[Callers] What is a contra?

[Tom Hinds]

Since you need an answer quickly i’d say it’s a term in the folk dance world and it’s possible that different folks will define it differently.   

Personally I can see how a 4 X 4 could be a contra since it progresses in the same way but not other formations like squares and circles.

Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 27, 2018, at 4:47 PM, Colin Hume via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> 
> 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
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