The portal contains a vast range of resources by and for the dance, music, and song community. From expert tips from fellow organizers and callers, to databases of dances and songs, find what you need to help engage with the traditions you love!
Resources added before 2022 do not all have explicit permission from the authors. If your resource is in the portal and you’d like it removed, please email us.
Search the Portal
Use the search box and filters below to find resources.
Tip: Selecting multiple checkboxes will give you more specific results. For example, to see specific resources for contra dance callers, select both Callers and Contra Dance.
16 Results
Example Codes of Conduct
Here are some of our favorite codes of conduct from other dance and music organizations to use as inspiration for your own!
Chicagoland English Country Dance
Chicago, IL; English country dance
Olympia Contra Dance
Olympia, WA; contra dance
(links in the “Community” paragraph under “The Details”)
DanceFlurry Organization
Albany/Saratoga Springs, NY (and surrounding areas); several types of monthly dance series and workshops, educational programs in schools and other organizations
Portland Country Dance Community
Portland, OR; contra dance, English country dance, music sessions
Code of Conduct
Community Standards
Guidelines for Event Coordinators Addressing Incidents
Ottawa Contra Dance
Ottawa, ON; contra dance
John C. Campbell Folk School
Brasstown, NC; contra dance, English country dance, community/family dance, many other music and craft workshops
Raise the Rafters
Rhododendron, OR; singing
Have a great policy you’d like to share? Submit it here!
Categories: Community/Family Dance, Contra Dance, English Country Dance, Organizers
Sharing the Vision: Themes and Practical Ideas for Vibrant Dance Communities
A pithy article from Max Newman on the importance of a vision, how to create one and how to share it.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Organizers
This resource provides a number of tips and considerations when looking for a new space to hold a dance or music event.
From CDSS
Categories: Organizers
How to Structure Your Organization
This two page document provides some basic considerations on how to structure your organization
From CDSS
Categories: Organizers
This resource outlines some basic considerations for doing sound at a dance event.
From CDSS
Categories: Audience
Organizing a Family/Community Dance Series
Marian Rose offers tips on how to start up a regular community dance series.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Community/Family Dance, Organizers
What IS a vision/mission? How do we craft and implement a unique mission statement for our dance series? Why is this a crucial step in the growth of each dance? Whether your dance already has a mission statement, or you’re just starting to think about this, or you’re somewhere in between, this all-conference session will offer practical tools and thought-provoking perspectives for addressing this pertinent topic. Together we will explore these vital questions, generating answers to inform and guide our participation throughout the SWROC weekend.
From SW Regional Organizers Conference 2014 by Annie Laskey, Linda Henry, & Michael Barraclough
Categories: Organizers
Vision Workshop Materials with Examples
David Millstone’s session handout on how to create a vision. Includes examples of mission statements from NEFFA and Belfast Flying Shoes.
Categories: Organizers
The How and Why of Creating a Vision
A concise explanation from Max Newman of the why and how of creating a vision.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Organizers
Tips and distilled wisdom from CDSS for how to craft a vision for your event, series, team, or group.
Categories: Organizers
The Hatchlings—Developing Callers in St. Louis
Martha Edwards describes a model for developing callers that she feels will work in many different community contexts.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Callers, Contra Dance, English Country Dance, Novices, Organizers
Madison’s Tuesday Night Dances: Fostering Talent for More Than 20 Years
This article by Carol Ormond describes Madison’s approach to developing talent through weekly dances that feature newer callers as well as an open band.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Dancers, Musicians, Organizers
The Mermaid’s Tavern Guide to Zoom Singing
The Mermaid’s Tavern Guide to Zoom Singing is a blog-based website for planning, producing, and participating in community song sessions and concerts online. It includes an extensive resources section of over 25 additional guides to various aspects of online music, dance, and song.
Categories: Organizers, Singers
CDSS Starter Kit for Folk Song Organizers
A comprehensive how-to on starting a sing. Includes sections on vision, finding a venue, publicity, structure, facilitation, and more!
From CDSS
Categories: Organizers, Singers
The Evolution of KAOS (Kick Ass Oberlin Sword)
Hannah Lindner-Finlay describes the creation of a sword team at Oberlin College and provides some tips for others starting college teams.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Organizers, Ritual Dance
This handbook provides advice on how to create dance/music events on university and college campuses. It includes tips on programming, campus publicity, working with college administration, and much more.
From CDSS
Categories: Organizers
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.