Hi Colin,
I think there at least three definitions:
1) Average American understanding today:
>From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance
Many modern contra dances have these characteristics:
longways for as many as will
first couples improper, or Becket formation
flowing choreography
no-one stationary for more than 16 beats (e.g. First Couple Balance &
Swing, finish facing down to make Lines of Four)
containing at least one swing and normally both a partner swing and a
neighbour swing
the vast majority of the moves from a set of well-known moves that the
dancers know already
composed mostly of moves that keep you connected to the other dancers
generally danced to 32 bar jigs or reels played at between 110 and 130
bpm
danced with a smooth walk with lots of spins and twirls
An event which consists primarily (or solely) of dances in this style is
sometimes referred to as a Modern Urban Contra Dance.
2) Traditional American approach:
70 years ago an event which included squares, traditional contras (see
Cracking Chestnuts - so, yes, "Young Widow" (which I danced at a DC ECD
event last month!)) and other formations was known as a Square Dance; as
modern contra choreography developed and contras became more popular, the
same events came to be known as Contra Dances, with the mix focussing more
on contras, but still a mix. Zesty Contras is a good example as it contains
lots of formations, including Triple Minors like Alamo Triad.
3) Historical approach:
"Contra Dance" used to just mean "Country Dance" and therefore included all
of Playford, ECD, etc:
"The term "Country Dance" is the one invariably used in all books on dancing
that have been published in England during the last three centuries, while
all works issued in France within the same period employ the term Contra
Dance, or in French "Contre Danse". As the authority is equally good in both
cases, either term is therefore correct. The Country or Contra Dance has
been one of the most popular amusements in the British Isles, France, and
other continental countries from time immemorial."
Howe, 1858
Music: Yes, for modern contras any tune will do, including waltzes, as long
as the dancers are open-minded - quite a few modern contras have been
written specifically for waltz time. But, regardless of the type of tune,
it is the speed which defines contra - generally not slower than 105 bpm, so
an English step-hop hornpipe at 80 bpm is not part of the modern American
culture. But still fits into definition 3 of course.
Stepping: Yes, definition 1 is walking, but with lots of spinning and
flourishes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZubTju7g_s is from 1965 and shows a walking
step - but I would suggest that quite a lot of it is a lighter step than is
used today.
I believe there was a greater variety of footwork in Balances 50 years ago,
now, in moves like that, the feet are used for simple percussion.
I hope that helps.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john at modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: Colin Hume <colin at colinhume.com>
Sent: 27 June 2018 21:47
To: Callers List <callers at sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] What is a contra?
I'm in Germany, and I'm speaking for the next few days at a Conference run
by the European Callers and Teachers Association.
Several of my sessions are about Contras, and speaking to the Contra
Coordinator as we drove to the hotel I realised we had very
different ideas about what a contra is. I say it is an American (or
American-style) dance, longways duple or triple. He classes
three-couple dances (such as Ted's Triplets), four-couple dances and circles
as contras. He even classes my dance "Sting in the
Tail" as a contra. This is for two three-couple sets side-by-side and
involves siding into line, set and turn single. I would
regard this quite definitely as "Playford"-style, and I think Americans
would categorise it as English. But what is a contra? I
know the hot-shots would say that it's longways duple improper or Becket
with a partner swing and preferably a neighbor swing, but
is that your definition? What about an early American dance such as "The
Young Widow" - is that a contra? Can a dance in waltz
time be a contra? I think of a contra as mainly danced to reels or jigs,
though I know there are a few to slip-jigs. Within
reels I would include marches and American hornpipes, which are smooth, but
not English hornpipes which I would dance to a
step-hop. And not Strathspeys. I would say contras are done to a walking
step, apart from the swing which is often a buzz step.
But do you agree with me?
Answers fairly quickly please!
Colin Hume
Email colin at colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com