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Second Saturday Contra Dances

So what's contra dance?  Click here for an explanation.  Also, you can take a look at a video from one of our recent dances here.

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:  $10
  • Non-members:  $12
  • Students (teens & college):  $5
  • Kids 12 and under:  Free
Note:  Dance admission is free for those who serve for 30 minutes as an admission desk volunteer.  To sign up for a volunteer slot, please contact Jay.

When Who Where Admission
 Mbrs 
Others
Sat, Feb 13,
8-11pm
Polymorphous String Band with Steve Howland
American Legion Post $10 $12
Sat, Mar 13,
8-11pm
Saturday String Band with Steve Holland and Bill Fischer
American Legion Post $10 $12
Sat, Apr 10,
8-11pm
Scoot! with Ted Crane
American Legion Post $10 $12
Sat, May 8,
8-11pm
The Wild Notes with Steve Howland
American Legion Post $10 $12
Sat, Jun 12,
8-11pm
Andy, Rebecca, and Josh with Tom Roby
American Legion Post $10 $12
Sat, Jul 10,
8-11pm
Wry Bred with Bill Fischer
American Legion Post $10 $12
Sat, Aug 14,
8-11pm
Contra Jammers with Bill Fischer & Come-all-ye-callers
American Legion Post $10 $12
Sat, Aug 21, 7:30-11:30pm
13th Annual HCD Summer Dancefest, featuring all live music
Contra: 7:30-8:30
Swing Band: 8:30-9:30
Cajun/Zydeco: 9:30-10:30
Mostly Waltz: 10:30-11:30
American Legion PostFree for Renewing & Newly Joining HCD Members, $15 for all others

For more info, please contact us at 1-888-423-0423 (1-888-HCD-0HCD) Ext. 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?

Mark Twain & Harriet Stowe
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?


Last update: 2010-01-26