I’m about to try to start a dance in my new home (Bowen Island, British Columbia, off the coast of Vancouver) and these responses will be very helpful to me. Thanks, everybody!

The only thing I would add is that I think I will begin with dances that have no chains in them. I’ve watched a million beginner’s lessons and the only move (typically covered in a beginner’s lesson) that completely befuddles newbies is the robin’s chain. Recently I tried to dance a lark’s chain and I was completely befuddled myself! I’ve been dancing MANY years but being asked to do that complicated non-symmetrical move without any muscle memory undid me! It was a great window into how confusing a robin’s chain can be for dancers new to contra.

I’ve heard folks say that with all-beginners dances they’ll start with dances without swings, but I think I’ll probably keep swings (because contra without swings just seems too SAD to me!) and I’ll probably start my first dance without chains instead.