Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Danielle Boudreau & David Millstone

In this session, we will look at ways that organizers themselves can – and should – play a vital role in shaping a vibrant, active, and constantly-evolving dance community. Working both in small groups and as a whole, we will look at current trends in the dance scene, analyze the pros (and related cons) of each, and help participants plan new ways forward to shape the future directions of their scene.

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Annie Laskey, Linda Henry, & Michael Barraclough

What IS a vision/mission? How do we craft and implement a unique mission statement for our dance series? Why is this a crucial step in the growth of each dance? Whether your dance already has a mission statement, or you’re just starting to think about this, or you’re somewhere in between, this all-conference session will offer practical tools and thought-provoking perspectives for addressing this pertinent topic. Together we will explore these vital questions, generating answers to inform and guide our participation throughout the SWROC weekend.

• Session Notes
• Audio Recording

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Bob Henshaw, David Millstone & Delia Clark

It may not be explicitly articulated, but every dance series has a vision. Clarifying our vision is crucial because it guides us as we make decisions, large and small, which in turn shape the character of our particular series. How can organizers formulate a shared vision? What is your group’s vision for your dance, and how does it manifest? Together we will explore these vital questions, generating answers to inform and guide our participation throughout the weekend.

• Session Notes
• Vision Statement Samples read aloud at the start of the session
• Bob’s Dance Vision Worksheet
• Bob’s PPT presentation: Starting, Repairing and Revivifying a Dance Series
• Puttin’ on the Dance Mission from 2011
• David’s handout, The Vision Thing

CDSS Website Content

This resource contains a number of tips on how to create a vision and then how to put it into practice.

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Provided by: Bob Henshaw, David Millstone & Delia Clark

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Delia Clark, Linda Henry, Chrissy Fowler, Mary Wesley

Diane Silver

In this handout, Diane outlines a number of ideas for both organizers and callers to consider when switching to gender-neutral language.

Flurry Festival: 2020

Emily Addison

These notes cover a wide range of rich conversations on increasing attendance, community culture, fundraising, and more.

Dance Flurry: 2019
Emily Addison

This was the fourth annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. The group talked about upping attendance, community culture, finances, organizers/volunteers, and talent.

Dance Flurry: 2017
Emily Addison

This was the second annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. Organizers shared ideas on how to increase attendance, build leadership, what to charge participants, and community culture.

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015

Emily Addison & Tara Bolker

While this session was focused on increasing attendance, much of the focus was on the community culture and vibe of events and how that impacts the participant experience.

• Session Notes
• Powerpoint Presentation

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Sophia Donforth & Julia Bennett

Who are your dancers? Who is missing from your dance floor, and why? We’ll examine ways to reach out to more diverse populations and how to make a more welcoming dance community for everyone. Bring an anecdote to share about a magic moment, or something you’d do differently. Participants will leave with a list of ways to reach new dancers, and make an inclusive dance “commons” that brings them back a second time!

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Laura Gorrin & Yoyo Zhou

Contra dancing calls for distinct roles for men and for women, but people don’t always fit so neatly into those two boxes. In this workshop we will talk about our experience making traditional contras more welcoming for everyone, as well as our experience with our gender-neutral dance, Circle Left. Making contra less gendered not only makes your dance more inviting to LGBT people and to young people, but it also provides exciting new opportunities for straight and experienced contra dancers.

• Session Notes
• Audio Recording

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Wendy Graham

Beginner, intermediate and advanced dancers all have different needs on the dance floor. Experienced dancers want hot-shot material and beginners need easily accessible dances. What can you do as an organizer to enhance happy co-existence? Dance selection can be a big issue in keeping everyone happy and wanting to return to your dance. The difficulty is being able to create a coexisting community with all levels of dancers. We’ll show you techniques you can use to increase the level of dance skill at your events quickly, all the while keeping the dancing fun for everyone.

• Session Notes
• Audio Recording

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Jeff Spero & Doc Litchman

Why do so many people come to a dance once or twice and then drop out? How do we integrate all the people that show up for a dance and build a community for all? We’ve give you tips and techniques to build everlasting friendships within your dance community.

• Session Notes
• Audio Recording

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Annie Laskey & Karina Wilson

Everyone benefits from a vibrant and growing dance community. Is your ECD series as strong as you would like it to be? Having problems finding dancers, bringing up new callers, getting good musicians? Never quite seem to break even? Whether your dance is based in a small town or a large urban center, is run by one person or formal board, we’ll explore ways to tap into your own community’s unique potential to develop a lively, social, and growing dance.

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Lisa Greenleaf

This is a discussion of ways to influence dance style and manners through community and leadership involvement. What kind of dance experience do you want your series to promote? Once you define this and apply it to your particular series, you can take steps towards educating newer dancers, raising the level of intermediate dancers and satisfying experienced dancers.

• Session Notes
• Lisa's handout: Shaping the Dance Experience

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Chris Ricciotti

Historically, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) people have created their own social structures as a way of defining and building community. The development of gender role free dancing has helped to create a new vision of dancing from a global perspective and provide a context for social dancing that continues to be relevant, inclusive and welcoming. This session will include a brief history of the modern-day gender role free dance movement followed by a discussion about how this dance form can transform a dance event and create opportunities for community-building. We will also explore the potential of this philosophy for adding new people to the richly diverse traditional dance scene of today. Each attendee will receive an informative manual containing some of the research we have done on the fascinating history of gender and dancing.

• Session Notes
• Chris's Gender-Free Caller's Manual

2020

Diane Silver

In this handout, Diane outlines a number of ideas for both organizers and callers to consider when switching to gender-neutral language.

T-Claw

An entertaining and informative handbook for square dance callers and organizers created by T-Claw, one of the many younger callers inspired by Bill Martin. The first half of the handbook contains lots of information for organizers including how to start a 'scene' and create an event, political considerations, how to bring square dance to the city, money, and more. This resource is primarily for traditional square dance callers. However it does contain some really helpful information for dance organizers!

2012

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores how contra dances can be cliquish and whether this is healthy.

2019

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores the terms Larks & Robins as an alternative to Larks & Ravens.The post is followed by an active discussion from the wider dance community.

2019

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff presents data from BIDA regarding their switch to Larks/Ravens and he discusses the impact on newcomers. The post is followed by a community discussion.

2013

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff shares the signs that BIDA posts around the hall which reflect the values of their dance series.

2019

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff presents a history of Larks/Ravens. The post is followed by a community discussion

2019

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores the use of Right Shoulder Round to replace gypsy. The post is followed by a community discussion.

CDSS Web Chat: 2019

Avia Moore, Diane Silver, Robert Zieber, Angela DeCarlis, Marcia Davis-Cannon, and Linda Henry

This one-hour web chat featured organizers from three different dance communities throughout North America as well as the CDSS Community Safety Task Group. The organizers shared practices and learning from their own communities. This was followed by a rich question & answer period

• Slides
• Recording with slides
• Q&A responses

Problem Dancers: Proactive management and response; creating a dance environment safe for all

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Will Loving

It’s a big question that we must all face: How can we manage our dances and respond to issues that arise in a way that allows for dancers of any age, gender expression or background to experience community dance as safe, respectful and fun? Or, more pointedly, how can we keep bad/creepy/unsafe/ inappropriate behavior from driving people away? This session will look at the variety of dancer behavior issues that can arise, the responses that can be required, responding effectively, ways to encourage the reporting of issues, ways to not be alone with difficult problems, and how to proactively create a culture of consent.

The Unwanted Element: Preventing issues from arising on the floor and dealing with them when they do

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
T-Claw Crawford & David Wiley

What do you do when someone is assaulted at your dance? How do you respond when people complain about that “creepy” dancer? When someone is dancing in a manner that is putting their partners in danger? How do you address these issues and still maintain the goal of being a welcoming, tolerant community? It’s best to be prepared before situations like this arise. We’ll discuss these issues through sharing experiences and thoughtful discussion.

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Chris Weiler

What do you do when someone is assaulted at your dance? How do you respond when people complain about that “creepy” dancer? When someone is dancing in a manner that is putting their partners in danger? How do you do it and still maintain the goal of being a welcoming, tolerant community? It’s best to be prepared before it happens to you. We’ll discuss these issues through role play, sharing experiences and thoughtful discussion.

• Session Notes
• Chris' Presentation Outline
• Montpelier’s Contra Dance Umbrella policy on inappropriate behavior

CDSS West Coast Leadership Conference: 2006
Jens M. Dill

CDSS Pinterest account: Ongoing
This is a curated collection of images and other links relating to community culture, feel, code of conduct, and related events.

Frame Shift Consulting: 2020

Valerie Aurora

This free guidebook has some great information on creating codes of conduct as well as response procedures for complaints.

Recommended by Marni Rachmiel

2018

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff provides his thoughts on how to handle a safety complaint/problem when it is raised to you as an organizer.

2018

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores some of the legal questions around safety committees at dances. The post is followed by a community discussion.

Glen Echo Friday Night Dancers: Contra Dance Etiquette

Glen Echo Friday Night Dancers, MD

Diane Silver

In this handout, Diane outlines a number of ideas for both organizers and callers to consider when switching to gender-neutral language.

Flurry Festival: 2020

Emily Addison

These notes cover a wide range of rich conversations on increasing attendance, community culture, fundraising, and more.

Dance Flurry: 2019
Emily Addison

This was the fourth annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. The group talked about upping attendance, community culture, finances, organizers/volunteers, and talent.

Boosting AttenDANCE
Web Chat

CDSS: 2018
Katy German, Jo Mortland, Laura Gorrin & Margaret Pigman

A Web Chat discussion featuring success stories from two dance communities on how they increased attendance at their respective contra dance series.

• Slides
• Recording

Dance Organizers Unite and Discuss ‘Upping Attendance’

Dance Flurry: 2018
Emily Addison

Approximately 40 traditional social dance organizers from Canada and the US discussed ideas on how to increase attendance at their events. Many best practices were shared.

Organizer Discussion at the 2017 Dance Flurry

Dance Flurry: 2017
Emily Addison

This was the second annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. Organizers shared ideas on how to increase attendance, build leadership, what to charge participants, and community culture.

Beyond Publicity: Getting new dancers to come and come back

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Emily Addison & Tara Bolker

In addition to presenting practical ideas for publicity, we’ll examine your sell—what experience you’re trying to sell and whether it matches the product you currently have, or what can you do to get it there. Take home effective publicity strategies for your community, specifically to reach potential new dancers and convert them to regulars.

• Session notes
• PowerPoint presentation

Beyond New Dancers: Upping your attendance by preaching
to the converted

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Emily Addison & Tara Bolker

We'll identify three key elements that add up to a whole dance experience and examine factors that enhance or detract from that experience, as well as explore strategies to engage your community to create deeper buy-in for your dances.

• Session notes
• PowerPoint presentation

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Michael Barraclough

Marketing has been defined as a process of determining the needs and wants of consumers and being able to deliver the products that satisfy those needs and wants. But how can that help you increase the attendance of your dance? This session will inform you how marketing can help you find and keep the crowd you want. It will show that marketing has a much wider scope than just advertising and that organizers seeking to attract more people to their dances need to ‘market’ rather than ‘advertise’ their dance. Other areas which will be covered include: the role and importance of the organizational vision in marketing; the benefits of thinking about your dance series as a ‘product'; the importance of understanding your audience and their perceptions of the product (dance series) you are offering; and the all-important ‘marketing mix’ (a set of tools used to help pursue the marketing objectives).

• Session notes
• Audio recording

SW Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
David Wiley

Once you’ve established your vision and targeted your audience, how do you use that to your advantage? We’ll venture beyond the proverbial flyer table, discovering practical tactics for marketing your series, from the well-crafted press release to preaching to the converted. We’ll also cover online marketing tools – debatably the most powerful form of marketing we have at our fingertips. What can you do with your physical set-up, your committee, the regular dancers, and your program to get those new folks to become regulars? Do you get new dancers by holding special events? Come talk about marketing and find out how it can be a key piece for developing and supporting your dance community!

• Session notes
• Audio recording

To Market, To Market… Jiggity Jig

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Chrissy Fowler & Lisa Sieverts

A dance organizer’s heart swells to see a sea of smiling dancers, just as an entrepreneur is gladdened when her business attracts happy customers. But how do we pull in those dancers and customers? Together, we’ll venture beyond the proverbial flyer table, discovering practical tactics for marketing our series, from the well-crafted press release to preaching to the converted. (Note: Online marketing is covered in Session 10.)

• Session Notes
• Chrissy’s handout on Effective Marketing
• Lisa’s handout on Press Releases
• Brainstorming Lists generated

To Facebook and Beyond: Online marketing for dance series

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Emily Addison and Alex Krogh-Grabbe

Alex and Emily are keen to talk online marketing tools – debatably the most powerful form of marketing we have at our fingertips. They’ll share best practices on a wide variety of tools including everything from websites and social media to cross promoting with other organizations and using other event listing sites. There will be lots of room for sharing of ideas within the room and there will be handouts. Come talk online marketing and find out how it can be a key piece to developing and supporting your dance community!

• Session Notes
• PPT Presentation

Callerlab: 2018
This 91 page document has a lot of ideas on how to market modern western square dance, many which are applicable to various traditional social dance forms.

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Lisa Sieverts, Monadnock Folklore Society

CDSS Web Chat: 2019

Sarah Lee, Rick & Chloe Mohr, Dean Herington, Chrissy Fowler, Bruce Snider, Linda Henry & Katy German

This one-hour Web Chat featured organizers from four different dance communities throughout North America. The organizers shared practices and learning from their own communities. This was followed by a rich question & answer period.

• Slides
• Recording with slides
• Q&A responses

CDSS Web Chat: 2019

Louise Siddons, Bradley Smith, Lisa Faryadi, ClaraJones, Max Newman, and Linda Henry

This one-hour web chat featured organizers from four different dance communities throughout North America. The organizers shared practices and learning from their own communities. This was followed by a rich question & answer period.

• Slides
• Recording with slides

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Danielle Boudreau & Abigail Hobart

Too often when we hear the question, ‘How can we bring in more young people?’ we hear the answer, ‘Use social media.’ This session will challenge you to think beyond the boxes of Twitter and Facebook, into sustainable methods of youth engagement and empowerment within traditional dance communities. Join Abigail and Danielle, two 20-somethings with deep ties to traditional dance, in re-imagining the assumptions and strategies that will impact youth attendance and involvement at your dance series.

Attracting Younger Dancers: Creating and maintaining a multigenerational dance

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Karina Wilson & Laura Gorrin

How can we find youth, incorporate them, and keep them? Getting younger people to attend dances (and keep coming back) seems to be the holy grail. This session will cover two major areas: promoting youth participation (dancers, callers, musicians, board members etc), and, how to have a successful multi-generation dance. We will hear practical ideas and tips from people who have successfully achieved this, and we will discuss things that have been tried but did not work.

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Max Newman

Former CDSS Youth Intern Max Newman will share some ways to increase youth participation as dancers, callers, musicians, and organizers. Topics covered will include: “youth” vs. “new” participation; children, the forgotten youth; and who to have as your group’s Facebook czar.

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Chrissy Fowler

Do you want: ● Inclusive and sensitive dancers? ● A sustainable series? ● Effective marketing? ● A dancer demographic that’s intergenerational? ● Long-term investment in your beloved dance tradition? This session covers all of these, and more! In fact, engaging families could be the single best strategy for a successful dance series (for all dances, not just the family ones). Participants will leave with a full toolbox, ready to act on their understanding of the “relative benefits” of engaging families in their dance. NOTE: This session is for everyone, from the convinced to the curious to the curmudgeon! (Come one, come all – even nay-sayers – and find out what it’s all about!)

• Session notes
• Strategies Chart
• Handout: Belfast Flying Shoes Caller Information Sheet

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Max Newman & Mary Wesley

We’ll examine a common, but sometimes unspoken, value. Is a community with lots of young folks “intergenerational”? What does it take to foster intergenerationality at our dances? What does non-intergenerationality look like? And, finally, is there a shorter word we can use?

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
T-Claw Crawford, Teri Rasmusson, & Doc Litchman

Whatever the billing (family dance, community dance, barn dance), this sort of series helps traditional dance make deep inroads into the general population. Why do we love organizing these dances? How do we best meet the needs of dancers aged 2 to 92? What are the unique joys and challenges of a series that’s so community-based and absolutely accessible to neophytes? What successful strategies can you share? Let’s talk! (Same description as POTD1 related presentation)

• Session notes
• Audio recording

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Paul Rosenberg & Delia Clark

Whatever the billing (family dance, community dance, barn dance), this sort of series helps traditional dance make deep inroads into the general population. Why do we love organizing these dances? How do we best meet the needs of dancers aged 2 to 92? What are the unique joys and challenges of a series that’s so community-based and absolutely accessible to neophytes? What successful strategies can you share? Let’s talk!

• Session notes
• 3rd Fri Woodstock VT Community Contra Flyer
• New England Dancing Masters website (You’ll find books, recordings, videos, workshops and other resources for leaders of community/family/barn dances.
• A few websites for community/family-oriented dance series: Homespun Barn Dance in NY, DanceFlurry Family Dance in NY, Belfast Flying Shoes Community Dance with the All-Comers Band in ME, Blue Hill Family Contra Dance in ME, revelry such as Oxdansen at the Sunday Night Jammers in MA, NEFFA/Folk Arts Center Family Dance Series in MA.

Chrissy Fowler: 2018
This bibliography focuses on children’s & young adult books that connect to traditional, participatory, social dance & music. Belfast Flying Shoes funded the compilation with additional support from the Maine Arts Commission.

United Square Dancers of America

This is a 24-page booklet that provides ideas on how to establish and maintain a youth square dance group within the context of the modern-western square dance tradition.

2018

Jeff Kaufman

2012

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores the complexities of dance communities segregating by age. The post is followed by a community discussion.

Dance Flurry: 2019
Emily Addison

This was the fourth annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. The group talked about upping attendance, community culture, finances, organizers/volunteers, and talent.

CDSS: 2018
Carol Ormand, Bob Kirkman, Mike Redding, and Linda Henry
CDSS hosted a one-hour Web Chat on how to create a thriving open dance band. The full presentation (audio and slides) are available.

• Slides as PDF
• Video with slides and audio

Growing Local Talent: Helping our budding callers and musicians grow and succeed

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Luke Donforth & Cedar Stanistreet

This workshop is for anyone involved in helping local performers grow and succeed, from communities that are proud of their efforts to those who haven’t started and aren’t sure how. We’ll share ideas and best known practices; workshop scenarios to give you skills to provide constructive feedback; and help you have more impressive talent in your own backyard.

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Adam Broome, Adina Gordon & Jaige Trudel

Dance organizers, bands, and callers work together in short-term collaborations to present dances and events, meeting the needs of everyone involved – organizers, dancers, performers, and event series. We will discuss the challenges we all face, and explore specific solutions to common problems.

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Wendy Graham, Erik Black & Linda Henry

Our musicians and callers won’t be around forever! To ensure that the traditions we love have a long and healthy life, it’s important to provide supportive environments for growing new musicians and callers. In this session we’ll explore a variety of ways dance communities can find, encourage, and train new talent.

• Session notes
• Audio recording
  

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Wendy Graham

Unlike most other regions, our communities are some distance apart which can make it difficult to coordinate with each other about getting talent to multiple places. But the Southwest is a wonderful destination for talent who look to have a national reputation. How can we better coordinate with other dance communities in our state and throughout the region to bring top-notch talent out west? You provide the questions and we’ll try to come up with the answers together.

• Session notes
• Audio recording

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Jeff Spero & Eric Black

This session will explore how to help get the best performances out of your callers, musicians and sound techs. Talent at dances are most often providing their services at well below the standard rate for what they provide. We will discuss how to keep your talent happy to continue making your dance event the best it can be. It all stems from proper communication skills. Topics to be covered will be determined by the attendees and may include effective booking, artistic control, balancing the desires of the talent with the desires of the dancers (they are not always the same!), nurturing local talent, constructive criticism, and open mic/band dances.

• Session notes
• Audio recording

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Lisa Greenleaf

We will go over many of the issues related to hiring bands and callers, from the business side to artistic expectations, and how organizers can communicate with performers before, during and after the event. Included will be a chance to hear the performer’s side of the experience.

• Session Notes
• Lisa’s Presentation Outline

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Mary Wesley & Linda Henry

Investing in new leaders is a valuable way to ensure that the traditions we love continue to thrive. In what ways can our dance communities provide supportive environments for growing new musicians and callers? Some organizers in our region are actively building this aspect into their dances. In this session we’ll explore different models for encouraging new talent. Sharing their experiences will be Mary Wesley, co-founder of the Mad Robin Callers Collective, a group for up-and-coming callers in Burlington, VT and Linda Henry, who is creating a welcoming sit-in scene for musicians at the Amherst, MA Community Dance. Joining them will be several conferees with their own stories to tell about supporting musicians and callers in their home communities.

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Chrissy Fowler, Belfast Flying Shoes

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Nancy Turner, Queen City Contra

2018

Jeff Kaufman

Jeff has written a few blog posts on gender as it relates to contra dance bands and booking.

• Contra Dance Weekend Musician Gender (2018)
• More Musician Gender (2018)

In these two blog posts, Jeff reflects on the booking practices of dance weekends as it relates to the gender of the callers.

• 2017 post
• 2015 post

2011

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff presents a summary of admission revenue and various costs for a wide range of dances.

Sarah Gowan

A neat flyer by Sarah that highlights what goes into playing for a dance in relation to what musicians get paid/dancers pay.

2012

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explains why the BIDA open band works well. The post is followed by comments from other dancers/musicians/callers.

BIDA Musician Booking

2020

Jeff Kaufman

In this post, Jeff explores some of his thinking behind musician booking for the BIDA dance series. Community discussion follows.

Dance Flurry: 2019
Emily Addison

This was the fourth annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. The group talked about upping attendance, community culture, finances, organizers/volunteers, and talent.

Dance Flurry: 2017
Emily Addison

This was the second annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. Organizers shared ideas on how to increase attendance, build leadership, what to charge participants, and community culture.

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Linda Henry

Do you run a dance series mostly by yourself? Need help sharing the load? Come hear one organizer’s story of transitioning from a “one-person show” to a dance that is now effectively being run by a team. We’ll explore strategies to help you create your own “village” of support. Bring your stories and join the journey!

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Tara Bolker & Maxine Louie

Volunteers are crucial to the healthy sustainability of our dances, as much to build community as to get the job done. In this workshop we’ll talk about the importance of volunteers, different kinds of volunteers, recruitment, engagement and retention. We’ll also work to address some specific volunteer challenges, useful whether you’re a committee of one or part of a large organizing team.

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Catherine Burns, Rima Dael, & Nancy Turner

Non-profit governance and administrative systems require routine updating as organizations evolve. This workshop is designed to help organizers of any committee—old or new—strengthen their administrative platform. Topics that we plan to cover include: the pluses and minuses of incorporating and registering as a non-profit; the steps that a group must take to incorporate and/or register as a non-profit; and the roles that bylaws and articles of incorporation play to define the organization’s purpose and how the organization is governed. This workshop will be particularly helpful to groups that are not formalized as incorporated non-profits who are thinking about taking these steps, or for members of formalized committees who want to better understand governance systems. We’ll share some decisions that were addressed at our dances to generate discussion, clarify how CDSS is prepared to assist, and open up the floor to any governance/administrative issues that you might be tackling in your own dance community.

• Session Notes
• PPT presentation
• Handout: All Hands on Board, Jan Masaoka

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Stephen Gabe & Michael Kerman

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Leda Shapiro & Eric Black

This session is designed to help organizers of any committee — old or new — get ourselves organized. Topics will include how to create a successful organizational structure, establish a mission statement, what to spend money on, how to make serving on a committee a fun and rewarding experience. We will also discuss how to successfully transition when the old guard retires and new volunteers step up to steward the dance. An information sheet will provided for giving performers an idea of what is expected of them at each dance.

• Session notes
• Audio recording

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Erik Erhardt, Ron Nieman & Glenn Manuel

Leverage tech tools to spend more time dancing and less time creating and reviewing budgets, scheduling meetings, managing organizational data and documents, managing mailing lists, and registering for events

• Session notes
• Audio recording
• Dance planner
• Weekend planner
• Tour planner

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Erik Erhardt

Power struggles, hurt feelings, wasted time. Sound familiar? Well-intentioned boards or committees can be brought to a standstill -- or worse, friendships destroyed -- because of the challenge of working with others. We can choose better outcomes. Introduce yourself to a technique for communicating with a focus on empathy and connection that will make your meetings more effective (and all relationships more enjoyable).

• Session notes
• Audio recording

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Teri Rasmusson

Our dance organizations are created by volunteers. We need a powerful base of diverse volunteers with energy to get up and do what needs to be done! More volunteers means the work is more spread out, and creates a LOT less burnout. How do we identify the right people and manipulate (ummm… convince) them to give their talents and precious time to the dance community? This session will explore answers that will enable us to create a larger and stronger volunteer base, both in leadership and operations.

• Session notes
• Audio recording

Building and Sustaining a Healthy Volunteer Base

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Delia Clark

Our dances run on volunteer power! We need a powerful base of diverse volunteers with energy to get up and do what needs to be done! We’ll tap each others’ best ideas and most promising practices in such areas as identifying, training and retaining volunteers of all ages and skill sets; incentives; communication; working collaboratively; community-building; and sustaining morale. This session was a veritable carousel ride, as we collectively answered various questions related to volunteers. Notes are linked to each specific question.

• How do you help your volunteers to have a sense of ownership in the dance, and the sense of potential to grow in their responsibilities?
• How do you decide and communicate what needs doing? How do you frame the opportunities?
• How do you identify potential new volunteers and replenish your volunteer base as people move on?
• How do you train your volunteers?
• How do you reach out and market the role of volunteering?
• What do volunteers DO at your dance?

Leading Effective Meetings

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Lisa Sieverts

• Session notes
• Handout: Sample Minutes from the Monadnock Folklore Society

Formalizing Structures: Non-profit Status and Insurance

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Nancy Turner & Bob Elliott

Governance and administrative systems require routine updating as organizations evolve. In this session, three dance organizers will share how their dance committee manages governance structures and the systems that form the administrative and decision making foundations for a dance. Some topics that we plan to cover include: the pluses and minuses of registering as a non-profit; how to get liability insurance; setting up your bank account; what are the bylaws or articles of incorporation; who is responsible for the dance? We’ll share some issues that we are currently addressing at our dances to generate discussion, and open up the floor to any issues that you might be tackling in your own dance community.

• Session Notes
• Rehoboth Contradance Organizers Job Descriptions
• Rehoboth Guide to Nonprofit Organization

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Nancy Turner

This session is designed to help organizers of any committee — old or new — to get themselves organized. We will share how one contra dance committee got itself organized when the old guard retired and new volunteers stepped up to to steward the dance. We’ll cover how we defined volunteer roles and what we expect of our volunteers; our annual goal setting to strengthen the dance; how we established a new mission statement; and we’ll describe how we created an information sheet for performers that gives them an idea of what we expect to happen at each dance. Even in our eighth year of working together, we still find things to talk about at the five or six committee meetings that we hold each year.

• Organizing Your Committee PowerPoint
• Examples from Burlington’s Queen City Contra Dance: Performer Info Sheet and Dance Accounting Sheet

CDSS Web Chat: 2020

Rob Setili, Susan Amesse, and Jennie Worden

• Recording with audio and video
• Slides as PDF 
• Jennie Worden’s PPT from the Web Chat: Shaking the Cushions: How to assess money-making ideas for small groups

Flurry Festival: 2020

Emily Addison

These notes cover a wide range of rich conversations on increasing attendance, community culture, fundraising, and more.

Dance Flurry: 2019
Emily Addison

This was the fourth annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. The group talked about upping attendance, community culture, finances, organizers/volunteers, and talent.

Organizer Discussion at the 2017 Dance Flurry

Dance Flurry: 2017
Emily Addison

This was the second annual organizer discussion at the Flurry. Organizers shared ideas on how to increase attendance, build leadership, what to charge participants, and community culture.

Dance Finances 0 to 999: Deepening our understanding of sources and uses of fund

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Chris Deephouse

This is a hands-on workshop for dance organizers to deepen their understanding of sources and uses of funds. Organizers make many decisions including whether to offer student discounts, how payments are calculated for callers and musicians, how to budget special events, and more. We will learn from each other and discuss choices that work in various situations.

• Session notes

Fundraising Strategies and Tips for Dance Organizations: Broadening our views for supporting dances

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Rima Dael, Patty Giavara & Nancy Turner

Looking to raise funds for your dance? This workshop will take a broad view on fundraising to support your dance series, support the hall where you dance, run special events or programming, purchase equipment, or support other causes and affiliated organizations. We will provide an overview of philanthropy and fundraising strategies at the macro level, and then share how one local organization raised more than $60,000. Come prepared to share your successful fundraising strategies that are transferrable to other communities. Just as important, we’d love to hear some things that have not worked well, and why.

• Session notes
• Powerpoint presentation
• Handout: Fifty-Three Ways for Board Members to Raise $1000, Kim Klein
• Handout: 8 ways to raise $2,500 (or more) in 10 days (or less…), Kim Klein

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Leda Shapiro

This session will provide support for navigating the ins and outs of money management for your dance series. Topics covered will include: setting a budget for your series; controlling cash at the event; tracking event income and expenses; producing event, periodic and annual financial reports; preparing required governmental reports (1099s for callers / bands, Form 990 for the organization overall). Provided will be sample income / expense categories, event and annual spreadsheets, and reports for you to mull over.

• Session notes
• Audio recording
• Dance report
• Door worksheet
• Sample budget

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Leda Shapiro

The revenue from dance admissions at the door is good and may even sustain our dances. But there may be large expenses looming – perhaps a new sound system, increased rent, insurance costs, etc. Where will the money come from to keep our organizations going? This session will direct you to new streams of revenue that you may have never considered, helping to sustain your dance for years to come.

• Session notes
• Audio recording

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Rob Lindauer

Your series is bringing in money – what do you do with it? Rob Lindauer, treasurer of the Hartford, CT Community Dance, will gently lead you through some ins and outs of money management for your dance series. Topics covered will include: setting a budget for your series; controlling cash at the event; tracking event income and expenses; producing event, periodic and annual financial reports; preparing required governmental reports (1099s for callers / bands, Form 990 for the organization overall). Rob will provide sample income / expense categories, event and annual spreadsheets, and reports for you to mull over.

• Session notes
• Rob’s Powerpoint Presentation
• A worksheet for Contra Finances
• Examples from Rob’s Hartford Contra Series: Cash Turnover Sheet, Headcount Tally Sheet, a Financial Detail Worksheet and Treasurer’s Report

Fifty-Three Ways for Board Members to Raise $1000

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015

Rima Dael and author Kim Klein

As the title suggests!

8 Ways to Raise $2,500 (or more) in 10 days (or less, sometimes)

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015

Rima Dael and authors Kim Klein & Stephanie Roth

As the title suggests!

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Nancy Turner, Queen City Contra

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Rob Lindauer, Hartford CT Community Dance

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Rob Lindauer, Hartford CT Community Dance

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Rob Lindauer, Hartford CT Community Dance

2011

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff presents a summary of admission revenue and various costs for a wide range of dances.

2013

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores various options for BIDA to finance a sound system. The post is followed by an extensive community conversation

2018

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff presents data on how much contra dance communities charge for their dances.

2016

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores how much BIDA can pay to talent depending on the attendance and pay per dancer.

2011

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores the idea of dancers being able to choose how much they pay to attend a dance.

Sarah Gowan

A neat flyer by Sarah that highlights what goes into playing for a dance in relation to what musicians get paid/dancers pay.

CDSS Insurance for US Affiliate Groups

CDSS offers our US affiliate groups the opportunity to participate in our Group General Liability Insurance Policy. We don’t currently have an option for Canadian affiliate groups.

• Callers Liability Insurance
• Group Liability Insurance

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Adam Broome & Jaige Trudel

Ever thought of organizing a dance weekend? Come explore the ins and outs of what it takes to streamline a successful event.

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
Leda Shapiro

Organizing a dance series is one thing, but planning a weekend-long event for 100 people or more with big name talent is something else entirely. How is it done? Can it be a source of revenue that helps the dance community all year long? We’ll expose the sweat and magic that goes into creating a wildly successful dance weekend.

• Session notes
• Audio recording

2020

Jeff Kaufman

In this post, Jeff explores trends in registration for the upcoming Beantown Stomp contra dance weekend. This includes information on their sliding scale payment options. Community discussion follows.

2019

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff summarizes what bands and callers have been playing what festival gigs over the past number of years.

2014

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff shares a heat map that he created of the various contra dance weekends throughout North America.

2019

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores the value of and challenges with advanced dances. The post is followed by an active discussion from the wider dance community.

2018

Jeff Kaufman

Jeff has written a few blog posts on gender as it relates to contra dance bands and booking.

• Contra Dance Weekend Musician Gender (2018)
• More Musician Gender (2018)

In these two blog posts, Jeff reflects on the booking practices of dance weekends as it relates to the gender of the callers.

• 2017 post
• 2015 post

2018

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff breaks down what dance weekends pay musicians. Original post 2016 with an update in 2018.

2012

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff describes a number of special events that BIDA include in their dance season.

2017

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff reflects on the number of dance weekends and which dances have recently stopped/started

2016

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores what time of year are more/less popular for dance weekends. The post includes a link to his list of dance weekends.

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Delia Clark & Chrissy Fowler

• Impact/Feasibility Assessment to address “Roadblocks and Potholes”
• Impact/Feasibility Procedure
• Peer Feedback Circles

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Danielle Boudreau & David Millstone
In this session, we will look at ways that organizers themselves can – and should – play a vital role in shaping a vibrant, active, and constantly-evolving dance community. Working both in small groups and as a whole, we will look at current trends in the dance scene, analyze the pros (and related cons) of each, and help participants plan new ways forward to shape the future directions of their scene.

Hands Across the Borders: Keeping the POTD connections going

Puttin' On The Dance 2: 2015
Linda Henry
After returning home, we dance organizers will continue to encounter challenges in our journeys. How can we keep supporting and inspiring each other after the conference? Let’s explore ways to stay in touch within and between states, provinces, and countries.

Southwest Regional Organizers Conference: 2014
SWROC organizing team

The Dancing We Do: Past, present and future!

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
David Millstone & Max Newman
What is our history and does it matter? Was there a time of peaceful coexistence between contras and squares? We’ll trace the course of country dancing from French quadrilles to techno contra, from Henry Ford’s Orchestra to Perpetual e-Motion. As we do this, we’ll consider what our history means for our present and reflect on our future.

Puttin' On The Dance 1: 2011
Linda Henry & Chris Weiler
This conference will undoubtedly generate many new connections and resources for us participants. In this session, we’ll explore how to continue these connections and share these resources with other dance organizers throughout the Northeast and beyond. Facilitating this session will be Linda Henry, CDSS Outreach Manager, who is actively working to bring ongoing support to dance organizers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Also on deck will be Chris Weiler, founder of Shared Weight, to lend his expertise about online networking.

Delia Clark: 2018
An extensive guide to many different facilitation skills and strategies developed. While not developed specifically for traditional dance, music and song, Delia is a long-time caller and organizer.

2014

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff shares a heat map that he created of where contra dance happens throughout North America.

2011

Jeff Kaufman

In this blog post, Jeff explores different contexts in which contra dances happen. After his post, there is a lengthy community discussion.