Contra Dance!

Contra Dancing is a dance for people of all ages. The youngest person I have seen was a lump on her mom, and is then scampering around, playing and drawing at the dance. She probably joined us at age 5 or maybe 7 and she could dance with us until 85! It is a community dance, with nobody smoking, nobody drinking (you would fall over), lots of exercise, great music and everybody having a good time.

• What it is Contra dancing is well described at that web site. There is a lot to explain, but briefly here goes. You can ask anybody to dance. They usually are of opposite sex, but this is not required. When you find someone who agrees to dance with you, take hands: ♀H♂ this is a signal that you are partners. (Beginners will be excused for trying to shake hands the first time!) The person on the left is the 'Lark' (originally male, ♂). The person on the right is the 'Robin' (originally female ♀) Partners join a line with Lark on the left, Robin on the right facing the always live band.

       ♀ ♀  ♀ ♀  ♀ ♀  ♀ ♀
  band
       ♂ ♂  ♂ ♂  ♂ ♂  ♂ ♂
  

  The caller will say "Hands four" meaning that the first four people should hold hands, then the next four, and so on, all the way down the line. This organizes the line.

       ♀H♀  ♀H♀  ♀H♀  ♀H♀
  band H H  H H  H H  H H
       ♂H♂  ♂H♂  ♂H♂  ♂H♂
  

  Within a set of 4, the two people closer to the band are 'active' or 'Ones'; the other two are 'inactive' or "Twos".

  In many dances the "Ones" switch places, making the dance "improper" (originally because men were alternating with ladies).

  The caller then steps everybody through the dance; then the dance begins.

  IT IS LOTS OF FUN! Amusingly, one dances with everybody in the entire line! That's because Ones will progress away from the band and Twos progress toward the band. At the ends you turn around and come back in.

  You only need to be able to walk, so if you can do that, then yes, you can join us. Even a blind lady dances with us, and she does quite well.

  JUST RELAX! Everybody is thinking about their own dancing, not yours! People who have been around a while will know in 2 seconds that you are a beginner, and our goal is to help you.

• What it is - the short answer¹
• Contra Dance: Linking the Generations By Barbara J. Tuttle December 7, 2023

¹ notes about how I recovered this page from the void.

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Example contra dances at YouTube:

• Crowfoot in Tacoma
• search for 'contra dance'

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Where to find Contra Dances

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Contra Dances in the Washington DC/Baltimore area

• A good list: www.contradancers.com
• Glen Echo Park, Maryland (next to the Potomac, just inside the beltway of Washington DC)
  On the google map, the arrow points exactly to the entrance. Go down Oxford Rd, STOP AT THE STOP SIGN (! the police are watching!), go nearly to the end, turn left and you will see the large parking lot.
  • Friday Night Dances at Glen Echo 7:30 PM lessons, 8:30 PM dance (Note: they give directions and maps.)
  • Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, the beautiful building where the dance is held
  • Glen Echo Park Has been Saved!
• Baltimore Contra Dances
  • Wednesday Night Square & Contra Dances
  • Second Saturday Square & Contra Dance

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Come join us!

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