The Chattanooga Traditional Dance Society is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization whose sole purpose is to hold contra dances. Since 1997 CTDS has frequently held dances that are open to the public. CTDS is an associate branch of the Country Dance and Song Society and an affiliate member of Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga.

We invite all dancers to attend the meetings held by the dance committee. At 6:00 PM on the first Thursday of every month these meetings are held at Green Life Grocery on Manufacturers Road on the north shore.

The idea of contra dancing generally doesn't include formal lessons. The ones who don't know how to dance usually learn by dancing with others who have been dancing for a while. In order to promote this process, we encourage novices and dancers with some experience to come at 7:30 p.m. We request a few dancers who have been dancing regularly, come a little early and share their experience with people who are attending for the first time. This also presents us all with a chance to warm up by moving around before we begin dancing at 8:00 p.m.