Jeff is an accomplished caller who calls Party Nights through A-2 and has called for dances and clubs in Canada, the United States and Europe. He has had the privilege of and very much enjoys calling with some of the world’s greatest callers and to some of the best dancers. He is a trained singer and is well known for his smooth flowing, well-timed choreography and the enthusiasm and feeling he puts into his singing calls.

Jeff will celebrate 60 years of calling in April 2025. He started calling at party nights in his parents’ (Lloyd & Vivian Priest) clubs at the age of nine! At fourteen he changed his focus more to music, although he still participated in party nights, camp & dance weekends and specials and called a weekly teen club, over the next 5 years played in several bands as lead singer and/or drummer. At nineteen Jeff returned his full attention to the square dance movement. He started his own clubs in 1977 and became a full time, travelling caller in 1983. Jeff called for many clubs and festivals travelling 40 to 45 weekends each year, covering over 100,000kms, in addition to maintaining a full home program from Basics to A-2.

With a desire to spend more time with his wife and 4 growing sons, Jeff returned to the daily workforce in 1989. He worked for BASF in several managerial capacities until 2006.

In 2007 Jeff bought a Franchise and started his own business. His company ( EmbroidMe) serviced the needs of individuals, small business as well as major corporations. He provided company logo wear and promotional products. The location was on Hwy 24 in the heart of Cambridge Ontario. Due to the economic downturn the Franchise suffered many losses in Canada and the US and Jeff closed this business in March 2010.

In 2010 Jeff found himself going full circle and once again has become a full time travelling caller.

Jeff is a popular caller and does many weekends, including Camp weekends through the summer, He maintains weekly workshops for Basic through A-2

Jeff is the current club caller for Royal City Squares – Guelph calling Basic through A-1, and runs a daytime A-2 club Cambridge. In addition he is a teaching partner for his wife, Andrea, in their club ShadowLight Rounds in Cambridge, they also have a Zoom club Jubilee Rounds.

Jeff joined Toronto and District Square and Round Dance Association ( T & D ) in 1977. Since that time he and Andrea, served ten terms on the executive in various capacities including Presidents for 98-99 & 99-2000 dance seasons. Jeff and Andrea served as program Chaircouple on the T & D Convention Committee from 1994 to 2016. They also assumed the duties of Convention Business Managers in 2001 to 2016.

During the mid 80’s Jeff and Andrea were instrumental in organizing a dance-a-thon for the Jerry Lewis MD Telethon held on Labour Day weekend. This dance was part of the Telethon for five years and Jeff and Andrea worked on the committee and participated in the dance for all five years.

Jeff and Andrea became members of the South Western Ontario Square and Round Dance Association (SWOSDA) in 1992 when they moved to Brantford. They are active members and volunteer to call/cue at the monthly dances as much as their schedule allows. They joined the executive in 2006 as directors responsible for booking the callers and cuers and preparing the program schedule and flyers for the monthly dances – they continue to hold that position today. They also held the position of program Chaircouple for the 2008 & 2018 Canadian National Conventions held in London, Ontario and hosted by SWOSDA.

Jeff is a Caller Coach and has trained hundreds of new and experience callers since 1985.  He has had the pleasure of presenting various clinics of interest to both associations over the years, on items such as; creative choreography, singing call presentation, sight calling, digital music & timing, just to name a few. Jeff is a great supporter of new callers and has, over the years, worked “one on one” with several individuals who had a desire to learn how to call. He runs his own schools under Canadian Callers College. He has also had the pleasure of sharing the duties at various schools working with Coaches like (The Late) Mike Jacobs, Randy Page. Jim Mayo, (The Late) Tim Marriner, John Marshall, Tom Miller, Betsy Gotta, (The Late) Randy Dougherty, Ed Foot, Ken Ritucci, (The Late) Lee Kopman & Barry Clasper just to name a few.

Jeff joined CALLERLAB, the International Association of Square Dance Callers, in 1981 and currently serves on 4 committees and is also the past chair (2010-2020) of the International Advisory Committee. Jeff has been involved in three digital music presentations at CALLERLAB conventions.

Jeff and Andrea were very honoured to be Staff Escorts for Hays Travel Inc. Their European Trip in June 2005 was fabulous and all who went had a wonderful time. They also enjoyed escorting two trips to Portugal in 2000 and 2003. . Hay’s really knew Square Dancers and how to spoil them!

The Priests reside in Brantford, Ontario.
Two of their four sons square dance (one, Mike, has even tried his hand at calling and took a T & D Callers Clinic in 1999 and hopes to get more involved in the calling aspect when he is done university.). The boys hope they will find the joy and friendships that their parents have found in square dancing – either calling or dancing.

Those who dance to Jeff regularly understand how much he loves his work and know that they will have an extremely enjoyable experience every time they dance to him!  “Dance For The Fun Of It”