What’s New

• Diverse Roots of Traditions and Harms Perpetrated

  We’ve added a new article from the CDSS Cultural Equity History Working Group on the hidden history of Black and Indigenous Americans in our dance and song traditions.

• Annual Report Now Available

  The 2023 CDSS Annual Report is now available! Take a look back at our progress last year. 

• From the Mic Episode 26: George Marshall

  This episode of From the Mic features George Marshall. George says: “My philosophy as a caller is that I would like to be the enzyme in the reaction between the music and the dancers—help them interact with each other, like the glue that keeps them together.”

• From the Mic Episode 25: Maia McCormick

  This episode of From the Mic features Maia McCormick. Maia says: “Calling feels like a puzzle to solve and a skill to build, and something that can be constantly honed. I’m never going to be done developing as a caller.”

• August 2024 Song of the Month

  Julie Henigan introduces “The Cuckoo” or “The Coo Coo Bird.” This banjo tune, played for us here by Clarence Ashley, is a cousin of the gambling song “Jack of Diamonds.”

• Generational Transition Survey Reports & Recording

  Last fall, we surveyed 18-44 year-olds in the folk community in order to better understand the needs of this demographic and to learn how to best serve our communities in the coming years. Find our preliminary reports and a video recording of our first town hall here.