Wednesday, September 25th, 2013
WHERE: Wayland Town Building Gym
WHEN: Saturday, Oct 26, from 7pm – 10 pm
COST: Admission (to cover costs of music): $10, children under 12 free
Come alone, come with your partner, come with your children – come to the Town Building Gym on Saturday October 26 and dance the night away.
What is contra dancing?
Here’s a straightforward answer: Contra Dancing is a form of American folk dance in which the dancers form a set of two parallel lines which run the length of the hall. Each dance consists of a sequence of moves that ends with couples having progressed one position up or down the set. As the sequence is repeated, a couple will eventually dance with every other couple in the set. Contra Dancing was all the rage in 1800.
But here’s a better one: Contra dance is a form of dance that thrusts a different person of the opposite sex into your arms every 30 seconds or so. Actually, this is only true sometimes. Contra dance is one of the few dance forms where by the end of the evening you are likely to have danced with everyone.
- NEW DANCERS your feet are never asked to do more than walk to the music. Each dance is taught by the caller before it is danced. The caller continues to prompt the dancers as needed.
- PARTNERS New dancers learn best by seeking out more experienced dancers as partners. If you attend with a date, give each other a present by dancing with others for a while. Because the pattern of moves of each Contra Dance is repeated often, Contra Dances are easy to learn. Both beginning and experienced dancers happily share the same set.
- CHILDREN as young as seven can participate as long as parents are responsible for keeping non-dancing children out of harm’s way.
- WHAT TO WEAR Most people dress for comfort and in anticipation of vigorous exercise. Loose, light dresses or skirts or slacks or shorts – some men wear kilts. Be sure to bring a separate pair of soft-soled, comfortable shoes for dancing.
- WHAT’S THE MUSIC LIKE? Jack O’Connor will be calling and leading the group of musicians that will likely play traditional jigs, reels, and hornpipes from the Scots-Irish tradition. The fiddle is often the lead instrument.
- HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT CONTRA DANCING?
- www.youtube.com/embed/gSPmHoStII8
- www.mondaycontras.com contra dancing in nearby Concord
- www.hamiltoncontra.ca/contraculture.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call Molly Faulkner 978-505-5912 (M)
