This is a free software for organizing your collection of dances. It comes with Colin’s collection of over 2000 dances, including English country dance (Playford and traditional style), American squares and contras, Scottish dances, and more.
From Colin Hume
In this blog post, Jeff explores the challenges of phrasing when calling for techno contras.
From Jeff Kaufman
Leading a Contra Dance Role-swapping Workshop
This article by Erik Erhardt and Tina Fields describes one approach to running a workshop where dancers develop familiarity and skill in dancing both dance roles.
From the CDSS News
English Country Dancing During the Pandemic
This site includes an archive of one-person dances for online dancing.
From the Carolina English Country Dancers
Contra Dance Choreography: A Reflection of Social Change
This book (available free online) is based upon Mary McNab Dart’s research into the changing choreography of contra dance, including how dances are composed, what aesthetic principles underlie their composition, and how the evolution of the choreography reflects changes in the preferences and priorities of the people who dance them.
The Origins of English Country Dance
Mary Peralta Railing provides a brief history of how English country dance came to be.
From Colin Hume
This blog contains some historical information about square dancing in the US.
From Fred Feild
A Figure By Any Other Name: Exploring Alternatives to Gypsy
This article by Katy German, Sue Stanton, and Jeff Kaufman explores the use of the term “gypsy” in calling and presents a range of alternative options.
From the CDSS News
Response to: “A Figure by Any Other Name: Exploring Alternatives to Gypsy”
Dragan Gill’s exploration of the term gypsy, both in terms of how it is used in dance as well as in the broader cultural context.
From the CDSS News
Northern Junket was a square dance magazine published from 1949 until 1985 by Ralph Page, a renowned figure in New England folk dancing. Each issue contains directions and tunes for squares, contras and folk dances, as well as folk songs, recipes, riddles, tongue-twisters, old wives’ tales, and other folklife traditions.
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.