CDSS Executive Board Visit

CDSS visits Philadelphia, January 22-26, 2025

Country Dance & Song Society logoThe Exec Board of the Country Dance & Song Society (CDSS) is coming to Philadelphia for five days in January. Every year they pick two regions in North America to visit. This year it's us!!!

We have 5 days chock full of events. Come meet the Board members, show off what we're doing here in Philadelphia, and join in the extra dancing, singing, discussions, and (indoor) picnics!

Overview:

  • Wednesday 22nd: CDSS guest callers at the GCD English Country Dance in Merion
  • Thursday 23rd: Mt. Airy Contra
  • Friday 24th: Picnic + Contra Dance at Park Avenue in Swarthmore with CDSS guest callers and SPUDS
  • Saturday 25th: Picnic + English Country Dance at Summit in Mt. Airy with GCD callers and guest CDSS musicians
  • Sunday 26th: Community Meeting midday, including singing, lunch, community games, and discussion

Full and up-to-date details below.

If you would like to help out with hosting, food, or other organizing, we would be grateful. Contact organizing team leader .

About CDSS

CDSS is the small but mighty 100+ year old North American organization that sponsors summer camps, and provides background support and networking for local dances and related groups all across the continent. In addition to camps, there are topical webchats and gatherings; boundless online resources for organizers, dancers, musicians, and callers; insurance for affiliates and caller-members; historical archives and dance/song collections; podcasts and the long-running CDSS newsletter; networking and advising services; grants and scholarships; and of course the highly tempting CDSS store...). No doubt I've overlooked several things, so go explore the website and see what treasures you can find.

Speaking of all this, get ready to register for the super-duper 2025 CDSS summer camps!

And please join CDSS as a member to support their great work. We'd love Philadelphia to show off to CDSS Exec how many of our dancers and musicians are supporting and engaging with CDSS.

Complete Schedule & Details

English Country Dance @ Merion Friends
Wednesday, January 22, 8 - 10:15pm

  • Germantown Country Dancers' regular Wednesday dance.
  • Callers: Robert Mills with CDSS Board members Luanne Stiles and Juliette Webb
  • Band: Ann Bies, Bob Pasquarello, Lee Dietterich, Kathy Talvitie.

  • Admission: Sliding-Scale $5 - $10+
  • Location:Merion Friends Activities Building, 615 Montgomery Avenue, Merion, PA. If this is your first time, check our directions page, as it can be tricky to find at night even with GPS directions. Public transit info is there as well.

Contra Dance @ Mt. Airy, Irish Center
Thursday, January 23, 8 - 10:30pm

  • Mt. Airy Contra's regular coordinating-caller night, with CDSS board members invited to participate.
  • Coordinator: Donna Hunt
  • Band: Wissahickon Express -- Rick, Chloe, & Evan Mohr and Cecelia Tannous-Taylor

  • Admission: Sliding-Scale, pay what you wish. Suggested $10/$15/$20+
  • Address: The Irish Center (Commodore Barry), 6815 Emlen St., Philadelphia, PA 19119.
    Look for the signs, and use the ballroom entrance, furthest from Carpenter Ave.

Community Picnic + Contra Dance
@ Swarthmore's Park Avenue Community Center
Friday, January 24

  • Board meets 10 - 5pm (mostly private, some agenda topics may be open).

  • Community Picnic, 6pm. Dinner with CDSS board members from across the country.(Picnic = bring your own food, or stop by the Coöp or nearby restaurants for takeout. The hall has fridge, freezer, microwave, kitchen prep area.)

  • Evening Contra Dance, 7:30 - 10pm
  • Guest callers: Board members David Smukler (NY) and Diane Silver (NC)
  • Music: Boxwood (Bill Quern, Sarah Gowan, Chloe Mohr, Rick Mohr) lead
    SPUDS open band. All area musicians are welcome to join in: Here's the SPUDs January playlist. Please arrive by 7pm.
  • Interspersed with entertainment by Fiddlekicks Cloggers, Kingsessing Morris Men, and GCD's Colonial Assembly
  • Admission: Sliding-Scale $10 - $20
  • Address: 129 Park Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, 19081 (= the Methodist Church). Metered street and lot parking is free after 5pm.

Community Picnic + English Country Dance
@ Summit Church, Mt. Airy
Saturday, January 25

  • Board meets 10 - 5pm (mostly private, some agenda topics may be open).

  • Picnic Supper, 6pm. Dinner with CDSS board members from across the country.(Picnic = bring your own food, or walk to Weavers Way Coöp for takeout. The church has a kitchen.)

  • Evening English Country Dance 7:30 - 10:30
  • GCD callers: Tanya Rotenberg, Liz Snowdon, Sam Rotenberg, Ted Rudofker
  • Musicians: TBA (some Board members, some locals)
  • Interspersed with entertainment by Renegade Morris, the Germantown Country Dancer demo team, and perhaps a 3rd group.
  • Dance admission: Sliding-Scale $5 - $15+
  • Address: Summit Presbyterian Church: Westview & Greene Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19119

All-Community Meeting with the CDSS Board
@ the Irish Center, Mt. Airy
Sunday, January 26, 11am - 2pm

Discussion with the CDSS Board will be combined with fun activities and lunch. Come share your ideas, enthusiasms, successes, concerns, questions.

  • Pub-singing
  • Lunch: Pizza provided!!!
  • Community Meeting led by president David Smuckler and Executive Director Katy German
  • Interspersed with some community games led by affiliate ECRS.
  • Admission: free!
  • Address: The Irish Center (Commodore Barry), 6815 Emlen St., Philadelphia, PA 19119.