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Second Saturday
Contra Dances
So what's contra dance? Click
here
for an explanation.
Dances are typically 8-11pm
second
Saturdays at
the
wood-floored, air-conditioned American Legion Post, 275 Main
Street, Wethersfield, CT [map].
There's
a free beginners' workshop at 7:30pm.
Dance Admission for "normal" second Saturday contras (as stated in grid
for special events)
- HCD members: $8
- Non-members: $10
- Students (teens & college): $5
- Kids 12 and under: Free
| When |
Who |
Where |
Admission |
Mbrs
|
Others
|
Sat, Feb 9,
8-11pm |
Fiddleheads with Steve Holland
|
American
Legion Post |
$8 |
$10 |
| Sun,
Feb 24, 2-4:30pm |
Benefit contra dance (proceeds to the
Second Saturday contra series and American Legion) - the Sunday String
Band with Bill Fischer & Christine Hale
|
American
Legion Post |
$10
for all
|
Sat, Mar 8,
8-11pm |
White Squall with Allan Brozek
|
American
Legion Post |
$8 |
$10 |
Sat, Apr 12,
8-11pm |
The Wild Notes with Steve Howland
|
American
Legion Post |
$8 |
$10 |
Sat, May 10,
8-11pm |
Dogtown with Jim Gregory
|
American
Legion Post |
$8 |
$10 |
Sat, Jun 14,
8-11pm |
The Reel Thing with Christine Hale
|
American
Legion Post |
$8 |
$10 |
Sat, Jul 12,
8-11pm |
The Swivets with Ralph Sweet
|
American
Legion Post |
$8 |
$10 |
Sat, Aug 9,
8-11pm |
Come-All-Ye-Callers, with music by the HCD Contra
Jammers. All callers (new or experienced) and musicians are
welcome!
|
American
Legion Post |
$8 |
$10 |
| Sat,
Aug 16, 7:15-11:30 pm |
HCD
Dancefest - Sample swing (with DJ Zel
"the Discman" Dolinsky); and contra, Cajun/Zydeco, and waltz with bands
TBA. Admission is free for current, renewing, and newly-joining
HCD
members.
|
West Hartford
Town Hall
|
Free |
$10 |
For more info, please contact
Christine at 1-888-423-0423 (1-888-HCD-0HCD) Press 2 or
by email.
CONNtra Dances and
Tunes
Although we're in the shadow
of the great contra dance
region
of
Western Massachusetts, Connecticut callers and musicians have made
significant contributions to contra dance.
- For contra dances by Connecticut callers, please click here.
- For contra tunes by Connecticut musicians, please click here.
What's
Contra Dance?
 |
|
Contra is a traditional
form of New England social dance, with roots
dating back 200+ years.
It's a cousin of English country dance and American square dance,
with a caller and figures like "do-si-do" and "swing your partner."
It's a huge amount of fun and not at all corny.
In contra dance, couples form two lines, partners
facing
each other.
Prompted by the caller, they perform a sequence of figures that causes
them
to progress up or down the line, meeting other couples with whom they
repeat the sequence.
Eventually every couple dances with every other couple.
The music is performed live.
The music consists mainly of Irish, New England, and Quebecois jigs and
reels, with an occasional waltz or Scandinavian dance tossed in.
The band's structure is wildly variable,
typically including fiddle, piano, and guitar/mandolin, but sometimes
including flute, penny whistle, concertina, accordion, dulcimer,
bass, clarinet, or whatever else a musician happens to play.
We typically provide refreshments (e.g., iced tea
and cookies).
The dances are smoke- and alcohol free.
|
No Experience Necessary:
We welcome and encourage beginners.
The dances are fun and easy to learn.
The dances don't require fancy footwork - if you can walk, you can
contra.
A workshop 30 minutes before the dance will teach you what you need to
know to get started.
Dress:
Dress is very casual (e.g., shorts and t-shirts are not out of place).
Wear cool comfortable clothing and clean soft-soled shoes - NOT square
dance outfits, hats, boots, high heels, or footwear that will mark the
floor.
Contra is aerobic exercise, so be prepared to work up a sweat.
Experienced dancers often bring a towel and a couple spare dry shirts.
No Partner Needed:
Contra dancers are of all ages.
You can come alone or with a friend, and you'll meet a lot of new
people.
Our convention is to switch partners for each new set,
although you can stick with the same partner if you both really want to
do so.
You'll find contra dancers to be very helpful and friendly,
and our Hartford area dancers particularly so.
All Dances Taught:
The caller walks everyone through the moves of the dance before the
music starts.
Once the music starts, he/she prompts the moves until everyone has them
down.
For more info, please see Gary Shapiro's excellent What is Contra
Dance?
|