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 — 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, not just your partner.

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

Session 3 (Saturday 1:00-2:20): How to Hear and Dance to Contra Music — listening to the music can provide as much information for dancing as the instructions and calling (or the whispers from your partner)

Session 4 (Saturday 2:30-3:50): Being There — focus on being in the right place at the right time to fit the music and the flow of the dance; end effects; dancing out of the “minor set”

Session 5 (Saturday 4:00-5:20): Waltzing — focus on the elements of and variations in waltzes

Session 6 (Sunday Noon-1:20): Squares and 4-face-4 — formations which are uncommon in the Bay Area, but which you will encounter in your travels to other regions; lots of fun, and different from the same old long lines!

Session 7 (Sunday 1:30-2:50): Beyond Choreography — adding spice and variety to your dancing while still dancing together with everyone else; inviting a flourish for variety, getting into and out of the flourish on time and in the right place; swapping dance roles

Saturday afternoon (5:30-7:15 PM) will have a Callers’ workshop that is open to new, aspiring, and experienced callers. The workshop is offered through, but independent of, the college.
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 lunch on Sunday, we will de-brief Saturday sessions and Saturday night’s dance.
Sunday evening 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 provided by The Treble Makers.
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