Contra Dance Videos More videos are offered below (click on the YouTube Logo
to pop them up in a new larger window or just watch them here).
Looking for DANCINGwithWolves
the ballroom dance
organization at State? CLICK
HERE
LOCATION
All Dances will be held at The Ballroom inthe
Talley Student Center
Parking information:
From 440,
take Exit 3 for
Hillsborough St. E.
turn right onto
Dan Allen Dr.,
turn left onto
Cates Ave.,
turn left at stop light onto
Cates Ave.,
turn left onto Jensen Dr.
(after passing the parking deck on left),
turn left into parking deck.
Parking for the dance is free.
To get to the dance:
Walk down Cates Ave., back the way you came. The Talley Student Center
is on the right just after Reynolds Coliseum. The ballroom is on the
second floor.
Arrive by 6:20!
If these videos look like fun, being there in person is so much more
fun! Mark your calendar and make plans to be at the next NCSU dance!
There is always room for you, but come along early, just in case.
These videos should give you an idea of what to expect at our dances.
Notice that people dress in a variety of ways: some women prefer
dresses and skirts and others are comfortable in shorts and slacks, and
men will wear comfortable casual clothes and sportswear from tee shirts
to polos, shorts to khakis, etc. Some will dance barefoot, wear socks,
sandals, tennis shoes, dress shoes,or dance shoes/slippers --whatever
makes you and your feet happy and won't scuff or damage the wood floor.
Dancers can work up a sweat sometimes, so quite a few of the
experienced dancers will bring along extra clothes and change between
dances. One thoughtful sweaty guy at the weekend dance events makes it
a point to change shirts after every dance!
If you watch these few video clips you can observe many of the moves
that are made in contra dances, and you can see the progression couples
make within the dance--couples moving up and down the lines and dancing
with new couples every 64 beats. It looks like it is moving fast but in
fact, contra dance is usually done in a moderate walking pace that
repeats and has a grace and peaceful flow and rhythm.
All of these dances are really very easy to do! Contra dances
are all "called" dances and therefore dancers are constantly reminded
of the steps and moves (one doesn't have to rely on memory). What you
can see in these videos is not choreographed precision as if it some
kind of performance, rather it is friendly, happy, live experience of
people interacting with all of the other dancers. You need to try it to
understand contra dance. These videos are cool but can't possibly
convey what this is all about.
A special thanks to Sandi Miles and friends for making and posting
these videos so we can reflect them here. We look forward to adding
photos and videos of all our dances.
A
Note from the Club President
We would love to have many more people volunteer to help out with the
club! We're always looking for people to work the ticket tables at the
dances as well as people to help with the leg-work of advertising and
assist with booking. Those students and friends who have an interest in
the State dances and would like to assist in the 2010-2011 school year
should pass their contact information along to us soon. Please let us
know if you'd like to help the
contra club
in any way!
As always, I'd like to encourage you to invite everyone you know and
think would have a good time dancing --to come to one of our dances.
We planned NINE great contra dances with Wolves this 2009/2010 year
and we have just 2 left coming up in the spring term! What a great year!
I hope to see you all out there on the dance floor!
Much thanks is due to TCDancers for all their help in making our dances
at State a reality and a success!
TCDancers hosts great dances at The Century Center in downtown Carrboro
and at the Pleasant Green Commmunity Center in northwest Durham.
TCDancers has worked for decades to provide quality dances with some of
the best callers and musicians available anywhere. This community of
dancers is one of the best contra dance organizations in the country
and now they are helping expand the dances into Raleigh. We are
delighted and so thankful for the gracious support of TCDancers and all
the members and associated dancers who love contra and want to share
the joy of dance and dancing.
You may meet someone special at the NC State University dances, or just
be glad you met and danced with so many great people.
See you on the dance floor!
SPREAD THE WORD! Share the Joy!
TELL FRIENDS at
OTHERS SCHOOLS ABOUT CONTRA
here are some other GREAT dances you can find throughout North Carolina
Every NC Dance a very comprehensive list
by date and place
The NEXT
STATE CONTRA DANCE is Saturday,
MARCH 27, 2010
CALLER: Jack Mitchell
BAND: Big Medicine
Joe Newberry, Jim Collier, and Bob Head
LESSON at 6:30 DANCE
at 7 PM
only $5 for Students
and just $7 all others
What a Deal!
Please don't
miss the lesson if you are just starting! You will have much more fun if you
attend the free
and easy lesson at 6:30
(actually get there early --6:20 to be safe)
Get Ready, and Tell a Friend!
Newcomers -Don't miss
the lesson! We need EXPERIENCED
DANCERS to come to the lessons too! It's like getting an extra half
hour of
dancing!
Here's the LAST CHANCE until the Fall Semester --mark those calendars, Androids, iPhones, etc., etc.!
DATE: Saturday, Mar 27
CALLER: Jack Mitchell
BAND: Big Medicine
Joe Newberry, Jim Collier, and Bob Head
What is Contra Dance?
Contra dancing is a type of folk dance similar to, but in fact older
than square dancing. In Contra Dance, couples interact with other pairs
in long lines of couples and end up eventually dancing a turn with
almost everyone in the line.
An experienced person "calls the dance", instructing dancers with a
practice dry run or "walk through", and then continuously calling
throughout the dance along with the music. The caller keeps the beat
and drives the dance, reminding dancers of the moves they practiced in
the "walk through". A particular dance might last ten minutes or so,
and the practiced moves are repeated every 64 beats, so dancers do the
same set of moves repeatedly. Perhaps dancers will get to repeat the
moves a dozen times or more with other couples up and down the line.
Contra Dance is very easy for beginners as one is taught essentially
everything one needs to know for each dance. The caller prompts you
throughout the actual dance, and you are always with a group of four
people --so someone is bound to be able to help keep your group
straight! Everyone gets mixed up sometime or another, but it is no big
deal, and can be part of the fun.
There's usually a large and friendly crowd, so it's easy to find a
partner if you fly solo. Couples are encouraged to dance with others
--it's just a dance! The point is to have fun!
Here's a tip --don't wait to be asked to dance. It is even OK to ask
someone for a future dance --just remember you made that date! Best not
to get too far ahead of yourself.
