Upcoming workshop:
Rise Up Singing! An Online Celebration of SongRise Up Singing!
An Online Celebration of SongWith Annie Patterson, Peter Blood, Polly Wells, and Candy Paltiel
Sunday, January 25
4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT)CDSS is delighted to be the new publishing home of seminal community songbook Rise Up Singing!
In celebration, join us for rousing community singing led by the creators of Rise Up Singing, Peter Blood and Annie Patterson, and a screening of We Began to Sing, a documentary about Peter and Annie and Pete Seeger by Polly Wells and Candy Paltiel, followed by a Q&A with Annie, Peter, Polly, and Candy.
All are welcome to attend and encouraged to sing along! If you have a question for Annie, Peter, Polly, or Candy, please submit it with your registration form. We hope to see you there!
The singalong and Q&A portions of this program will be recorded and available to view after the event.
We Began to Sing
We Began to Sing tells the story of Peter and Annie’s mission to revive communal singing, what their friend and mentor Pete Seeger called “the people’s music.” From 1960s protest movements to the present, they have witnessed singing’s power to forge human connections and galvanize social change. As cultural fissures threaten our social compact, their work takes on new urgency.
Annie Patterson and Peter Blood
Annie Patterson and Peter Blood have played a central role in creating a singing movement in North America and abroad with their songbooks Rise Up Singing and Rise Again. Together, they have made it their lifelong mission to help create change for peace and justice through song. Annie is a singer-songwriter, vocal coach, and jazz vocalist. Peter divides his time with music, leading workshops, and doing interfaith work for racial and climate justice.
Polly Wells
Polly Wells (director and producer, We Began to Sing) works in documentary film and factual television in the US and Canada. Her work has aired on major network and cable outlets.
Candy Paltiel
Candida Paltiel (producer and writer, We Began to Sing) is a producer, director, and writer of documentaries broadcast on Canadian and international networks.
Past programs:
Unpacking the CDSS Community Culture & Safety ToolkitWith Diane Silver
This free three-part online workshop centered on building community culture and safety guidelines for your local events. Our discussions primarily focused on dance communities; organizers of other music and song events were also welcome.
Positional Calling for Contra CallersTaught by Louise Siddons
This discussion- and activity-based course built on the ideas presented in Louise’s booklet, Dancing the Whole Dance: Positional Calling for Contra.
Building Diverse Community: Celebrating 2 Years of Daily Antidote of Song Common Time 𝄇This month’s Common Time celebrates two years of the Daily Antidote of Song, sponsored and produced by Carpe Diem Arts.
Contra Pulse: Laying Down the Rhythm: A Conversation with Contra Piano Greats Common Time 𝄇Join Julie Vallimont, host of Contra Pulse, as she talks shop with other contra piano greats Ann Percival, Amy Englesberg, and Bruce Rosen about their craft, technique, history, ideas, approach, and more.
The Caller’s Toolbox: Gender-free Calling for Contra Callers Common Time 𝄇If you’re a contra dance caller, maybe you’ve dabbled in Larks & Robins, but have you tried positional calling? If you’re used to using gendered calls, but want to meet the needs of your changing community or other dances where you hope to get gigs, have you experimented with other role terms?
Square Dance History SeriesLed by David Millstone
Experience the rich history and regional variety of square dancing in this in-depth, three part series.
With photographs, audio, and video, we’ll travel:
- from 17th century France to Civil War ballrooms
- from New England Grange halls to Texas cowboy balls
- and from Newfoundland to New Mexico
to explore and discuss how this dance form became a staple of American popular culture.
Global Terminology & Positional Calling“What a fabulous opportunity for group and one on one help from Brooke. Her experience with global terminology provided me with the courage and tools I need to implement it in a way that makes sense for my community.”
a 3 week online course
Taught by Brooke FriendlyThis course is geared toward ECD teachers with in-person calling experience. Contra callers, community and family dance leaders, and ECD callers with online calling experience only are welcome to apply.
Recognizing African American Contributions to Southern Appalachian Music and Dance with Phil Jamison Common Time 𝄇The music and dances of southern Appalachia have often been portrayed as culture that was brought to the U.S. from the British Isles. These traditions, in fact, have multicultural roots. They are a blend of earlier European, African, and Native American traditions, and they reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of America.
The Caller’s Toolbox: Mary Devlin on NLP Common Time 𝄇Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a psychological approach patterned on strategies used by successful individuals to assist people to reach personal goals. Language strategies and patterns of behavior are used to enhance clarity of teaching dancers, and used to avoid obstacles that you as a caller may have experienced during a dance.
- Contra Pulse: Mentors and Inspirations Common Time 𝄇
Julie Vallimont has been interviewing contra musicians for the Contra Pulse podcast over the past year – diving into their personal histories and exploring the growth and change of contra music and community over time.
In this special event, Julie will be hosting a panel discussion with four of the contra dance greats—Becky Tracy, Pete Sutherland, Rodney Miller, and Kate Barnes—about who their mentors and inspirations were, and how they’re mentoring and inspiring the next generation of contra musicians.
Cultural Equity at the Local Level with Dena Ross Jennings Common Time 𝄇CDSS is committed to our core value of Inclusivity. As an arts organization, CDSS understands inclusivity to mean striving to promote cultural equity. Cultural equity embodies the values, policies, and practices of providing equal access to the arts, including our shared dance, music, and song traditions, especially to people who historically have been underrepresented or denied access to those traditions.
Dance it Yourself: From the Living Room to the Classroom Common Time 𝄇As the pandemic began, the CDSS Education Task Group created the Dance it Yourself video series to keep kids and families dancing while remaining safe at home. These six videos feature traditional dance callers, musicians, and a wide variety of dance styles, all of which can be done solo or in a couple.
Early Music Week Online“Fabulous music and dance in a magical setting.”
Epics and Odysseys
You are invited to join us for Early Music Week Online! We are delighted to share with you a variety of exciting events led by our wonderful faculty.
ECD Choreography“Great choreography is not a bunch of tricks strung together. Great choreography is unexpected and unique movement that stirs emotion.”
Three consecutive 2-hour online classes
Explore the art of dance writing with master caller and choreographer Scott Higgs.
Songs That Speak: Saro Lynch-Thomason and Jeremy Carter-Gordon Common Time 𝄇Join ballad singer and historian Saro Lynch-Thomason and Jeremy Carter-Gordon for a conversation about traditional song, social justice, sharing songs across race and culture, and trying to be relevant on TikTok! Saro is the creator of Songs that Speak, a YouTube documentary series about the history, conflicts and culture behind traditional songs. Jeremy Carter-Gordon of vocal harmony group Windborne will interview Saro about creating the series, the challenges and opportunities of using digital media to celebrate traditional songs, and finding ways to respectfully learn and share songs from diverse musical traditions.
Virtual Kaleidoscope: Online Camp 2021“It’s a soul-nourishing reminder of the power of music and dance to connect people and bring joy.”
Join us online for a week of great activities! In addition to CDSS-sponsored workshops and classes, we’re excited to be partnering with Carpe Diem Arts, Amherst Early Music, and Muddy Fork Farm & Bakery to bring you a series of virtual camp events.
Stepping Up to the Mic: Creating the Post-pandemic Dance Experience Common Time 𝄇As organizations are beginning to contemplate holding in-person activities, and as small dance parties are already happening, it’s time for callers to get ready. Join our panel of dance leaders, Lisa Greenleaf, Cis Hinkle, Kalia Kliban, and Ben Sachs-Hamilton, as they explore what dancers will need, want, and expect once in-person dancing resumes, how callers and organizers will need to work together to help re-build the community, and more.
Celebrate May!”Hail! Hail! The First of May-o!
For it is the first summer’s day-o!
Cast your cares and fears away,
Drink to the old ’oss on the First of May!”Join us for a family-friendly hour of singing, dancing, and merriment!
Celebrate May with CDSS! Join us as we welcome the season with singing, dancing and activities for the whole family at a gathering hosted by Chloe and Rick Mohr with Sarah Gowan, Bill Quern, and Bob Walser.
Winter Family Gathering & Workshops“It’s a soul-nourishing reminder of the power of music and dance to connect people and bring joy.”
Join us online for a multi-part family gathering filled with music, dance, and song.
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.
Isaac Banner
Seth Tepfer
Christa Torrens
Ellie Shogren
Sharon Green
Dilip Sequeira