Contra dancing is a type of folk dance similar
to, but in fact older than, square dancing. In
Contra Dance couples (meaning just two
people) interact with other pairs of couples in
long lines of couples, and end up eventually
dancing a turn with almost everyone in the
line. You’ll have a “partner”, and you both are
dancing with “neighbors”.
An experienced person "calls the dance",
instructing dancers with a practice dry run or
"walk through", and then continuously calling,
or prompting, throughout the dance along with
the music. The music is generally live, with
great local bands, nationally known groups and
musicians, and sometimes even pick-up bands.
Techno Contra is offered occasionally and we
have a link below to a DJ style contra dance
experience that is frequently offered at State.
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, with new
neighbors every 64 beats. Perhaps dancers will
get to repeat moves for that particular dance 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 fairly easy for beginners as
everyone is taught essentially everything one
needs to know for each dance. The lesson is
important and covers most of the basics, keep
coming to lessons, -you’ll learn new things and
help the new dancers. Throughout the night
the caller will add detail or instructions if a
particular dance demands it. Between dances
one can refine and clarify by asking
experienced dancers to demonstrate something
like steps or moves. During the evening, the
caller prompts dancers 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. Those
who come as 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!
Dances are becoming more and more gender
neutral, meaning,… traditional gender roles are
not maintained and anyone can dance in any
position. This is a generous and inclusive step
forward and it’s lots of fun to dance in a place
that used to be declared as a more specific
gender role (as men/women, ladies/gents,
etc.). You may choose to lead or follow (even
those terms are passing away), your comfort
level is important, as long as it’s not
challenging to others. It used to be that folk
sat out often, whenever the gender numbers
weren’t matching, but dancing freely in any
position makes for more people dancing every
dance, and that informs us all in many
wonderful ways.
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.
Contra dancing can become sort of a “tribe”, as
some dancers express it. Your local dance
group or club becomes a safe and fun support
group. Contra is available in most cities, so
when visiting and dropping in to a dance
somewhere you’ll probably find yourself
accepted and included, and making new
friends. After establishing yourself you might
plan on attending a weekend dance event.
These weekend offerings are a “baptism of
fire”, where you’ll possibly dance for 12 or
more hours over the weekend!
So,…
What Exactly IS
Contra Dance?