CDSS Publications

The CDSS publications program is guided by our mission to preserve English and American traditional dance, music and song, to promote their new expression and support the communities where they continue to thrive.

We welcome suggestions and inquiries. Please contact Pat MacPherson, pat@cdss.org.

Books and booklets

How-to for leaders & callers

CDSS Dances for a Crowded Hall: Self-Contained English Dancing
CDSS Dancing in Schools
CDSS Family and Community Dances
Judy Chaves Don't Stop Calling: A Guide to Leading English Country Dance Classes for Older Adults
Bruce Hamilton Notes on Teaching Country Dance
Larry Jennings, Dan Pearl & Ted Sannella The Contra Connection and Basically for Callers
Ted Sannella Calling Traditional New England Squares (with CD)

See also the extensive collection of Advice & How-To free resources here on our website.

Collected dances: American

CDSS Legacy: 50 Years of Dance and Song
Nils Fredland Syllabus: Dare to Be Square (CD-ROM)
Kate Van Winkle Keller & Ralph Sweet A Choice Selection of American Country Dances of the Revolutionary Era
James Morrison Twenty-four Early American Country Dances: Cotillions and Reels for the Year 1976
Ted Sannella Balance and Swing
Ted Sannella Swing the Next
David Smukler & David Millstone Cracking Chestnuts: The Living Tradition of Classic American Contra Dances
Ralph Sweet & Nils Fredland On the Beat with Ralph Sweet
(if you have the 1st printing, we have since made the following corrections)

Collected dances: English

CDSS Classic English Country Dances (with CD)
CDSS 21 Easy English Country Dances (with CD)
Judy Chaves Don't Stop Calling: A Guide to Leading English Country Dance Classes for Older Adults
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio Favorites of the Boston Centre: Dances for Volume 1
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio More Favorites of the Boston Centre: Dances for Volume 2
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio Simple Pleasures: Dances for Volume 3
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio Modern Treasures: Dances for Volume 4
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio At Home: Dances for Volume 5
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio At the Ball: Dances for Volume 6
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio By Request: Dances for Volume 7
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio Strong Roots: Dances for Volume 9
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio New Shoots: Dances for Volume 10
Helene Cornelius & Francis Attanasio Fast Friends, Dances of Gary Roodman: Dances for Volume 15
Kate Van Winkle Keller & Genevieve Shimer The Playford Ball, 2nd Edition: 103 Early English Country Dances

Recorded music

Music collections: American

Nils Fredland Syllabus: Dare to Be Square CD-ROM
Playford Consort Sweet Richard cassette
Playford Consort Young Widow cassette

Music collections: English

CDSS Classic English Country Dances (with booklet)
 CD
CDSS 21 Easy English Country Dances (with booklet)
 CD
Marshall Barron, Eric Leber, Chuck Ward Step Stately: Two and Three Couple Dances from 17th and 18th Century England cassette
Claremont Country Dance Band Juice of Barley cassette
Claremont Country Dance Band Popular English Country Dances of the 17th and 18th Centuries cassette
Phil Merrill & Marshall Barron By Popular Demand cassette