Friday, September 4, 2009

What is Contra Dancing?

People of all ages and lifestyles are welcome.   A dancer and his or her partner dance a series of figures, or moves, with each other and with another couple for a short time. They then repeat the same figures with another couple, and so on.
A caller, working with a group of live musicians, guides new and experienced dancers alike through a variety of dances. The caller teaches each dance before it is actually done to the music. This gives everyone an idea of what to expect so the movements can be easily executed.
The figures are similar to those of old-time square dancing. The figures are combined in different ways for each different dance.  After teaching a dance, the caller continues to call the figures while the music plays and the dancers dance, until the dancers appear to have mastered the figures.

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