I'd differentiate between a singular contra dance - longways sets, duple minor (some triple minor chestnuts in special cases e.g. The Young Widow), jigs/reels typically (except exceptions as discussed).  I would characterise them choreographically as ideally linked figure to figure in a continuous progression. I think (even though the etymology is spurious) I would want to have the feeling of a contrary person as well as my partner.

A contra dance evening might well feature the other styles particularly if it's a one-off party etc. but I would not say they are contra dances themselves.  Similarly square dances are not contra but might make an appearance in this context.   I'd be more inclined to include the non-contras in an "American" night at a festival rather than at a "contra" night.

Ted Sanella and Larry Jennings quite clearly included these styles in their books but in seperate sections to the contras.  

So yes, I think I agree with you Colin.

On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 8:47 PM Colin Hume via Callers <callers@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@colinhume.com      Web site http://colinhume.com
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