
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. Learn more
What’s New
Register now for our next Web Chat
Communities in Conflict
An online discussion to support organizers of dance, music, and song groups
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT)Lifeguards Needed for Pinewoods Camp
Are you a lifeguard with first aid training? Want to spend a week at camp this summer? We’re still looking for lifeguards American Dance & Music Week (July 22-29) and Early Music Week (August 12-19), both at Pinewoods Camp. Find out more.
Pack & Wrap Session with Countercurrent!
We’re delighted to welcome Countercurrent (Brian Lindsay and Alex Sturbaum) to CDSS for the first episode of our new Pack & Wrap Sessions! Named for the store room where it’s filmed, the Pack & Wrap Sessions is a not-so-often web series featuring very short interviews and concerts with dance musicians. In this episode, Alex and Brian talk about the silly things they always have in their instrument cases and play a set of favorite contra dance tunes.
From the Mic Episode 13: Louise Siddons
In this episode of From the Mic, Mary interviews Louise Siddons about her involvement with communities in Michigan and Oklahoma, and across the pond in the UK. We’ll also learn about her work developing and teaching the practice of “positional calling” for social dance, which has recently culminated in a new book, published through CDSS, called Dancing the Whole Dance: Positional Calling for Contra. In the interview Louise shares what it’s been like to step into a leading role in the discussion about positional calling, and how her personal experiences on and off the dance floor have shaped her approach to dance leadership.
May 2023 Song of the Month
Derek Piotr presents “We’re All Jolly Fellows that Follow the Plough,” a rare tale of hard work well rewarded.
Lesson Plans for Educators
The CDSS Educators Task Group presents a new set of Lesson Plans to introduce students to a variety of topics in traditional music and dance. Check out the sample plans, and contribute your own at education@cdss.org.
In our history, CDSS has…
fostered 108 years of tradition
bestowed 30 Lifetime Contribution Awards
published 87 hours of podcasts
sold well over 50,000 morris bells
In the past year, CDSS has…
published over 550 calendar events
hosted over 1,093 campers
awarded 11 grants for local communities and special projects
added over 60 repertoire resources for callers
Upcoming Community Events