TRADITIONAL DANCE, MUSIC AND SONG IN CANADA - A SURVEY OF LOCAL ORGANIZERS SEPTEMBER 2017 Country Dance & Song Society • 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 345 • Easthampton, MA 01027-2759 • 413-203-5467 www.cdss.org Report lead: Emily Addison Analytical advisor: Sarah Pilzer Editor: Pat MacPherson Translation services volunteered by: Noémie Charbonneau Potvin (www.traccolade.com) © 2017 Country Dance and Song Society Cover image: Attendees from both Canada and the United States at Puttin' On the Dance 2 in Ottawa, Ontario in March 2015. POTD is a conference for traditional dance organizers from Eastern Canada and the Northeastern US. Photo taken by Simon Chambers - used with permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE MAIN REPORT Section 1: Introduction ............................................................................................... 2 Strengthening the broader society ...............................................................6 Purpose of the study .............................................................................................. 2 Positive impacts on individuals......................................................................6 Report format & terminology .............................................................................. 2 Organizational strengths and initiatives ...........................................................6 Format ................................................................................................................... 2 Organizational strengths ..................................................................................6 Acronymns used in the report ...................................................................... 2 Initiatives to be proud of ..................................................................................6 Attendees vs participants ............................................................................... 2 New ideas for growth ........................................................................................6 Terminology associated with traditions ..................................................... 2 Organizational health ..............................................................................................6 Study methodology ................................................................................................ 2 Section 4. Challenges facing organizerS ............................................................... 7 Development of the questionnaire .............................................................. 2 Attendance issues ..............................................................................................7 Organizer contacts ............................................................................................ 2 Financial challenges ...........................................................................................7 Administration of the questionnaire ............................................................ 3 Organizers and volunteers ..............................................................................7 Number of participants and response rate .............................................. 3 Promotion .............................................................................................................7 Survey fatigue ..................................................................................................... 3 Talent ......................................................................................................................8 Data analysis ....................................................................................................... 3 Venue ......................................................................................................................8 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 3 Who is attending and how they interact .....................................................8 Traditions and language included in the study ............................................. 3 Insurance and other administrative details ...............................................8 Traditions .............................................................................................................. 3 Cross-border issues ...........................................................................................8 Language .............................................................................................................. 4 Other challenges .................................................................................................8 Section 2. The TDMS landscape: Who is organizing what ............................ 4 Section 5. Supports for organizers ......................................................................... 9 What type of TDMS events are occurring? ..................................................... 4 The supports wanted & needed by organizers..............................................9 The diversity of TDMS traditions in Canada ............................................. 4 Help with funding ................................................................................................9 The nature of TDMS events ........................................................................... 4 Help with sharing information and networking ........................................9 Event frequency and size ................................................................................ 4 Help with promotion ..........................................................................................9 TDMS in schools ................................................................................................ 4 Help with increasing attendance ...................................................................9 Where are events located? ................................................................................... 5 Help with talent ...................................................................................................9 Province/Territory breakdown...................................................................... 5 Help with insurance and administrative details .................................... 10 Size of communities ......................................................................................... 5 Help with venues.............................................................................................. 10 Language .............................................................................................................. 5 Help with cross-border issues ..................................................................... 10 Who are the organizers? ....................................................................................... 5 Help regarding organizers and volunteers ............................................. 10 Age and experience .......................................................................................... 5 Community culture and interactions ........................................................ 10 Organizational structure .................................................................................. 5 Support on other topics ................................................................................ 10 Organizer role ..................................................................................................... 5 The support organizers already receive........................................................ 10 Section 3. Organizers and organizations: Their why, strengths, successes, Support from umbrella organizations ...................................................... 10 and health ........................................................................................................................ 6 CDSS specific support ................................................................................... 10 The value of traditional dance music and song ............................................ 6 Section 6. Summary .................................................................................................. 11 Developing community from within and strengthening local community beyond ........................................................................................... 6 Following the main report, the appendices provide a summary of all findings from the individual survey questions. SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION Section 1 provides an introduction to the report including details about the study design and presentation of the report. ATTENDEES VS PARTICIPANTS Throughout the report, the terms 'attendees' and 'participants' are used interchangeably. We acknowledge that not all events have active PURPOSE OF THE STUDY participants (e.g., crowd members of a concert are more attendees than participants). However, given that the results of the study show that The Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) has been a leader and TDMS events are often of a participatory nature, we felt it appropriate to partner of traditional dance, music, and song (TDMS) for over a century. use the term 'participants'. Our organization supports and promotes TDMS throughout North America working on local, regional, national, and international levels. TERMINOLOGY ASSOCIATED WITH TRADITIONS This study arose out of CDSS's interest in learning how to best support Most of the terminology regarding traditions is relatively clear. For local TDMS organizers in Canada