Catawba Valley Contra Dance

Contra dance on 2nd Fridays at Lincolnton Cultural Center, 403 E. Main St, Lincolnton, NC 28093. We are taking a break for the summer.

Contra Dance

The Lincolnton NC Cultural Arts Center at 403 E. Main St Lincolnton, NC 28093 hosts the Catawba Valley Contra dance on the second Friday of each month. Our next dance on April 8th, 2011 features Leslie Bowers calling with Sons of the Full Moon creating wonderful live music for us to dance to. It is not necessary to bring a partner to dance. Walk through lesson will be provided at 7:30pm, dance 8:00-10:30pm. Bring clean soft soled shoes for dancing. $7.00/person. Contact mailto:prbell2010@charter.net for details. We look forward to seeing you there!

Contra Dance

What is contra dance? Contra dance is a high energy, non-competitive social dance form done to live roots-based music. The word “contra” refers to the formation of the dances in lines that are “opposite” to each other. Each dance is taught briefly, so no experience is needed; however, we recommend that newcomers attend the 30-minute orientation session that precedes each evening’s dance. It is not necessary to bring a partner. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

In a contra dance, you, your partner, and another couple dance a 32-bar phrase of simple figures done with a smooth walking step, then progress onto another couple and repeat the phrase. It's about the geometry, the patterns, not the footwork. The dance phrase progresses you and your partner along the set to other couples. Everyone dances the entire time. A set may consist of a handful of couples or of twenty or more couples.

This is a technical definition of the form. Most contra dancers would consider it inadequate to convey the experience of the dance itself