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.
287 Results
Improving the ECD Open Band Experience
Robert Reichert provides some suggestions on how to improve the experience of playing with, and the quality of music from an ECD open band.
From the CDSS News
Categories: English Country Dance, Musicians, Organizers
Open Dance Bands: Best Practices Shared by 35 Groups
This manual shares common best practices used by 35 open dance bands from throughout North America, and illustrates the diversity of approaches across communities. We hope this resource provides a great starting point for launching new open bands and additional inspiration for groups that have been playing together for years.
From Emily Addison and CDSS
Categories: Musicians, Organizers
This article by Sue Songer describes the power of guest musicians being able to play along with dance bands – in what is known as ‘the back row.’ It also describes how to successfully create this experience in your dance community.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Musicians
This blog post explores how bands can manage the money they make off CDs.
From Jeff Kaufman
Categories: Musicians
How Much do Dance Weekends Pay?
This blog postbreaks down what dance weekends pay musicians. Original post 2016 with an update in 2018.
From Jeff Kaufman
Categories: Musicians, Organizers
Communicating About Contra Dance Sound
This blog post provides some tips on how to communicate with sound technicians.
From Jeff Kaufman
Categories: Musicians
A flyer that highlights what goes into playing for a dance in relation to what musicians get paid/dancers pay.
From Sarah Gowan
Categories: Musicians, Organizers
An article from Brendan Taaffe opening up discussion about money in the contra community, especially in relation to pay for musicians.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Organizers
Road Trip! A Practical Guide for New Touring Bands
This article by David Firestine provides some tips on how to arrange a tour playing dances.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Musicians
How to Play Contra Dance Percussion
Melissa Kacalanos explains how to play percussion for reels and jigs, using Middle Eastern rhythm notation.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
How to make your own footboard, including a piezo contact microphone, from Jeff Kaufman.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
In this blog post, Jeff Kaufman (Free Raisins) gives research-based suggestions for how to mic a mandolin.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
In this blog post, Jeff Kaufman (Free Raisins) explains and gives audio examples of percussive mandolin playing for contra dances.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
A series of videos from Jeff Kaufman (Free Raisins) about how he plays mandolin for contra dances.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
In this blog post, Jeff Kaufman describes some basics of playing guitar for contra dances.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
Simple and Less Simple Contra Dance Piano
In this series of blog posts, Jeff Kaufman describes how to play piano for contra dances.
Simple Contra Dance Piano (2011)
Simple Contra Dance Piano: Interesting Left Hand (2011)
Simple Contra Dance Piano: More Left Hand (2011)
Less Simple Contra Dance Piano (2019)
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
Perpetual e-Motion Interview Series
Interviews with Perpetual e-Motion (Ed Howe, John Cote) on a variety of aspects of playing for contra dances including fiddling for dance, guitar rhythms for dance, fitting music and dance, acoustic playing, electronic effects, and doing your own sound.
From Dennis C Merritt
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
In this blog post, Jeff Kaufman explores some considerations to make when creating dance sets. Community discussion follows.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
In this blog post, Jeff Kaufman provides some thoughts on how to match tunes to contra dances.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
Should Square Music be ‘Square?’
This blog post discusses when (and if) tunes played for square dances should follow the 32-bar AABB format.
From the Dance Caller’s Journal
Categories: Musicians, Square Dance
In this blog post, The Last Gaspé reflect on what it takes to be good band and how to play together effectively.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
In this blog post, Jeff Kaufman explains how to call chords during the middle of a dance so that fellow bandmates know where the chord progression is going.
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
Free Raisins Video Interview Series
In this video, series the Free Raisins (Amy Englesberg, Audrey Knuth, and Jeff Kaufman) talk about a variety of aspects of playing for contra dances with musical examples including phrasing, balancing rhythm and melody, varying chords, droning (pedaling), complex variations, balance of an evening, and evolution of a band.
From Dennis Merritt
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
Musicians Column: Aspects of Musicality
This article by violinist Martha Edwards explores the importance of phrasing when playing music for dancers.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Contra Dance, English Country Dance, Musicians
What is Phrasing in Contra Dance?
Jeff explores phrasing in contra dance music and how it relates to the dance figures. The post is followed by a community discussion.
From Jeff Kauffman
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
In this resource, Thomas describes what is needed from musicians for a one-off barn dance. This is a great resource for musicians who are only getting together once for a dance event.
From Thomas Green
Categories: Community/Family Dance, Contra Dance, Musicians, Square Dance
Some of the key considerations when playing for old time dances (various dance styles over the evening).
From Vivian and Phil Williams
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians, Square Dance
Andrew VanNorstand on Playing for Contra Dances
In this six-part video series, Andrew talks about the difference between playing for a concert and playing for a dance, matching tunes with dances, working with callers, and more.
From Dennis Merritt
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians
Playing for Contras: The Basics
This three-page PDF provides the basics needed to understand how contra dance music fits the dance.
From CDSS
Categories: Contra Dance, Musicians, Novices
Playing for English Country Dance: The Basics
This three-page PDF provides the basics of how to play for English Country Dance.
From CDSS
Categories: English Country Dance, Musicians, Novices
In this blog post, Jeff explores how to choose shoes for dancing.
From Jeff Kaufman
Categories: Contra Dance, Dancers
English Country Dance and Its American Cousin
ECD and contra dance share some of the same historical roots. This article by describes those roots and how the two styles have changed over time.
From Alan Winston
Categories: Contra Dance, English Country Dance
Miriam Newman explains the movement towards asking people about their pronouns.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Callers, Dancers, Educators, Musicians, Organizers, Singers
5 Things…Inside the Dancing Mind of…
A one-hour chat with Q&A from movers and shakers in the English Country Dance community from across the country about the 5 things that they feel are important to our passion for ECD and why.
From the Historical Tea and Dance Society.
Categories: Callers, English Country Dance, Musicians, Organizers
Contra Syncretist Flourish Videos
A video archive of over 100 video showing how to do various contra dance flourishes.
From Contra Syncretist
Categories: Contra Dance, Dancers
Introducing a Beginner to Contra Dancing
An article published in the CDS Boston Center newsletter discussing the fine art of teaching a beginners session at a contra dance.
From Chris Weiler
Categories: Callers, Contra Dance
Tips on Being a Better Contra Dancer
A number of tips exploring a wide range of aspects in how to become a better contra dancer.
From Cary Ravitz
Categories: Contra Dance, Dancers
This website contains an extensive list of topics for dancers of various levels. This includes everything from awareness and consideration as a dancer to how to enjoy dancing more. Useful both for teachers of dance and dancers.
From Colin Hume
Categories: Callers, Dancers
10 Tips for Contra Dancing With Kids
Miriam reflects on how dancers can be more supportive of children and youth within the contra dance context. Some helpful considerations for dancing with children. While the context of the article is contra dancing, the ideas also apply to many other forms of dance.
From Miriam Axel-Lute
Categories: Contra Dance, Dancers, Families
Technique for Swinging, Connection and Allemandes
John Sweeney provides some excellent descriptions and images of techniques for swinging, connection, and allemandes. There is a focus on how to improve dancing skills and prevent injuries.
From John Sweeney
Categories: Dancers, Novices
Running Behind: Rush to Catch Up Or Not?
An article from Laura Brodian Freas Beraha on what to do when you are behind in the dance/music.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Dancers, English Country Dance
Tips on Becoming a Better Intermediate-Level Dancer
An article by Laura Brodian Freas Beraha with 10 excellent tips on how to grow as an intermediate English country dancer.
From the CDSS News
Categories: Dancers, English Country Dance
Dancing Well Weekly Virtual Dance Party
Weekly dance parties for kids (and kids at heart) on Facebook Live and later available to watch anytime. Originally designed for veteran and military families, but open to all.
Categories: Families
Don Veino calls a virtual barn dance, with music by Julie Metcalf and Max Newman.
Categories: Families
Virtual NEFFA: Family Songs & Dances
Susan and Isabelle Taylor show us three dances that families can do at home.
From NEFFA
Categories: Families
Sam Bartlett is famous at CDSS family camps for his hilarious and captivating stunts. Learn some of them with these videos!
From Indiana Public Media
Categories: Families
CDSS at Home: Sue Hulsether Teaches the Spoons
Dance caller and music educator Sue Hulsether teaches how to play the spoons, aided by Clara from Asheville, NC.
From CDSS
Categories: Families, Musicians
Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy Concert for Families
Categories: Families
Barn Dance! A Musical Story Time
Enjoy a story with illustrations, lively music, and the chance to try out a dance or two!
From the Chillicothe (Illinois) Public Library and the Newport String Project
Categories: Families
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.