6th CALLERLAB Convention
Milestone Award
A professional in the field of recreation, Bob won his way naturally into a position of leadership in American square dancing. As chairman of one of this country’s largest and effective parks and recreation departments, he not only admirably filled the responsibilities of that post for many years, but in the position he was able to promote square dancing in his immediate area and throughout the state of California.
As one of the pioneers in contemporary square dancing, “Van” started his calling in 1948 and during the 1950’s conducted capacity classes for new dancers. Known affectionately to the dancers in Long Beach, California, as a “home club caller”, he soon made his mark as a traveling caller, appearing on festival and convention programs across North America.
Although very much involved with his full-time profession, Bob found time to conduct caller schools and appear on the staff of square dance vacation institutes across the country. For more than a decade he and his wife, Roberta, visited countries in Europe and the Orient calling, providing caller training, and serving as leader for hundreds of traveling square dancers.
One of the early callers to record, Bob had been featured on several labels, had appeared on television documentaries, and has written articles for a number of square dance publications.
In the mid-1960’s, Bob served on the advisory staff of the UCLA Extension Division’s Square Dance Leadership Seminar and repeated the work a second year. As a member of the Square Dance Hall of Fame, Bob became a “Founding Member” of CALLERLAB, playing an invaluable role in that organization’s formulative years, serving several terms on the Board Of Governors and two terms as Chairman of the Board.
In the 1980’s, the Van Atwerps moved to Stateline, Nevada, where Bob continues as a casual “home-club” square dance program.