Incorporated on September 14, 1990, the Houston Area Traditional Dance Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to organizing and promoting contra and English country dance in the Houston, Texas metroplex.
HATDS sponsors regular contra and English country dances throughout the year, a dance weekend in February that features nationally-acclaimed talent, and occasionally other special events. All dances are open to the public and are family-friendly, smoke-free, and alcohol-free.
HATDS sponsors a community band that allows anyone who plays an instrument to learn how to play for contra dances. See the Contra Dan's band page for details.
HATDS sponsors workshops and practice sessions for current and new callers.
HATDS is a community of dancers, dance organizers, callers, and musicians. When you come to a dance, you are welcomed into that community. We charge an admission price so that we can pay the hall rent and give a token amount to the musicians and callers who make our dances possible; otherwise the dances would be free.
As with other contra dance groups, HATDS is an organization of volunteers. There are many jobs, both large and small, that need to be done in order for HATDS to function, and we can always use a few more helping hands. If you've enjoyed dancing with us, please consider helping out however you can. See our Volunteer page, talk to a board member at a dance, or email board@hatds.org.
HATDS is a membership organization. Members receive a discount at regular contra dances and at Bayou Bedlam. Members also have voting privileges and may serve on our board of directors. See our membership page for details.
Finally, HATDS is an affiliate member of the Country Dance and Song Society and Texas International Folk Dancers, two organizations with similar missions but with a wider scope.
In accordance with state law, HATDS holds an annual meeting of the membership where short state of the organization reports are given and a new board of directors is introduced, or in some years, elected. The annual meeting usually occurs in May.
