Welcome

Contra College 2014 Fall Term will be Saturday, October 11

What is Contra Dance

Contra dancing is an American folk dance that has similarities to square dancing and English country dancing, and includes a caller and live music. It is a beginner-friendly community dance and does not require special classes or instruction. However, many people find that having a focused opportunity enables them to learn to dance better, to progress from new or intermediate to advanced, and to develop both an understanding of and muscle memory for contra dancing.

What is Contra College?

Contra College is a dance event designed to help new and intermediate contra dancers become comfortable on the dance floor, familiar with all the calls, and networked into the Bay Area contra dance community. We have offered basic workshops in waltz, square dancing, hambo and contra dance music. While it may not be the only dance event to include homemade vegan baked goods, we work hard to provide lots of healthy food (lunch and snacks).

Contra College will be a day of contra dancing workshops taught by two talented Northern California Callers. An integrated curriculum and careful pacing will allow dancers to build skills slowly over the course of the day and to internalize what they've learned as they go along. There will be plenty of explanations and question-and-answer time. The group's small size will allow for individualized attention and the dances will be selected to help everyone gain confidence and feel at ease. The carefully-crafted curriculum will emphasize dances that are simple while still being varied and well-choreographed. Contra College participants will also be offered a waltz workshop before the evening dance, as many evenings of contra dance include a waltz or two.

Is Contra College just for new dancers?

Dancers of all levels and skills attend and enjoy Contra College. It is an opportunity to learn the "other" dance role, to learn how to incorporate flourishes and twirls, and to refine your skills. Contra College is a style workshop for contra dancers that will help you improve your dancing and take it to the next level. Each session of the workshop will build on what comes before it. If you come into Contra College knowing lots about contra dancing, you'll walk out knowing more (as well as having a new group of friends and people who want to carpool with you to contra dances).

What is new and special this term?

Contra College will have four classes during the day. We strongly encourage new dancers and beginners to come to the first class at 10 and anticipate that some will want to stay through the third session which ends at 4. Intermediate dancers might wish to dance the three afternoon contra sessions. Everyone is welcome all day, but recognizing that it can be a very long and energetic day, we believe in giving you choices.

We're also including a waltz workshop, which will be open to all, from 6 to 7:30.

Location

Contra College 2014 will be held in the upstairs social hall at First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto CA, 94301, the same location as the Palo Alto Contra Dance. It is approximately 1 mile from the Palo Alto CalTrain stop and a short walk from University Avenue, which has many opportunities for dinner. The church has a small parking lot in back which should be able to accommodate most dancers.

You can very good directions from the FUM website, or do-it-yourself with this map.

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