We connect and support people in building and sustaining vibrant communities through participatory dance, music, and song traditions that have roots in English and North American culture.
CDSS thanks the Massachusetts Cultural Council for its generous support.
New and Noteworthy
October 2022 Song of the Month
Margaret Walters sends us her rendition of “I've Lived in Service,” as well as a version by Vic Gammon. The song was collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and it tells the tale of a young servant who strikes a hard bargain with his employer over the maid he loves.
Digitization of the CDSS archives has begun!
During our 2015 Centennial Campaign, the CDSS community raised $50,000 to fund digitization efforts for the CDSS collection at the University of New Hampshire. In June of this year, after two and a half years of putting so much on hold for pandemic-related business, CDSS and UNH were able to return attention to the work of making the CDSS archives digitally accessible, and the project is now underway! Read more in the CDSS News.
2022 CDSS T-shirt
We’re excited to show off our 2022 shirt design! Created by illustrator Marian Bailey, the design is printed on high-quality, 100% cotton, Bella + Canvas shirts, made in the US. Also printed in the US using environmentally-friendly practices and vibrant water-based inks. Get one while they last!
Positional Calling for Contra Callers
a 3-week online course starting Oct. 23
Positional calling invites us to use what we know about dance structure, momentum, and flow to teach and call for diverse dancers effectively and efficiently. In this course, we will move from the macro to the micro in order to explore dance structure, craft robust walkthroughs, develop effective calls, and design well-structured dance programs. Learn more and register.
Save the date for the next Web Chat!
Building Cultural Equity in Communities
Tuesday, October 25, 7:00 p.m. ET
In the past couple of years, CDSS grants have helped other dance organizations provide diversity, equity, and inclusion training for their boards and members. In this Web Chat, we’re delighted to hear from a few of these groups about what they’ve been learning and what’s next for them. Hope you can join us! Visit the Web Chats page for updates about registration.
Fall 2022 CDSS News
The Fall 2022 CDSS News is now available! Stroll through some English country dances with Paul Ross and Philippe Callens; learn how the Bloomington Old-Time Music and Dance Group celebrated their first 50 years and launched their next; hear Armand Aromin's cheeky response to the question "Have you got a girlfriend yet?"; learn by ear with Lissa Schneckenburger; get ready to Welcome Yule with Louise Doud; and much more.
From the Mic
In episode 7 of From the Mic, Mary talks with caller and choreographer Chris Page, who has called contras and English country dance in San Diego for about 15 years. When calling, his main concern is being serious about dancers not taking themselves too seriously. Along with Michael Dyck, he's turned his obsession with the history of contra dance choreography into something productive through the online database, The Caller's Box. There are lots of fascinating tidbits for callers and choreographers alike in this one. Check it out!