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Contra dancing is the joy of connecting with friends set to music.
In contra dance and square dance, you don't just dance with your partner, but
you work with eight or more people and discover the pleasures of working
together, moving with music, and getting to know each other.
It's FUN!
Here's how it works. A caller walks you through the various interweaving
patterns, giving you a preview of how the dance works. Then the band starts
up a tune, and the caller prompts (reminds) you of what to do next. While
dancing, you get to meet and greet and work with the other dancers in your
"set" (contra, square, or circle).
It's a great way to meet people, have a lot of fun, and come to feel closer
as a group.
The "longways set" (contra set), square, and circle formations come our way
from our ancestors in the British Isles. Some, though, went through France.
The habit of calling comes out of New England and Appalachia.
I’m
a regular caller at Bay Area Country Dance
Society dances, especially the 1st,
3rd, & 5th
Wednesday Berekley Contra Dance series
Community Dance and Family Dance
Spirited and Fun
Old Time Dance combines all these factors. Remember, all dances are taught
in a fun, inclusive, delightful way. Some of the dances we do have been done
for hundreds of years. Others are new ones, but based on old styles. All
have at their base the celebratory meeting of spirits, joined together in
dance!
Do you remember doing an Old Time square dance? Or perhaps the Virginia
Reel? Do you remember the fun of moving with the music, and dancing with the
others in your group? It's as fun today as it was in George Washington's
time!
The music is driving and beautiful, ranging from haunting to playful to
downright beautiful. It can range from a solo fiddle to a full out band with
piano, fiddle, drum, brass, and more. Most commonly, music is fiddle based
with guitar or piano backup. "O Brother Where Art Thou" has made popular
music that is very similar to what you'd find at one of our dances.
So what makes dancing fun? For me it's the sense of connection I get by
dancing with my partners and the dancers in my set. It's carrying out the
figures in ways that join with the music and dancers. It's being playful in
non-destructive ways. It's seeing people I know and like, and having the
momentary connection with them as our trails cross in the flow of the dance.
It's meeting someone new and seeing their sense of joy as well as helping
them through the initial stages of confusion. It's executing a nice twirl
with an able dancer and being there on time. It's spacing out the next figure
and then catching up and laughing about the mistake. It's achieving an
altered state of "no thought" flow with the music, dance, and partners to the
point where I feel one with the whole hall.
Looking for a way for people of all ages to enjoy each other? Try Old Time
Music and Dance. Dance has long been the featured activity at family and
community gatherings. Why?
Because it's . . .
Playful and Flirtatious
Joyous and Sexy
Mythological and Mirthful
Rhythmic and Compelling
Ritualistic and Hypnotic
Builds community and connects people
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