What is A Contra Dance?
Contra dance, the oldest form of social dance in North America, is done in sets consisting of several couples. Sets are subdivided into minor sets of two couples each. A series of figures, similar to square dance figures, are danced with one’s partner and the other “neighbor” couple. When the figures are completed, the minor sets progress so that the sequence can be repeated with the same partner but a new neighbor couple. Contra dancing is done to live music, generally 64-beat reels and jigs from Scotland, Ireland, New England, the South and Quebec. Some membership-type groups affiliated with the Modern Western Square Dance movement contra dance to recorded music. Gary D. Shapiro E-Mail: shapiro@rain.org A shorter definition of “Contra Dance”, by the same author, can be found in the Line Dance FAQ Section 5B glossary of dance terms along with the definition of “Contra” when applied to Line dances.
