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About HATDS
Incorporated in 1990, the Houston Area Traditional Dance Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to organizing and promoting contra dance and other forms of traditional American dance in the Houston, Texas metroplex.
HATDS sponsors regular contra dances throughout the year and a dance weekend in February that features nationally-acclaimed talent (Bayou Bedlam). All dances are open to the public.
Unlike a bar or a nightclub where you can pay a cover charge and expect to be entertained, and the club owner expects to make a profit, HATDS is a volunteer-run 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.
HATDS also supports the English Country dances in the Houston area.
As with most if not all contra dance groups, HATDS is a 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. Talk to a board member at a dance or email board@hatds.org.
HATDS is a membership organization. Members receive a discount at regular dances and at Bayou Bedlam. Members also receive our newsletter, have voting privileges, and may serve on our board of directors. Go to the membership page to read more about joining HATDS.
Because HATDS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, any donations given to HATDS above the cost of membership dues and dance admission may be tax-deductible. We are glad to give you a receipt for tax purposes for your donation.
Administration
HATDS is led by an all-volunteer, five-member Board of Directors. Directors are elected by the members, usually in May, and serve for a one year term.
The Bayou Bedlam Committee is a non-elected (anyone can join!) group that organizes the Bayou Bedlam weekend.
In addition to the BoD and the BB Comm, there are several major volunteer positions and offices:
Current Officers
| President | Tom Huggett* |
| VP Promotions | Steven Orlikowski* |
| Secretary | Dorcas Hand* |
| Treasurer | Marcy Holmes* |
| VP Membership | Michele Russell* |
| Booking Agent | Olga Watkins |
| Bayou Bedlam Coordinator | Keith Holmes |
| Newsletter Editor | Susan Taylor |
| Web site | Keith Holmes |
*Member of the Board of Directors.
Bylaws
The HATDS Bylaws are online here.
A Short History
Contra dancing was first brought to Houston in the 1970s by Dorcas Hand and Barry Cooper. Dances were held in whatever space they could find, including driveways!
The dance series that eventually became HATDS was started by Mike Head in 1986 at the Heights Woman's Club building. Barry Cooper's band, Resurrection Avenue String Band, played for the early dances and Mike Head, Keith Holmes, and Liz Benjamin shared the calling duties. It wasn't long before the series outgrew the small Woman's Club building and moved to a larger venue. About that time Mike turned over the many producer's chores to a group of eager volunteers. That group, known simply as "The Committee", eventually decided that incorporation and non-profit status had some real advantages, and began the process that led to the founding of HATDS.