Contra Dancing – What to know before you go
Some helpful hints and tips for the first time contra dancer
We hope that this will answer most questions that you may have as a first time dancer. If you find that your question is not answered here, please feel free to contact us through the Contact Us page at www.bartlesvillebarndance.com.
This is a non-smoking, alcohol-free event. Older children are welcome to participate but no unaccompanied minors please. Apologies – we are not able to provide child care. We are not able to accept checks or credit cards at this time.
Please come early in the evening as we begin with comfortable dances for newcomers. No partner necessary. Please be sure to dance with newcomers as well as your friends. Look for folks sitting out on the sides who haven't had a chance to dance. They'll be happy you did! Less experienced dancers are encouraged to ask those whom you perceive to be more experienced to dance with you. It is the custom to change partners for each dance, and women ask men to dance as often as men ask women. You will learn faster, and have more fun if you dance with more experienced dancers.
The dance floor is our friend! Please help us protect the dance floor by wearing non-marking, soft-soled shoes! No cowboy boots, please!
Contra dancing can be quite aerobic and, especially during the hot weather, some dancers work up a good sweat. Plan to wear comfortable clothes and flat or low shoes with non-marking soles. No "flip-flops" or shoes that might fly off your feet, please. Men (especially): if you perspire heavily, please bring extra shirts. All: carrying a kerchief or small towel is a good idea too.
Some dancers become ill when exposed to perfumes. Please do not use perfumes prior to a dance.
Dancing should be fun and enjoyable. If your partner is doing something that hurts or makes you uncomfortable or embarrassed, don’t hesitate to let them know. If needed, ask the caller or dance manager for further assistance.
What is Contra Dance? It's a communal-style folk dance that is fun and easy to learn. No partner or experience is necessary. A caller leads the dancers through a series of moves and the sequence repeats itself. The patterns are very easy to learn and it's more like walking to music. An evening consists of 10-12 dances, each with a different combination of a few simple moves. At the break and the end of the night, there is usually a waltz. You can enjoy dancing in a friendly, fun, wholesome environment. For video recommendations, please go to the What is Contra? tab at www.bartlesvillebarndance.com.
What if I've never done this before and have no idea what I'm doing? You're in for a treat. You'll find a style of dance where it's more important to have fun than do it "right", where people are friendly and welcoming, and where others will be glad to help you learn the basic steps. The simplest dances are at the beginning of the evening so that people learn the figures easily. Coming early in the evening is the easiest way to learn.
What if I have 2 left feet? No problem. Contra Dancing uses a walking step so it doesn't matter which left foot you start on.
Do I have to wear a funny outfit? Nope, just dress comfortably. Many people wear khakis and tennis shoes. Most women wear flowing or twirly skirts because they're fun to dance in. Since we try to keep the hall cool, but the dances are energetic and you can get very warm, you may want to dress in layers. Tennis shoes or leather soled shoes will work well.
Can I come and just listen to the music? Sure. If you prefer, you can watch the dances and enjoy the great live music. You may have to reject a dozen invitations to dance, though.
Learn the basics before trying to put in the extra flourishes. For example, a smooth courtesy turn is more satisfying than an awkward twirl (twirls may be inappropriate at times but a courtesy turn never is). Points of style can be absorbed gradually while you enjoy the dancing.
If you make a mistake or miss a figure, no worries, it’s all in fun! Smile, and instead of rushing through the botched figure, skip it and go on to the next. You’ll get many more chances, because all the moves in the dance repeat. It is more important to the people you are dancing with that you be ready for the next figure than for you to complete each figure.
MOST IMPORTANT --HAVE FUN, ENJOY THE MUSIC AND THE PEOPLE!!!
The importance of hands and giving weight. Let your partner’s hand rest lightly in yours. Maintain just enough tension with your arms (or your hands) to keep your connection while you move through the contra figures. This requires mutual sensitivity and adjustment. Don’t squeeze too tightly or bend your partner’s wrists.
Continuously adjust to the needs abilities of each dancer. If you dance with 30 people in line, big or little, older or younger, you’ll need to dance 30 different ways. Aim to please every person (both genders) that you dance with.
Mistakes are OK. When helping other dancers, keep the atmosphere light. New dancers will relax when they sense your enjoyment and that you are more interested in being part of the flow than in perfection.
Couples join the line at the bottom, rather than inserting themselves in the middle or the top. If during the course of a dance you need to drop out of a line, do so when you reach the top or bottom because dropping out mid-line is disruptive to everyone else in it.
Long line, short line. Nobody ’s happy when a line is too crowded to dance comfortably and freely. When joining a line, join the shortest set, so the sets stay approximately the same length.
Finding partners. When looking for another partner after a dance ends, thoughtful dancers will look to the sidelines to see if there is someone who sat out the last dance who would like to dance the next. Generally, dancers wait until a dance is over before asking someone for the next dance. Everyone has the right to decline to dance. However, if you do decline, dance etiquette says you should sit that dance out.
What if I have other questions? Contact us through www.bartlesvillebarndance.com.
~ A final note: We have all heard someone say that they need a few drinks before they can dance. That may be true of some kinds of dancing, but in contra dance we have found that NOT to be true. You will need your wits about you! Wait until the party afterward to have that beer or glass of wine.
Help protect wood floors. Please wear soft soled shoes.
This is a non-smoking, alcohol-free event. Older children are welcome to participate but no unaccompanied minors please. Apologies – we are not able to provide child care. We are not able to accept checks or credit cards at this time.
Please come early in the evening as we begin with comfortable dances for newcomers. No partner necessary. Please be sure to dance with newcomers as well as your friends. Look for folks sitting out on the sides who haven't had a chance to dance. They'll be happy you did! Less experienced dancers are encouraged to ask those whom you perceive to be more experienced to dance with you. It is the custom to change partners for each dance, and women ask men to dance as often as men ask women. You will learn faster, and have more fun if you dance with more experienced dancers.
The dance floor is our friend! Please help us protect the dance floor by wearing non-marking, soft-soled shoes! No cowboy boots, please!
Contra dancing can be quite aerobic and, especially during the hot weather, some dancers work up a good sweat. Plan to wear comfortable clothes and flat or low shoes with non-marking soles. No "flip-flops" or shoes that might fly off your feet, please. Men (especially): if you perspire heavily, please bring extra shirts. All: carrying a kerchief or small towel is a good idea too.
Some dancers become ill when exposed to perfumes. Please do not use perfumes prior to a dance.
Dancing should be fun and enjoyable. If your partner is doing something that hurts or makes you uncomfortable or embarrassed, don’t hesitate to let them know. If needed, ask the caller or dance manager for further assistance.
What is Contra Dance? It's a communal-style folk dance that is fun and easy to learn. No partner or experience is necessary. A caller leads the dancers through a series of moves and the sequence repeats itself. The patterns are very easy to learn and it's more like walking to music. An evening consists of 10-12 dances, each with a different combination of a few simple moves. At the break and the end of the night, there is usually a waltz. You can enjoy dancing in a friendly, fun, wholesome environment. For video recommendations, please go to the What is Contra? tab at www.bartlesvillebarndance.com.
What if I've never done this before and have no idea what I'm doing? You're in for a treat. You'll find a style of dance where it's more important to have fun than do it "right", where people are friendly and welcoming, and where others will be glad to help you learn the basic steps. The simplest dances are at the beginning of the evening so that people learn the figures easily. Coming early in the evening is the easiest way to learn.
What if I have 2 left feet? No problem. Contra Dancing uses a walking step so it doesn't matter which left foot you start on.
Do I have to wear a funny outfit? Nope, just dress comfortably. Many people wear khakis and tennis shoes. Most women wear flowing or twirly skirts because they're fun to dance in. Since we try to keep the hall cool, but the dances are energetic and you can get very warm, you may want to dress in layers. Tennis shoes or leather soled shoes will work well.
Can I come and just listen to the music? Sure. If you prefer, you can watch the dances and enjoy the great live music. You may have to reject a dozen invitations to dance, though.
Learn the basics before trying to put in the extra flourishes. For example, a smooth courtesy turn is more satisfying than an awkward twirl (twirls may be inappropriate at times but a courtesy turn never is). Points of style can be absorbed gradually while you enjoy the dancing.
If you make a mistake or miss a figure, no worries, it’s all in fun! Smile, and instead of rushing through the botched figure, skip it and go on to the next. You’ll get many more chances, because all the moves in the dance repeat. It is more important to the people you are dancing with that you be ready for the next figure than for you to complete each figure.
MOST IMPORTANT --HAVE FUN, ENJOY THE MUSIC AND THE PEOPLE!!!
The importance of hands and giving weight. Let your partner’s hand rest lightly in yours. Maintain just enough tension with your arms (or your hands) to keep your connection while you move through the contra figures. This requires mutual sensitivity and adjustment. Don’t squeeze too tightly or bend your partner’s wrists.
Continuously adjust to the needs abilities of each dancer. If you dance with 30 people in line, big or little, older or younger, you’ll need to dance 30 different ways. Aim to please every person (both genders) that you dance with.
Mistakes are OK. When helping other dancers, keep the atmosphere light. New dancers will relax when they sense your enjoyment and that you are more interested in being part of the flow than in perfection.
Couples join the line at the bottom, rather than inserting themselves in the middle or the top. If during the course of a dance you need to drop out of a line, do so when you reach the top or bottom because dropping out mid-line is disruptive to everyone else in it.
Long line, short line. Nobody ’s happy when a line is too crowded to dance comfortably and freely. When joining a line, join the shortest set, so the sets stay approximately the same length.
Finding partners. When looking for another partner after a dance ends, thoughtful dancers will look to the sidelines to see if there is someone who sat out the last dance who would like to dance the next. Generally, dancers wait until a dance is over before asking someone for the next dance. Everyone has the right to decline to dance. However, if you do decline, dance etiquette says you should sit that dance out.
What if I have other questions? Contact us through www.bartlesvillebarndance.com.
~ A final note: We have all heard someone say that they need a few drinks before they can dance. That may be true of some kinds of dancing, but in contra dance we have found that NOT to be true. You will need your wits about you! Wait until the party afterward to have that beer or glass of wine.
Help protect wood floors. Please wear soft soled shoes.
