Second Saturday Contra Dances

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:

• Normal admission:  $12
  
• Seniors (65+):  $10
  
• Students (teens & college):  $5
  
• Kids 12 and under:  Free
  

Your ninth regular HCD dance admission is free with your HCD frequent dancer card.  Special events (anything asterisked in the "admission" column below) have different prices and are not eligible for "get in free" passes or redemption of HCD 'frequent dancer" cards. 

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.

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 light refreshments (e.g., lemonade or ice tea, 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?

Safety Suggestions

Contra dancing is safe and fun, but please be mindful of safety as you dance:

• Wear clean, flat-bottomed, soft-soled shoes.  We'd prefer you use shoes that have not been worn outside, but we provide brushes so that you can clean your street shoes.  High heels and flip-flops are dangerous for you and others.
• Children can be great dancers, but they must use their own two feet and be capable of doing the dance unassisted.  Please do not carry or tandem-dance with children, due to the danger to themselves and others.  Typically children ten years and older can be fine contra dancers.  Adults:  Do not lift small people off the floor (e.g., when swinging)!
  
• Not all enjoy high-speed swings.  Respect your partner’s preference for swinging “speed.”
• “Twirling” is an optional embelishment. Respect your partner’s preference whether to twirl.  A universal signal is that if a dancer keeps hand low and resists raising it, he/she does not wish to twirl.
• Be gentle with hands, thumbs, and fingers. Do not grab / twist fingers or thumb.
  
• If the dance floor is crowded, avoid hitting others by swinging "small" with your elbows bent and close to you.
• If you do bump into someone, please do your best to "dance small," keep the contra line straight, and stay within the line.
  
• Our contra dance is smoke- and alcohol-free.  If you're impaired, please skip the event.
  
• Report any safety concern to one of our volunteers or organizers