Country Dance & Song Society

Individuals nourished and communities strengthened by dancing, singing, and making music together

We connect and support people in building and sustaining vibrant communities through participatory dance, music, and song. We steward the living traditions of English country dance, contra and square dance, morris and sword dance, and the music that is an integral part of these traditions. Learn more

What’s New

Contra Callers’ Corner with Gaye Fifer
Contra Callers’ Corner is a series of free monthly Zoom calls for contra callers of all levels. This month, host Seth Tepfer is joined by Gaye Fifer to talk about tips for teaching.

Wednesday, March 11
8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT)

Learn more or register!
Now Available: CDSS Archiving Toolkit!
Want to preserve the legacy of your folk organization or team? Susan Creighton and Pat MacPherson have created a guide to help your group gather, process, and archive the history, personal anecdotes, and material culture of your unique corner of the folk world. Explore the Toolkit!
March 2026 Song of the Month
It’s Christmas in March! Denise and Stuart Savage present “Come All You Worthy Christians,” also known as “The Lodsworth Carol.” The song is a reminder that “you can’t take it with you.”
Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival
We’re delighted to sponsor 2026 FWAAMFest and African American Dance Caller Pathways, a program supporting Black-identified aspiring dance callers. Hope to see you there!
February 2026 Song of the Month
Sally Rogers introduces “Mathey Groves,” a Child ballad also called “Matty Groves” and “Little Musgrave.” It describes an adulterous tryst between a young man and a noblewoman that is ended when the woman’s husband discovers them.
The Flying Shoes Radio Hour Episode 6: Benjamin Foss & Bennett Konesni
This week, we talk to Benjamin Foss and Bennett Konesni in Belfast, both hailing from Waldo County, Maine. Throughout the episode, they reflect on their deep commitment to nourishing our local culture of participatory music and dance, their love of contra music new and old, and the value of social connections of playing and dancing, including the links among various cultures of music and dance (those branches we love exploring in this podcast). Listen and subscribe!