We connect and support people in building and sustaining vibrant communities through participatory dance, music, and song traditions that have roots in English and North American culture.
CDSS thanks the Massachusetts Cultural Council for its generous support.
New and Noteworthy
Fall 2021 CDSS News
The Fall 2021 CDSS News is now available! Come frolic with cows with Clara Byom; march with Prince Rupert with Graham Christian; travel across Canada with Bev Bernbaum and Rosemary Lach; waltz with Anna Alter and Alternative Roots; try some one-couple English country dances with Don Bell; and much more!
The third Monday of every month is Common Time, a monthly measure of exploration, inspiration, and conversation. This month's offering is Cultural Equity at the Local Level, on Monday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT). Join us as Dr. Dena Ross Jennings leads a presentation and discussion about cultural equity, appropriation versus appreciation, and the key element of communication that makes all of this work possible. Learn more and register!
Celebrating Kate Barnes
After a long delay due to COVID, we're hosting an online celebration for our 2020 Lifetime Contribution Award winner, Kate Barnes! Register to join us on Sunday, September 26, 2021, 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET. And be sure to submit your memories, photos, and videos of Kate for her digital scrapbook.
Contra Pulse
Julie sits down with musician, composer, cartoonist, and stuntologist Sam Bartlett. As a musician, Sam plays in the Irish and old-time American traditions on the tenor banjo, mandolin, and jaw harp, and he has been a huge part of reshaping the face of modern contra dance music.
September 2021 Song of the Month
Harry Tuft sings of the ephemeral nature of love in the classic folk song "The Water Is Wide."
Check out the last Web Chat
The video, slides, and transcript for our most recent Web Chat are now available. We heard latest news from a public health professional, as well as experiences from two organizers whose groups have resumed in-person events. Email us with questions.
Songs that Speak
CDSS is pleased to support "Songs that Speak," a monthly YouTube series by Saro Lynch-Thomason. Learn about the history, folklore, and modern-day relevance of traditional songs, and sing along as Saro teaches each song through sing-and-repeat.
Summer 2021 CDSS News
Read this season's CDSS News, featuring contributions from Rachel Bell, Graham Christian, Daniel Clark, Susan English, Cathy Hollister, Colin Hume, Nicole Singer, Sue Songer, and more!
Reentry Resources for Organizers
In our most recent Web Chat, a lawyer, epidemiologist, dance organizer, and the CDSS Insurance Manager addressed many of our community’s concerns as we begin to safely emerge from the pandemic. This compilation of Reentry Resources includes extensive Q&A sections from the Web Chat, along with a list of considerations to help smooth your journey.
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 five things that they feel are important to our passion for ECD and why. Hosted by the Historical Tea and Dance Society.