Modern Contra Dancing for Beginners

An Essay by Rob Conboy

Modern contra dance is a casual “join the fun” folk dance that brings people together from all generations and levels of experience. The only thing you need to get started is a dance to attend. Many come alone, so you don’t need to bring a partner. Aside from an intro offered before some dances, there are no lessons. Contra dancing is often compared to square dancing, as both are led by a caller who prompts the different parts of the dance. It may more closely resemble its cousin, English Country Dance, much like that depicted in Jane Austen stories. However, contra dancing is easier to learn and generally more vigorous.

The only dress requirement is your shoes. Soles must be clean and non-marking. Any embedded grit will damage the dance floor. Comfort is more important than style of dress or footwear and high heels are not recommended. Contra dancing is light to moderate exercise. Comfortable loose-fitting clothing is best even on a winter night. A light summer dress may help keep you cool. Shorts are good in the warmer months and short sleeves are appropriate all year.

The dance will be led by our friend Lisa, who is an internationally renowned dance caller. She will select the first few dances specifically for getting beginners started. It is advisable to dance these instead of watching, otherwise the learning curve will be much steeper. A key to success is to first partner with someone who has some experience. Experienced dancers know this and will often seek to partner for a dance with someone who’s new. This has no romantic connotation. Beginner couples will have much more fun dancing together once they get the hang of it.

Each dance is a short sequence of simple dance figures done by two couples together. Some of the figures are the same ones from elementary school square dancing. Partners repeat the sequence over and over with a new couple each time. Each repetition goes quickly, so if you don't get it this time, you get to try again with the next couple. Most people discover that it's loads of fun. It sweeps you into a whirling kaleidoscope of music and motion. Eye contact helps quell any dizziness that may arise. Your partner probably sought you out specifically to help make your first experience enjoyable. You may find some of the best dancers to be the most welcoming, because it’s rewarding to witness and assist in another’s discovering the joy of the dance. It is like a tapestry that everyone weaves together, generating a "collective effervescence" that lowers social barriers. Having fun always matters more than getting it right. It gets more and more fun as you get better, and that's only the beginning. Figures and transitions settle into muscle memory as you gain comfort and confidence. After enough practice, many discover an enchanting sense of “flow” and become mesmerized by the series of human connections and patterned movements set to music.

How Contra Dances Work

Before each dance, first, we find a partner. Partners may dance together as much as they wish, but it's traditional to find a new partner between dances. Romantic couples often reserve a few dances together. Making or accepting a partner request is not expected to imply romantic interest. In fact, partnering up can be rushed and somewhat random. You’ll have better luck asking someone instead of waiting to be asked. Sitters might be assumed to be taking a break. You can decline anyone's partnering request without obligation to explain. Explaining consumes time they need to find a partner. Women ask men about as often as men ask women. It’s also common for a dancer to request or accept a dance with another of the same gender.

Next, partners get in line, making two columns, starting by the stage leading to the back of the hall. This makes a contra dance "set". The people closest to you will help you get oriented. This getting oriented is a procedure we call "Hands-4" and we do it every time we line up. It is best described as everyone cooperating to help each other determine which way alternating couples will face. The process finishes with partners standing side by side, and face to face with another couple. This other couple are your neighbors, and you are their neighbors. There will be more foursomes up and down the set.

After Hands-4, the caller spends several minutes teaching the dance while having everyone walk through it. If the dance includes figures that have not yet been introduced, then teaching may include how to do them, and the caller may ask experienced dancers to demonstrate. Each dance is a short choreographed sequence of figures that repeats in a progressive pattern. There are thousands of different dances. Therefore, most are taught, danced, and then forgotten.

When the music starts, partners begin dancing with their neighbors as a foursome. The caller prompts each figure as it comes up. In about 30 seconds, the last figure of the sequence brings partners forward to new neighbors. The sequence smoothly repeats with these new neighbors, and then again with the next, and so on. This progressive pattern makes it so every 30 seconds or so, partners dance with a new couple.

Partners and neighbors progress in opposite directions for each iteration of the sequence. Partners eventually progress to either end of the set, and there will be no new neighbors. Therefore, partners briefly exit the dance. This is called “going out". You have a choice here. Most common is to rejoin the dance to progress in the opposite direction like your previous neighbors, or, if you've had enough, you may quit instead. Quitting while "out at the end" is the only time when it doesn’t disrupt the progressive pattern.

After some number of repetitions, the dancers usually know the sequence well enough for the caller to stop prompting and tend to other aspects of the dance. Callers usually also prompt the last iteration before the end. This is normally after every couple has danced with every other couple once or twice depending on how many couples are in the set. Dances usually run about twelve minutes, plus the walkthrough.

We dance to live music, usually old-time folk instrumentals played on acoustic instruments. The music is invigorating and energetic, and often has British Isles or Appalachian roots. Most of the musicians are extraordinarily talented, and many have classical training. The live music is an integral part of the experience. Many discover it when they're introduced to contra dancing, and then get hooked. Contra dance music has a defined structure which is beyond the scope of this essay, but the musical phrases are 8 beats long. Dance choreography aligns the figures to these phrases, and it flows in a fun and natural way. When figures are walked taking one step per beat, you'll finish each figure in the right place at the right time to begin the next figure. Most figures take 4, 8, or 16 beats to complete. Contra dance sequences are 64 beats long and repeat indefinitely.

We sincerely hope that those of you who have not danced before enjoy this part of our wedding celebration. At the very least, you will better know what we are talking about when we talk endlessly about dancing. At the best, you might pick up a new hobby!

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