CONTRA

Contra is the common folks’ free-wheeling alternative to its elegant cousin, English Country dance, set to fast fiddling and great lively music!  Descended from stylized 17th-century English court dances, “contra” (contrary) dancing evolved.  Everyone was allowed to contra dance; it was easy, fun, and allowed for embellishment and individual expression.  Contra is led by a caller who teaches a sequence of figures to long lines of couples. Contra is danced to live music.  In contra dance, everyone flows together – individual parts coming together for a joyful whole.