Program Information

Contra College will feature a coordinated teaching program:

Teaching sessions will focus on many elements of contra dancing in a highly interactive exchange between the instructors and attendees with easy and fun dances that will highlight the themes.

Session 1 (Saturday 9:20-10:35): The Foundations
— Jacqui Grennan leads
Basic structure of a contra dance, dance roles, progression, phrasing with the music; flow, how one move connects seamlessly with the next; dancing with the music and with everyone else, as well as with your partner.

Session 2 (Saturday 10:45-Noon): Balance in All Things
— Jacqui Grennan leads
Finding the position that feels just right, for hands, feet, center of balance; blending with different dancers and energies.

Session 3a (Saturday 1:00 - 1:25): Open Forum Chat
— David Buesch leads
Open discussion time to cover topics not previously discussed. Discussion can include topics such as safety, communication, volunteerism, dance weekends, etc.

Session 3b (Saturday Noon - 1:30): Callers’ Workshop
— Susan Petrick leads
The Callers’ workshop is open to new, aspiring, and experienced callers. Calling basics for newer callers, tips and tricks for clear and concise teaching, programming considerations, and strategies for dealing with the unforeseen will all be covered. Please bring two dances that you would like to work on. Whether new or experienced, you’ll have the opportunity to use new skills as you call during the Sunday afternoon public contra dance. The workshop is offered through, but independent of, the college.

Session 4 (Saturday 1:30 - 2:50): How to Hear and Dance to Contra Music
— Jim Oakden and Jacqui Grennan co-lead
Hear how the rhythm and phrasing of the music provides as much information for dancing as the instructions and calling.

Session 5 (Saturday 3:00 - 4:20): Being There
— Jacqui Grennan leads
Learn how to be in the right place at the right time for the music, the flow of the dance, and other dancers. Session includes dances that go beyond your minor set and dances with interesting “end effects”.

Session 6 (Saturday 4:30 - 5:50): Other Dance Formations (Triplets, Squares, 4-face-4s)
— Jim Saxe leads
Go beyond the predominantly used longways contra dance sets and play in the realm of alternative contra dance forms!

Session 7 (Sunday 11:30 - 12:50): Beyond Choreography
— Jacqui Grennan leads
Delve deeper into contra dancing with exercises that help you to experiment with dance roles, learn to participate (or not) in flourishes, and add spice and variety to your dancing while still dancing together with everyone else.

Session 8 (Sunday 1:00 - 2:20): Waltzing
— Susan Petrick leads
Focus on the elements of basic rotary waltzing, along some easy promenade variations; feel confident when it’s time for a waltz during an evening of contra dancing.

On Saturday evening, we will join the regular Palo Alto Saturday night Contra Dance. The dance is included in the college registration, and will give the Contra College students the opportunity to try out their new skills in a “regular” dance and bring back questions to the group Sunday morning.
During brunch on Sunday, we will de-brief Saturday sessions and Saturday night’s dance.
Sunday afternoon will be the Contra College Graduation Dance. This will be a regular dance and will be open to the general dance community. The dance will offer opportunities to integrate many of the lessons from the two days of college. Susan Petrick will be the lead caller with members of the Callers’ workshop as guest callers. Music will be performed by Uncle Farmer.
The integrated curriculum will allow dancers to reinforce and practice skills learned during the sessions.
Careful pacing will allow dancers to build skills slowly over the course of the weekend and to internalize what they’ve learned as we go along.
There will be more explaining than at regular dances, along with plenty of question-and-answer time.
The group’s small size will allow for lots of individualized attention.
The dances will be really fun and 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.
As is the tradition of contra dance, the teaching sessions will be supported by energetic live music chosen to emphasize themes.

Bay Area Country Dance Society

Promoting Traditional English and American Music and Dance

Program Information