CDSS 2026 Membership Drive

The Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) is a 100+ year old non-profit network of over 3,000 members and 260 affiliates across 56 states and provinces and 11 countries. NTTDS, as well as the dance groups in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Oklahoma City are all affiliates of CDSS.

Its mission is to "connect and support people in building and sustaining vibrant communities through participatory dance, music, and song".

Notice that the WHAT of the mission is building and sustaining community.
Dance, music, and song is just the HOW.

In today's divided political environment, we need all the community building we can find. Although the Texas and Oklahoma dance groups are separated by hundreds of miles, it feels like one big dance community to me, and I love that.

When we walk into a dance, the outside world dissolves away, and we come together for the enjoyment of the music, dance, and each other. It is all about fun and enjoyment.

CDSS helps spread that fun and enjoyment across the globe by sponsoring music and dance camps, providing grants for local projects, holding online programs, and it has a fabulous web site with a lot of resources, most of which are free.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Besides the good feeling of supporting music and dance across the world, there are tangible benefits of membership:

• Subscription to the CDSS News magazine

• 10% discount in the CDSS Store

• Access to free digital publications, including "Dances for a Crowded Hall" and Bruce Hamilton's "Notes on Teaching Country Dance"

• Discounts on ads placed in the CDSS News

• Inclusion in and access to the CDSS Member Directory

• Affordable caller's insurance

• Preference when applying for CDSS Community Grants

• Free or discounted admission to some CDSS programs

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

CDSS is having a special membership drive in 2026.

All NEW members and all CURRENT members who INCREASE their membership by $25/year or $2/month (or more), will receive two more special benefits:

• The CDSS 2026 membership drive compilation album (a digital download from Bandcamp featuring a broad sampling of music from the many traditions we steward)

• A $10 coupon for the new CDSS merch store

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

Individual:

• $60/year or $5/month

• Limited income option: $25/year or $2/month

• Contributing option: $61+/year or $6+/month

Household (for everyone living at your address):

• $90/year or $8/month

• Limited income option: $35/year or $3/month

• Contributing option: $91+/year or $9+/month

NEW MEMBERS

The easiest way to join is to use the online membership form. (This requires creating a free online account.)

Start at https://cdss.org/support-our-work/become-a-member-renew/
and use the buttons to Join Now! for either the Individual or Household level.

There is a field labeled "I was encouraged to join by".
Select "Current CDSS Board Member", and then "Glenn Manuel".

There is another field labeled "Do you consider yourself part of a local group that is a CDSS Affiliate".
Click the "Yes" button.
Then click the box "I don't see the Affiliate I want listed"
and fill in the "Organization Name", "Organization City", and "Organization State"
with "North Texas Traditional Dance Society", "Dallas", and "Texas".
If you are associated with a different CDSS affiliate group, you can fill in their information.

Or mail a check by downloading a paper form here:
https://commons.cdss.org/s/memberships

Using the paper form, include both "Glenn Manuel" and "North Texas Traditional Dance Society" (or your local CDSS affiliate group) in the "I was encouraged to join by" field.

CURRENT MEMBERS

If you are a current member and want to increase your contribution, go to
https://cdss.org/support-our-work/become-a-member-renew/
and use the contact info at the bottom for the membership coordinator Audrey Jaber to send her a message that you want to increase your membership level.
Please indicate you were Encouraged by Glenn Manuel and North Texas Traditional Dance Society (or your local CDSS affiliate group).

Thanks so much for supporting our worldwide dance community