I say all of these things!
I usually throw in there that contra means opposite and we dance as couples down opposite lines of couples, which helps people get the sense of how many people they get to dance with in an evening. I also describe it as very social, lots of eye contact, and aerobic :)  And I add that this is to live music with some of the greatest musicians in the region, and live calling so people know what to do next.

Alli


-- 
Allison J. Bell, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
200 Katonah Avenue  Suite 16B
Katonah, New York 10536
phone: (914)232-1211
fax:     (914)232-3479
cell:    (914)497-5113

From: Organizers <organizers-bounces+allisonbell=msn.com@lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Harris Lapiroff via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Reply-To: Harris Lapiroff <harris@chromamine.com>
Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 12:55 PM
To: <sloan@medevelop.com>
Cc: <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Elevator pitches for contra

I often tell people it's like English dancing that they might see in a Pride and Prejudice film adaptation but if it stopped in France, came to the US, and got a lot faster and more spinny.

On Wed, Aug 5, 2015 at 12:43 PM, Walker Sloan via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
"Contra has many of the same moves as square dance, but it's done with two couples instead of four couples.  And the two couples are part of a long line with other sets of couples.   Every half a minute, the couples move onto other couples.  So at the end of the ten minute dance you've danced with your partner 50% of the time, and with every other opposite role person in the line the other 50%.  Then you change partners for every dance.

How fun is contra?  Highschoolers will go to contra dances with their parents."

In my experience, everyone knows what a do-si-do is, and know that square dance involves lots of swinging and swirly skirts.  It's an adequate reference.

If you can show people on a computer, my absolute favorite video is Doug Plummer's "Crowfoot in Tacoma".  Perfect picture, including overhead shots for a clear picture of the patterns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1cPyJWm-g4

Mac Sloan


On 8/4/15 19:52, Marie-Michèle Fournier via Organizers wrote:
Hello everyone!
    This is something I am trying to develop and I was wondering if
anyone had some that they like to use. I like the "if square dancing and
swing dancing met in a bar, you'd get contra", but as someone pointed
out to me, if the person you are talking to doesn't really know what
square dancing is like it's not very helpful.

What are your favorite elevator pitches? How do you describe contra to
friends, family or potential new dancers?

Thanks!
Marie
Communications for ContraMontreal


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