I collected some stats on this, in the northeast US: https://www.jefftk.com/p/contra-dance-lengths

What I found matches my impression as a musician that 8-9 minutes (15 or 17 times through) is what's most common here, and in the other parts of the US where we've played.  Because the dances are equal-turn there's no need to give everyone an opportunity to be ones or to dance with every other couple.

Jeff Kaufman
Somerville MA

On Thu, Sep 5, 2024 at 9:40 AM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Larry Jennings:

“I have noticed that every caller, when asked, believes that every other caller allows dances to run too long, while they themselves are the only exception.”

 

:-)

 

            Happy dancing,

                   John                      

                                   

John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574

http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent            

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