Contra Dance
Contra dance, a two hundred year-old American tradition, is perhaps the most accessible form of dance for new dancers. People of all ages enjoy it. Wikipedia and other sources on the internet describe the contra dance form, but each dancer must try it to discover its unique joys. It is sometimes called barn dancing, or American dance and is related to square dancing, English country, Irish set, Scottish and other forms. In the US, you might have done something like it in fifth grade gym class if you did the Virginia Reel.
It can be enjoyed by singles,
couples, and families. It is almost always danced to live fiddle music,
accompanied by other, usually stringed, instruments. The style of music
can be a so-called New England sound, Irish or other Celtic tunes, or
Appalachian fiddle tunes. Most evening dances cost about the same as a
movie ticket. Newcomers are always welcomed but new dancers are encourages to attend a breif lesson, often given a half hour or so before the dancing begins. Some communities offer so-called challenge contra dance evenings for which at least a few evenings of contra dance experience is highly recommended.
Although it is a type of folk dancing, most of the footwork in contra dance is a simple walking step. Most of the moves you will need to know ahead of time can be taught in a half-hour lesson before a dance evening.
Dancers choose a partner for a given dance that lasts about seven or eight minutes. Each dance is briefly taught before the music begins and is called as long as the dancers need it to be. Typically, couples begin the dance in lines of men and women up and down the dance hall, joining hands in groups of four. One couple faces (and travels) up the hall toward the band, dancing with each couple they meet one time through the tune. The other couple progresses down the hall, away from the band.
As couples meet each other up or down the contra dance line, they form figures with one another such as circle left or right-hand star, hey-for-four or right-and-left-through. Or, instead of interacting as a foursome, you might do a do-si-do, an allemande (hand turn), or a neighbor swing with the one you meet. All the dance moves are typically rehearsed in sequence in a brief walk-thru before each dance.
Because
of the amount of interaction with other dancers in each dance, you
quickly get to know them. Most dancers change partners for each dance.
Experienced dancers of either gender may choose to dance the opposite
gender role, becoming leads or follows as they wish.
An Evening of Dance
An evening of contra dance is typically three or sometimes four hours, including a break for snacks to refuel the dancers and musicians. The dance style is smooth and flowing (not bouncy) but can be dizzyingly energetic. An evening program will often include a waltz or two, and perhaps a square dance, a circle mixer or another configuration. Because the music is live, the caller and the band can heighten or respond to the mood and energy level of the dance hall as appropriate.
Dance and Music Camps
Dance camps or festivals may last a
week or just a weekend and typically have more than one band and two or
more dance instructors or callers. These are often held at facilities
where cabins are available and meals are served. A program may be
provided for musicians to lean new tunes, jam together, or improve
their technique.
At
urban dance camps, local dancers may
offer housing for out of town campers or provide them a list of local
hotels. Such camps can be cheaper and more convenient, and dancers can
eat at restaurants or at their homes.
What to Wear
You'll
get warm fast even on a cool evening, so wear comfortable lightweight
clothes that breathe. You might bring extra tops to stay dry.
Clean, leather-soled dance shoes are recommended, but some dance halls allow street shoes if they are non-marking. Shoes should be smooth-soled so you can spin on the ball of your foot without twisting your knee, although some dancers seem to do fine even with floor-gripping sneakers.
After you've tried your first dance, you may find that you wish to purchase some low (or no) heeled shoes such as leather-soled Capezio or Bleyer shoes that are designed for dancing. These come in men's and women's styles and sizes and can be found online at Zappos.com for example. Modified sneakers can provide a maximum amount of cushioning to the soles of your feet. For a fee, local shoe repair stores will grind down the tread on sneakers and glue leather, or "dance leather" which is softer and not as "fast" to the sneakers soles (and heels if you wish).
Dance shoes are sometimes bought a half size smaller than street shoes so that they are not too loose. One of the main advantages of leather-soled dance shoes is that they allow you to spin freely on the ball of your foot with minimal friction. Also dance shoe heels do not mark the floor, and some are designed to cushion the feet from a dance floor that does not provide enough give.
Dance Halls
An ideal hall for a contra dance has a wood floor on joists (not wood over concrete) that is level and not too fast or too slow. A so-called "fast" dance floor is too slippery. Gymnasium floors that are great for changing direction quickly in basketball can grip a dancer's shoes too much and are labeled slow. In some cases a carpeted floor over wood can work, but is not ideal. Legs and feet tire quickly on ceramic tile, concrete, or linoleum over concrete.
The best dance floors are called sprung floors which act as shock absorbers, reducing stress on the knee and other joints. A local church, a private home with a wood floor, or grange hall may provide a good setting for your event.
A stage for the band and caller is a good idea because it allows the band and caller to see the dancers better, and vice versa, but is not absolutely necessary. Acoustic qualities of the hall are important. For example, walls such as concrete block that reflect sound back into the room can be troublesome.