CDS Winter 1997 Boston Editor: Michael Bergman News Deadline for Spring Newsletter: th ~ March 7 , 1997. Details, back page. President's Column The Future ofCDS Thanks to all ofyou have responded so generously to your Our membership is shrinking (at 10% peryear) and aging­ dues notices and who returned the accompanying question­ only 7% of questionnaire respondents are under 35, and naires. The results are still coming in, so we haven't done almost 60% are over 45*-and our two weekly event" are any final compilation of your answers. However, a very attended regularly by 2% or 14% of responding members. unscientific review confirms that CDS is blessed with a won­ While our TuesdayAmerican Dancecontinues with about the derfully loyal group of members who support its goals and same level ofattendance as in past years only three(!) respond­ participate in its activities. ing members said they attend regularly. (Mean attendance for Pinewoods events are the favorite offering for many people; the first ten dances in this season's new format is 31, exactly the a smaller number regularly attend weekly dance events. Special same as last year.) English RitualDanceis not languishing, but events are also particularly attractive. Several people asked for is now carried on almost entirely outside of CDS. more information on those even ts, so we'll make aspeciaJ effort These are signs of an organization in need of substantial to identifY them in the newsletter. revitalization if it intends to fulfill its mission to retain and For starters, remember our Holiday Party 011 January 4, spread the traditions ofEnglish Country and Ritual Dance and 1997 and the PlayfordBaOonMarch 8. Although there aren't American Folk Dance. I know many people have been many fifth Saturdays this year, CDS offerings at the Scout thinking and working on these things for a long time, but House on those dates have traditionally provided great New deeper change is needed. England dancing. Well, what can we change so that we attract and hold Whatever your personal preference in traditional dance and newcomers? Some ofthe same organizational dynamics affect music, we try to make it happen. Keep us know what's both main sub-groups, because in many ways they are the same most appealing to you. group-the same Board and supporters. Some things are -Jean Farrington, President, different because American dances have more sources ofins pi­ CDS-Boston Centre ration and competition, than the English. American dancers can learn from us and move on to more complex and New Date for Annual Meeting more varied dance venues. English dancers in the area are served almost entirely by CDS, although a new and vigorous Next year's annual meeting will take place on Wednes­ Gender-Free English series is developing in Jamaica Plain. day, March 26, 1997, before the regular English dance. We I have some thoughts about why these things are true, as I'm hope early notice and the change from the Sunday evening date sure many ofyou do. I plan to hold a meeting in late January will encourage you to attend. of everyone who would like to brainstorm about these prob­ lems and the alternatives for CDS in coming years, to make recommendations to the Board. If you are at all interested in a revitalization effort, please write me a note at 872 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA02139; [email protected]; or call and leave a message for me at 354-0864. I'll be away for a while, but will contact you when I return. -Ann Bunzel Cowan, Producer ofAmerican Special Events CDS Boston News Call for volunteers 1996 Holiday Dance Party Do you have some time to volunteer? Are you in terested. in When you're making your holiday party plans, don't forget furthering the cause oftraditional dance? Have you considered to reserve Saturday night, January 4, 1997 for the CDS Boston participating in a CDS-BC Committee? The Board appoints Centre Annual Holiday Party. Once again, a gala evening of members of CDS-BC to three of the organization's four English and American dancing is planned, with stellar music to standing committees: English Dance, New England Dance, be provided by Karen A,<elrod, Peter Barnes and A-fary Lea. and Endowment and Grants. Ifyou are interested in working dances will be led, with prompting, by Barbara Finney, with one of these committees, please contact the chair of the and the American portion ofthe program will be called by Dan committee or me. Pearl. In addition to the standing committees, the Board occasion­ Back by popular demand-there will be a sumptuous ally establishes special task forces or committees to work on dessert buffet served during the evening. Join us at the projects. Ifyou think you might have time to join such Concord Scout House, 74 \\.'alden Street in Concord, MA, an enterprise, please let me know. Thanks! 7 :30-11 :OOpm for a fabulous evening! Admission will cost -Jean Farrington, President, CDS-BC $10; festive attire is encouraged. For more information, call (603) 878-4332. NOTES OF THE BOARD 18 September 1996 prepare such a letter, and that more members should consider The Board appointed Jean Krogh as the new Chair of the taking advantage of their employers' offers. New England Dance Committee. It thanked the remaining Director Walter Locke reported his preliminary summary members, Ann Cowan and Art Anger, and asked them to of the survey forms returned with membership renewals. resign, to give Jean a clean slate in forming a new Committee. There were no real surprises, but the Board will try to discern It asked the Implementation Committee, which includes these the relative importances of various activities to the member­ three people, to serve an extra month while the dance commit­ ship. tee was being reconstituted. Lease negotiations had been delayed, but should be con­ The Tuesday Contras had moved to the Church of the cluded within amonth. Itwas decided to try to make a portion Good Shepherd near Watertown Square. The lease with the of the rental fees contingent upon the absence of COlllnJLctlil1g YWCA was being renewed for another five years, at a lower rate events, such as the drumming class. They will also stipulate per event, for Wednesday English dancing only, plus a few some maintenance of the floor. special events. (The Watertown Church then reduced its ] can Krogh reported that the new New Dance requested donation level to match the Y's!) Committee was taking over from the interim Implementation The Annual Meeting and Dance was set for the fourth Committee. The dancers were enjoying the new location and Wednesday in March, in place of an Party-Format lineup, but not in much greater numbers than previously. dance. Susan and Jack Janssen presented a full report on the Labor­ Director Dan Peisach, whose other activities had prevented Day Weekend, which showed a surplus of$1500. On Sunday his attendance for several months, had his seat declared vacant afternoon, they announced that the camp could not guarantee in accordance with the By-laws. The Nominating Committee that those who stayed through the possible hurricane on was asked to suggest a replacement. Monday would be able to get out on Tuesday, and about two­ After hearing reports ofthe Labor-Day Weekend's substan­ thirds of the campers left. Those who stayed adjusted their tially reduced activities due to the threat of a hurricane, the activity schedule to the reduced forces and the sub-hurricane Board thanked Co-Chairs Jack and Susan Janssen for their winds, and had a good time. In lieu ofmass refunds, the Board calm and inventive management of a whirlwind weekend. authorized funding a Hurricane Dance on 17 November, and giving the departed campers priority in acceptance for next 16 October 1995 year's event. Judy Francis and Debbie Gerstein were appointed The Treasurer reported that a member had applied for a as Co-Chairs for the coming year. matching donation from his/her employer, and asked him to The Board established a policy ofnormally resched uling for supply a statement supporting it. He noted that he would the following week any Board meeting cancelled due to an emergency. 2 CDS Boston News 1997 WINTER DANCE CALENDAR For the latest information on events in the Boston area, call the CDS office, 354-1340. A recorded announcement will bring you up to date. ll@f' Except where noted, all telephone numbers are in Area Code (617). CDS REGULAREVENTS CDS CONCORD SPECIALS First & Fifth Saturdays 8-11 PM, Concord Scout House, 74 Walden Street. First Saturdays Uanuary and March). Fifth Saturdays (December and March). Special guests. $6 regular; $5 CDS Members; $3 students and seniors. Contact CDS 354-1340. CDS CONTRAS AND SQUARES Tuesdays 7:30-10:30 PM, Church of the Good Shepherd, 30 Russell Avenue, Watertown. First Tuesdays: Cammy Kaynor and band. Second 'Tuesdays: Open Mike with Larry Jennings, with Open Danceband Society led by Rick Mohr and Bruce Rosen. Third Tuesdays: Chris Ricciotti and band. Fourth Tuesdays: Linda Leslie and band. Fifth Tuesdays: Special guests. $6 regular; $5 CDS Members; $3 students and seniors. Contact CDS 354-1340 or Jean Krogh 942-7541. ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE Wednesdays, 7:30-10:30 PM, Cambridge YWCA, 7 Temple Street. Leaders: Helene Cornelius, Emily Ferguson, Barbara Finney, George Fogg, Rich Jackson, Robin Rogers-Browne. Musicians: "Bare Necessities" (Peter Barnes, Earl Gaddis, Mary Lea, Jacqueline Schwab) and others. "Party-format" dance on last Wednesday ofeach month. $(l $5 CDS Members; $3 students with current ID. Contact CDS 354-1340 or Arthur Ferguson (508) 875-0382. FIRST FRIDAYS, ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE FOR EXPERIENCED DANCERS First 8: 15-11 pm, Church of Our Saviour, Carleton & Monmouth Streets, Brookline.