CDSS Outreach Funds — Helping Others Make Things Happen
The CDSS Outreach Grants Program has now completed its fifth year. The pins on the map below indicate where these grants have been offered to almost 200 music, dance and song communities throughout the U.S. and Canada! To apply, please refer to the online guidelines and application.
KEY: Red: 2013, Purple: 2012, Green: 2011, Yellow: 2010, Blue: 2009, Teal Blue: 2008
CDSS Outreach Funding has been offered to the following events and project most recently:
All Hands In: A Celebration of Community though Traditional Song & Dance - event to bring the joys of music and dance to the Newtown community; including family dance, singing and community dance (CT)
Mountain Blossom Ball - ECD weekend including social dance, workshop, ball, brunch (KY)
Workshop for Contra Callers - in-depth contra callers workshop led by Carol Ormand, with calling at evening dance (NC)
The Great Morris Exchange 2013 - collaboration of young morris dancers to create and perform show based in morris dance traditions; including workshops (MA & ON)
Dare to Be Square Weekend - intensive square dance calling workshop for callers of all levels; elder callers passing on skills to younger generation (WV)
English Dance Callers Course (at BACDS English Week) - week-long course for ECD callers led by Scott Higgs (CA)
Manx Cultural Exchange Trip - young morris team (And Sometimes Y) from MA traveling to Isle of Man to learn dances from other Manx teams and bring them back to share with U.S. audiences
October 2012
Fresno Callers Workshops - three training sessions for beginning contra and English country dance callers (CA)
Dancing at Freedom Middle School - contra dance workshops and final dance with Wild Asparagus (FL)
Traditional Arts Exchange - planning grant for event organizer in OH to build new program for bringing contra and English country dancing to China
Empty Bowls Contra Dance - community contra dance and fundraiser for LA Regional Food Pantry CA
Fairbanks Musicians Workshop - weekend training event for English country dance musicians (AK)
Here is a sampling of the types of events that have received CDSS support over the years:
Training Events
Sun Assembly Spring Dance Weekend - English country and contra dance weekend with new aspect of including workshops for callers of both genres (NC)
Dancing Between the Lines - Midwest leadership conference for callers and dance organizers (OH)
All Contra, All Day, the Right Way - contra workshop for dancers of all levels for building skill and community (BC)
Contra Callers' Workshops - series of mentorship workshops for new callers with opportunities to call at local dances (NM)
Open Contra Dance Band Practice/Workshops - several workshops for musicians leading up to playing for final dance (RI)
2nd Annual Dare to Be Square - weekend of square dancing and calling workshops (VA)
Impropriety Weekend - English country dance and music workshops in 3 cities in Bay area (CA)
Events with Family or Youth Focus
World on a String Day - cross-cultural workshops to introduce young classical music students to the wide world of traditional music (DC) - see photo at left
Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Camp - adding contra dance to existing week-long music camp for families (OR)
Youth Traditional Song Weekend - youth-focused (not youth-exclusive) participatory singing event including leadership training (MA)
Fall Has Sprung - backing to help annual contra festival increase youth attendance by offering sliding scale to dancers 30 and under (CA) - see photo at left
New Events
Swan's Island Community Dance - new contra dance to revive dancing on remote island (ME)
Mountain Dance Trail - revitalizing dances in 10 communities throughout West Virginia (WV)
Jim Thorpe Country Dance Series - start-up funding for new monthly contra/square dance (PA)
Scholarships to non-CDSS Programs
Festival of American Fiddle Tunes - scholarship to attend week-long festival to participate in fiddle, piano and calling workshops (WA)
Cumberland Dance Week - scholarship to attend callers workshop at music and dance week including contras, English country dancing, rapper, etc. (KY)
BACDS American Week - matching youth scholarships for dance week including contras and squares, couple dancing, music workshops, etc. (CA)