Thank you for sharing your thoughts and thank you for keeping me honest. Perhaps, I have been quick in my assessment of "squares", and retract my statement regarding contra lines being superior the square formation. Perhaps one of the greatest things about contra dancing is that when you are dancing up and down a contra line, you are always going to see a new face, a new dancer, and if you asked me what I really love about dancing, the answer would be simple, the people... Dancing in perhaps everyway bring people together, people of all different background and that is truly a great thing. In my opinion, that is perhaps what I personally dislike about squares the most, four couples, four of the same couples, four of the same couples for 10-15 minutes or however long the square is going to be, of course this is my personal opinion... Perhaps, I have been to quick to throw contra dancing and square dancing in the same boat, because I believe that there are two very different types of dances, with different styles and techniques... I think it is interesting that contra dancing and square dancing are so closely associated together, and perhaps they should not be. There are a lot of different types of dances, everything from contra dancing to square dancing, to swing, tengo, etc. but I would pose the question how many swing dances are also going to have tengo??? Square dancing not doubt has a long history, with a great sense of community and tradition behind it and in no way am I trying to take away from that, but perhaps there should be contra dances and square dances, because I would not expect to go to an English Country Dance and dance swing... I think there are a lot of people that think of contra dancing and square dancing as the same thing, and it simply is not... Of course one would make the may argue that a triple minor is not contra dancing either, but I would tend to debate the a triple minor is more of a formation then a style of dance, much like proper, improper, and becket formation. In closing, I would simply pose the idea, that maybe contra dancing and square dancing should not be all group together, that perhaps contra dances should be contra dances and square dances should be square dances... In perhaps keeping with the peservation of that dance tradition. Sincerely, Jeff Petrovitch Jeffrey M. Petrovitch jeffrey.m.petrovitch(a)usa.net "Five nights of contra dancing... through 'top-notch' style and technique, with the love and passion for the dance, the title above all others was awarded. I am an 'Iron Dancer'." - J.M. Petrovitch