Looking for DANCINGwithWolves the ballroom dance organization at State? CLICK HERE
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).
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! The lesson is fun and it helps if everyone learns some of the basic moves.
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. Small heels are not good on the 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! His dry cleaner loves Contra 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 is some kind of performance, rather it is friendly, happy, lively experience of people interacting with all of the other dancers. You need to try it to really 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.
had a fun article about Contra Dance on July 2nd! Entitled Youth Flock To Contra Dancing
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 throughout the year at The Century Center in downtown Carrboro (near UNC campus) and at Murphey School 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 most amazing and friendly contra dance organizations in the country, and they helped expand the dances into Raleigh with two years of CDWW dances. We are delighted and thankful for the gracious support of TCDancers and all the members and associated dancers who love contra and want to share the joy of 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 OTHER SCHOOLS ABOUT CONTRA here are some GREAT dances you can find throughout North Carolina and beyond Every NC Dance a very comprehensive list by date and place
Mark your calendars and call your friends! ALL SATURDAY DANCES beginner's lesson at 6:30 dancing from 7-10
January 21 Floorplay with Joy Greenwolfe calling
February 11 Donnybrook Lads with George Segebade calling
March 24 The Goat Skinners with Kristin Seibert calling
April 21 Ted Ehrhard and Julie Gorka with Bree Kalb calling
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. When that dance is over, you thank your partner, invite someone else to dance, and quickly line up ready for a new dance.
Contra Dance is very easy for beginners as one is taught essentially everything one needs to know for each dance. The lesson is important and covers the basics and throughout the night the caller will add details if the particular dance demands it. Between dances one can refine and clarify by asking experienced dancers to demonstrate steps and moves. During the evening, 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 while you'll always want to try and improve and avoid gumming things up, a mistake 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 split up for some dances and dance with other people --it's just a dance! The point is to have fun and see that everyone else is having fun, too!
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.
