13 Aug
2011
13 Aug
'11
10:58 a.m.
On 8/13/2011 6:20, John Sweeney wrote:
In a recent post I defined a contra dance as:
- 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
- 95% of the moves to be from a set of well-know moves that they know
already
Is that what most Americans understand by a "contra dance"?
In ONE word:
YES!
In a few more words: you did not mention triple minors. They appear on contra
events, albeit not very often. Sackett's Harbor, Long Valley
I asked:
Are you allowed to do Proper dances at a "contra dance"? Or a
four-couple dance that has all the other characteristics listed above?
Or a Sicilian Circle (space allowing)?
Again: YES
but rarely.
Childgrove (Playford 1701)
And of course the moves may not be all familiar to
contra dancers. If I
called that at an American contra
dance, to great music from a live band, what reaction
would I get?
It has been part of contra repertoire for a looooooooooong time, and
you'd be
surprised:
a) the moves ARE familiar, and
b) you wouldn't get any special reaction because it isn't considered a special
dance - you wouldn't even get credit for the discovery that the dance 'fits'.
You didn't ask, but here goes anyway:
an evening of contras usually features a waltz at the break and one at the end
frequently a Swedish Hambo is played during intermission, and those who can will
dance it.
Hanny, Danzmeestersche