about
Contra Dancing
What It Is:
Contra dancing is a non-competitive social dance with traditional folk roots. The First Saturday Contra features gender-free terms (Larks and Ravens or Robins).
How It Works:
There is a lesson for new dancers at the beginning of almost every event. Contra dance is performed in lines of couples with each couple facing another couple (their “neighbors”). They do a series of moves with their neighbors (choreography!) then move on to the next couple in line (new neighbors), do the same moves with them, then onto the next couple, and so on down the line. When they run out of couples they turn around and dance with couples up the line.
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The Caller:
The caller is the person on stage directing the dance. First they teach the choreography and any tips and tricks to make the dance extra-fun. Then they cue up the band and become like a GPS, telling the dancers what to do and when. As the dancers become comfortable with the choreography the caller will fade out until it’s just the dancers and the music.
The Music:
Most of the time there’ll be a live band playing anything from Irish to Scottish to traditional music to a swinging rock. The First Saturday Contra will also feature Rushfest, a pop music contra dance.