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What is Contra Dancing?

Contra dancing developed from the English Country Dancing that was brought to the American colonies by 18th century settlers. Contra dance is similar to square dancing, but is done in long lines of couples (like the Virginia Reel) rather than in squares. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were avid contra dancers.

Contra is danced to music played by live bands - bands may include fiddles, flute, guitar, piano, and bass or other instruments. Traditional jigs, reels, and hornpipes from the Scots-Irish tradition of New England, Quebec, and Appalachia form the basic repetoire.

A Caller leads a “walk through” before the music starts and then prompts the dancers while the music is playing. In a contra dance, parallel lines of dancers stand opposite their partners. A dancer and his/her partner form a couple. Over the course of the dance, in response to the Caller's instructions, each couple interacts with the couple next to them to form a four person "set" and each set interacts with the sets on either side of them. Over the course of a dance each couple moves up and down the hall, interacting with every other couple in their multi-set line.

There is no fancy footwork involved in Contra Dancing, but the instructions given by the Caller do form a series of repeating figures that dancers memorize over the course of a dance. As this happens, the Caller provides fewer and fewer prompts until s/he drops out entirely; leaving you, your partner, and the others in your line to finish the dance, accompanied only by the music provided by the band.

New At This?

Beginners are always welcome! You are in good company -- we were ALL new to Contra at one time. Neither prior experience nor bringing a partner to the dance with you is expected. Dancers usually find new partners for each dance, so you can dance whether you came alone or as a couple.

New dancer orientation starts at 6:30 pm on the night of the dance and typically lasts about 20 minutes. Orientation includes a teaching session for the basic figures and courtesies.

New Dancer Tips

Experience has taught us all that new dancers get the hang of things much more quickly if they dance with experienced dancers instead of other beginners. So if you came with another new dancer, don't be shy, grab a new experienced partner at the beginning of each dance.