Sacramento Country Dance Society
MISSION:
The Sacramento Country Dance Society is a nonprofit educational organization that is dedicated to the preservation, study, teaching, enjoyment, and continuing evolution of traditional and historical dance, music, and song, primarily American and English.
HISTORY/INFORMATION:
The Sacramento Country Dance Society (SCDS) was founded in 1986 by individuals who enjoy dancing to live music that builds a strong sense of community. The contra dance tradition dates to the American Revolution, while English country dancing goes back to an even older tradition of the English countryside of the 1600s and 1700s. SCDS encourages intergenerational participation by providing discounts to students and family groups.
From our beginning with a single contra dance a month, the SCDS now supports hundreds of participants at four dances each month: two contra dances held at the Coloma Community Center and two English country dances held in Roseville at the Polish American Community Hall and in Sacramento at Camp Pollock. In addition, SCDS sponsors an annual contra dance weekend at Camp Sacramento in the Sierras. Extra dances are scheduled for special occasions, such as New Year's Eve, the organization's anniversary, and outreach events. We also offer workshops that build dance caller, or musician skills in the community. These events provide multiple opportunities for local, regional, and nationally known musicians to perform for appreciative dancers.
SCDS is a member of the Country Dance and Song Society, Inc., a national organization that researches and promotes traditional dance and song in more than 250 cities and towns in the USA and Canada. Visitors to our area find our group via their directory, so we often entertain dancers who are visiting Sacramento and looking for a contra or English dance.
Dancers from 8 to 80 years of age can participate, and newcomers are welcomed at every dance. A half-hour beginner's lesson is held before each dance, and new dancers are then further assisted by experienced dancers in the community. Our volunteer board members donate many hours to organizing dances, as well as hosting and transporting guest callers and musicians. Several dozen more volunteers assist with hosting and sound engineering at the dances.