Syracuse Country Dancers is an affiliate of the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS), an organization that connects and supports people interested in participatory dance, music, and song. This includes contra dance, English country dance, Morris dancing, Maypole dancing, community dance and English and American folksongs related to all these traditions. CDSS is more than a century old, and it is fair to say we would not be likely to even know about the kinds of dancing and singing we enjoy if it were not for CDSS.
As an affiliate, we have benefited from CDSS mini-grants to support our programs. Through CDSS, dancers from elsewhere find us, and our dancers connect with CDSS members and affiliates across the continent. We encourage anyone interested in participatory dance and music to explore CDSS and discover some of the great programs and resources that they offer. Whether you want to learn more about the traditions, find a place to dance or sing, or are looking for support to create your own event, the CDSS website is a great place to start.
As well as their great website that’s chock-full of helpful materials, CDSS also runs camps in Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, and Michigan for adults and families. These camps are a blast! They offer in-depth explorations of different dance, music and song traditions. Attending a camp week provides opportunities to meet other enthusiasts, expand your horizons, and have a spectacular time! And, if the cost of attending is an issue for you, CDSS offers many scholarship opportunities. Many of the regular dancers at our dances have attended CDSS camps and would be happy to share their experiences with you.
Please visit CDSS.org and find out for yourself the many ways that the Country Dance and Song Society works to promote the joy of these musical traditions. If you like what you see, consider sending them a donation or becoming a member. Supporting CDSS is not necessarily about getting something tangible. Rather it is a way to support participatory dance and song as a whole, so that the living traditions we love will continue to thrive for many years to come.