The New England Folk Festival Association web site www.neffa.org reports that “It is with sadness that we report the death of Gene Hubert, influential contra dance composer and caller, from pancreatic cancer.” Excerpted from the trad-dance-caller list: “Gene Hubert passed away [March 6, 2006] at Durham County Hospital. He was not in pain. Memorial service Friday morning at their home, in the garden. –Karen D.” On a personal note, Gene was my age, 51.

Many of us dance and call Gene’s dances, and we are lucky to have his voluminous compositions. Gene’s obituary is a remarkable summary of a remarkable man. May we all be so blessed, talented and missed when we go.

After pondering Gene’s obituary and his impact on the dance world, I am developing a new dance workshop called “The Dizzy and the Flow: a Tribute to Gene Hubert and his Dances.” I will present this workshop at one of the camps I’m calling at in the next few months.