Contra dance is live music with a band and caller (circle Left, circle Right, etc). No fancy steps or moves. It amounts to walking in time to the music. It is much easier than line dancing, and not so fancy as square dancing. We wear regular comfortable clothing, with smooth-soled shoes to help you move comfortably on the wood floor.
Contra dancing is family-friendly, open to all ages, and very welcoming to new dancers. Feel free to come solo, bring a friend, or organize a group to celebrate a birthday or special day — you’re sure to have a great time.
Wells Hall. Photo courtesy of Doug Plummer.
A Brief History
Contra dancing started in the 17th century as English “country dancing” in long narrow halls. Around 1700 the dance went over the Channel to France, which was the height of fashion at the time. Sources suggest that the French misheard “country dance” as “contra dance”, or they noticed that the men and women danced in lines “opposite” each other (that is, contra).
Whichever is true, contra dancing was the height of fashion in 18th century England, and it came over the ocean to America in colonial times. You’ve heard of the Virginia Reel. Well, that is an 18th-century dance, and Washington and Jefferson were avid contra dancers.
Contra dancing is similar in some ways to ceilidh dancing in England and Ireland, but much easier, because we have a caller to guide us through the dance, and we don’t do a clogging step. We just walk in time to the music. Easy and fun!
Contra dancing is a thriving sub-culture in the United States. Come join us in Tacoma at the monthly contra dance, and you can see for yourself what we’re talking about!