What Is Traditional Country Barn Dance or Contra Dance?

Traditional Country Barn Dances, or  Contra dances, were all the rage in the 1800's. It is a form of North American folk dance in which the dancers form two sets of parallel lines which run the length of the hall. Sometimes Contra Dances are also called Kitchen Dances or Old time Country Dances and often include square and circle dances. 

Each dance is taught by the caller before it is danced. The caller continues to prompt the dancers as needed. Each dance consists of a sequence of moves that ends with couples having progressed one position up or down the set. As the sequence is repeated , a couple will eventually dance with every other couple in the set. The patterns of the dances usually gives each individual a chance to dance and meet each of the other dancers by the end of the night.

Because the pattern of moves of each Contra Dance is repeated often, Contra Dances are easy to learn. Both beginning and experienced dancers happily share the floor throughout the evening.

What Is it Like?

Traditional Country Barn Dances, or  Contra dances have a relaxed, family like atmosphere where the emphasis is on dancing and listening to a live band.

For many dancers the live music is the great attraction. Traditional jigs, reels, and hornpipes from the Scots-Irish tradition on both sides of the Atlantic form the basic repertoire with New England and French Canadian influences. The fiddle is often the lead instrument. Other instruments in a Contra Band may be a piano, guitar, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer and autoharp. Some Contra Bands include bass guitar and percussion instruments.

Contra Dancing is excellent aerobic exercise that you can take at your own pace. In Contra Dancing your feet are never asked to do more than walk to the music.

Above all, Contra Dancers are a community of friendly, active people and they welcome new dancers, from youngsters to seniors.

I Don’t Know How, I Don’t Have A Partner

Come and listen to the melody of the fiddle, the ring of the mandolins and banjo, or better yet, get up and join in the fun of the dance. Don’t worry if you don’t know how, it’s easy and we teach each dance before we play it. At almost every Contra Dance you will find people at all skill levels, from beginners to experts willing to share.

Contra Dancers are a very open and welcoming group of people. You don’t have to come with a partner. At a Contra Dance it is customary to dance with a number of different partners. It is acceptable for either a man or a woman to ask someone they haven’t met before to dance. Contra Dancing is a great way to make new friends.

It’s always a fun filled, happy event!