Addressing Racism as a Dance Community
In this short overview, the organizers of Portland Intown Contra Dance acknowledge and explain some of the various Black and African influences on American folk dance traditions.
From the Portland Intown Contra Dance
Dinah, Put Down Your Horn: Blackface Minstrel Songs Don’t Belong in Music Class
In this article, the author puts forward the need to remove racist songs from school music programs and discusses a number of songs with racist messaging.
From Dr. Katya Ermolaeva
Anti-Racism and the Folk Revival
This article focuses on racism within our traditions, in particular relating to the work of Cecil Sharp and his contemporaries, and on how our history informs our present and should influence our future.
From Ezra Fisher
Session notes on how to make a welcoming dance community for everyone.
From Sophia Donforth & Julia Bennett
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
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.