This website provides research for music educators on unsung narratives in U.S. folk music, resources, and tools for decolonizing practices.
Dinah, Put Down Your Horn: Blackface Minstrel Songs Don’t Belong in Music Class
In this article, Dr Katya Erolaeva makes the case to remove racist songs from school music programs and discusses a number of songs with racist messaging.
From Medium
Jeremy Child explores positional calling as a way to expand the boundaries of choreography.
Miriam Newman explains the movement towards asking people about their pronouns.
From the CDSS News
Gender Free Contra Facebook Group
This Facebook group is for enthusiasts of Larks and Ravens terminology. However, other ways of welcoming LGBTQIA dancers into contra and other folk dances are also on topic. The group offers resources, discussion, and strategy.
A collection of square dances for seated dancers. Descriptions of the figures are here.
From Fred Wersan
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
Larks and Ravens: A Report from the Field
Dela Murphy and Dugan Murphy make a case for gender-free calling and describe how communities can transition to using gender-free terms.
From the CDSS News
5 Things… Inside the Dancing Mind of…Global Terminology/Positional Calling with Brooke Friendly
Darlene Hamilton’s discussion with Brooke Friendly focused on teaching with global terminology and positional calling—something Brooke has been doing for years but which is particularly relevant to the current interest in teaching without reference to gender roles.
FromThe Historical Tea and Dance Society
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.