What’s New

In episode 29 of From the Mic, host Mary Wesley speaks with Peter and Mary Alice Amidon. The Amidons have been immersed in traditional dance and song since 1975.

Succession Planning for Dance Organizations
Thursday, December 5, 2024

We held a panel discussion in which dance organizers shared their experiences with leadership and volunteer changes in their local groups. View the slides, video, and transcript.

Jeff Gillett introduces “The Unquiet Grave,” Child ballad number 78. In most versions, the dead lover is male and there is a suggestion of violent death as he “lies slain.” This version has a female lover who is simply dead and buried.

Save the dates for the celebrations of our 2025 CDSS Lifetime Contribution Award winners:

• John Roberts
  May 10, 2025, Schenectady, NY

• David Surette
  October 19, 2025, Concord, NH

• Tony Parkes
  November 22, 2025, Concord, MA

Pete Coe helps us get ready to “Bring the New Year In.” The song carries on the English tradition of mummers’ plays, which have been performed at Christmas since the 17th century.

CDSS has two year-round positions open! Might you or someone you know be the perfect fit? Find more info here, and please help spread the word to folks who may be interested.

The newest episode of From the Mic is out now, featuring the one and only David Kaynor (yes, really!). In this episode, host Mary Wesley shares an interview she recorded with David in 2011, ten years before his passing. 

April Grant introduces “Jolly Roving Tar.” Although it may sound like an old English sea ballad, the song was written in the United States for the Broadway musical Old Lavender.

We are in search of several camp staff for summer 2025. Please check the Jobs page for details on the positions and how to apply.

This episode of From the Mic features Diane Silver. Diane says: “I love that moment when I can stop calling—when I can pull back, pull back, pull back, and ultimately you’re not calling anymore. And the dancers are just dancing to the music.”

Folk Tunes from the Women, curated by Kathryn Tickell, is a tune book like no other! This is a bumper book of more than 150 contemporary tunes by 100 unique composers from different areas, traditions, and backgrounds.

There’s a wide selection of jigs, hornpipes, reels, airs, marches, polkas, waltzes, mazurkas, and more. All tunes are presented as melody lines with chord symbols, making it a useful book for teachers and players alike.

Peter and Barbara Snape introduce “There Is a Tavern.” Similar to the well-known “Died for Love,” this song is by Lancastrian folk singer Emma Vickers. It is sung to the tune “McCafferty,” very similar to “Lord Franklin,” and has many floating verses.