strathspey@strathspey.org:27688

Chris1Ronald

Re: Contra dancing

Oct. 3, 2001, 5:41 a.m. (Message 27688, in reply to message 27655)

Jan (if you are still reading the comments on Contra),

From my very limited experience of contra dancing in the eastern US, I would 
agree with much of what has been said already. As one of the early responses 
said, there are definite similarities with English country dancing, which I 
expect you are familiar with. One of the notable features of contra seems to 
be the extent to which one turns one's partner (8 continuous bars seems 
common - or even 16?) The turning is done ballroom hold, and the main aim 
seems to be to make as many turns as possible before the end of the phrase. 
It is also noticeable that there tend to be as many men as women at the 
dance. The one comment I'm not sure I agree with is that one gets more of a 
work out with contra. I'm not conscious of there being much difference. It's 
true that one dances more bars in the course of an evening, but the 
walking-type step is less vigorous than the Scottish steps.   

Chris.