Supporting Song Communities Across the Continent

September 16, 2020

Many organizers of song groups are finding creative ways to keep your community engaged and connected during the pandemic. In this Web Chat, we heard from organizers about experiences that are working well in their song groups. We featured a few guest speakers and took time for Q&A, open conversation, and breakout rooms.

Let’s Talk About Reentry: Recommendations and Q&A for Organizers

July 8, 2020

This Web Chat was hosted by Katy German, CDSS Executive Director. We addressed the BIG questions on organizers’ minds: How can we keep our communities safe in a pandemic? When can we dance and sing in the same place again? What does it mean to be a dance/music/song organizer when we can’t be together?

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Yes we CAN keep in touch! Connecting Our Communities During the Pandemic

April 29, 2020

This exciting Web Chat connected 135 music, dance, and song organizers from far and wide! We launched a new online resource to share many of the creative ideas contributed by these communities.

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Diversifying Income: Thinking Outside the Money Basket

February 12, 2020

This presentation provides many useful questions and suggestions to help each dance group assess which fundraising ideas will work best for their group. Ideas for additional income sources included.

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Connecting Community Sing Organizers

October 16, 2019

Do you organize a participatory singing event (song circle, pub sing, etc.) primarily focused on traditional songs? If so, don’t miss this chance to hear about creating a thriving community sing series. CDSS web chat guests from across the continent will share their experiences, including time for Q&A.

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Building Safe Dance Communities

July 11, 2019

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to gather valuable resources and hear personal experiences about this important topic. You’ll hear from web chat guests across the continent and there will be time for Q&A.
  • Avia Moore (Toronto, ON) will share resources compiled by the CDSS Community Safety Task Group.
  • Diane Silver and Robert Zieber (Asheville, NC) are long-time organizers for the Old Farmers Ball dance community.
  • Marcia Davis-Cannon (Mountain View, CA) leads workshops on this topic for dance organizers on the West Coast.
  • Angela DeCarlis (Boston, MA) is a former Board Member of BIDA (Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates) and co-founder of the BIDA Safety Team.

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Increasing Youth Involvement

January 16, 2019

The following guests will share successes from their communities on this topic: Louise Siddons (English country dance organizer from Stillwater OK), and contra dance organizers Bradley Smith (Louisville KY), Lisa Faryadi & Kenneth Bartholow (Charlotte NC), and Max Newman (Boston). We’ll also include time for Q&A. 

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Creating a Thriving Open Band

September 20, 2018

Please join us if your group encourages sit-in musicians at your dances, or if you’re interested to learn more about including this opportunity at your dances. We’ll hear from open band leaders in Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and Massachusetts, and have a Q&A at the end.

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Boosting AttenDANCE

June 21, 2018

Join us for the first in a series of online events designed to facilitate the sharing of resources, knowledge, and ideas among dance organizers. We’ll address the topic of Boosting AttenDANCE by hearing tried-and-true stories from members of several dance communities that are experiencing success in this area. 

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