church    Caller: Susan Kevra
  Band: Peter Barnes (piano, flute), Claudio Buchwald (piano, accordian, guitar, banjo), Steve Hickman (fiddle, hambone, harmonium), Bill Tomczek (clarinet, saxophone)
  Hambone Workshop by Steve Hickman
• 1995: April 14-16, Winfrey Point    Caller: George Marshall
  Band: Wild Asparagus: David Cantieni (flute, saxophone), Stuart Kenny (bass), George Marshall (percussion), Ann Percival (piano, guitar), Becky Tracy (fiddle)
• 1994: April 29 - May 1, Highland Park Presbyterian Church    Caller: Mary DesRosiers
  Band: Clayfoot Strutters: Lee Blackwell (drums, guitar), Christopher Layer (Highland Pipe, flute), Jeremiah McLain (piano, accordian), Pete Sutherland (fiddle)
• 1993: April 30 - May 2, Winfrey Point    Caller - Kathy Anderson
  Band: Hillbillies from Mars: Ray Bierl (fiddle), Paul Kotapish (guitar, mandolin), Daniel Steinberg (piano, flute)
• 1992: May 1-3, Sokol Athletic Center    Caller: Penn Fix (originated "When In Doubt, Swing!")
  Band: Sam Bartlett (guitar, mandolin), Ruthie Dornfeld (fiddle), Carol Hamm (string bass)
• 1991: May 3-5, D-Arts Center    Caller: Steve Zakon
  Band: Fresh Fish: Kerry Elkin, Danny Novek, Gordon Peery