What type of music is played during contra dancing?

The music played at contra dances includes, but is not limited to Irish, Scottish, Old-Time and French-Canadian folk tunes. Often anchored by fiddle, contra dance bands can include piano, flute, guitar, mandolin, accordion, and in some cases even brass instruments.

Where did contra dancing originated?

While the origins of the contra dance can be pinpointed to the 17th century England and Scotland, the popularization of the dance happened in France where this dance became very commonplace in the party events hosted by nobility and royalty in early 18th century.

Is contra dancing the same as square dancing?

Contra dance differs from Square dance in that Contra dance is done in lines rather than in a 4-couple square. Many of the terms are the same in both Contra and Square dancing, so if you remember any of the terms from old school days or previous occasions you’re already halfway there.

What does Contra mean in music?

contranoun. an entry that cancels another entry. Etymology: Short for Spanish contrarrevolucionarios, “counter-revolutionaries”. contranoun. any of the musical instruments in the contrabass range, e.g. contrabassoon, contrabass clarinet or, especially, double bass.

What does Contredanse mean?

folk dance
1 : a folk dance in which couples face each other in two lines or a square.

What do you wear to a contra dance?

Most dancers like to wear short-sleeved shirts and skirts, pants or shorts, depending on the season. Contra dancers have used jazz shoes, leather dress shoes, bare feet, duct-taped bare feet, character shoes, dance sneakers and regular sneakers with or without suede glued to the sole.

What is it called when you dance with your hands?

Hand dancing, also known as “D.C. hand dancing” or “D.C. swing”, is a form of swing dance that can be traced as far back as the 1920s, from Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, to the 1950s when dancers in the District of Columbia developed their own variety. …

What is contra short for?

CONTRA-

What is contra account?

A contra account is an account used in a general ledger to reduce the value of a related account. They are useful to preserve the historical value in a main account while presenting a decrease or write-down in a separate contra account that nets to the current book value.

Where can you find contra dances around the world?

Sometimes described as New England folk dance or Appalachian folk dance, contra dances can be found around the world, but are most common in the United States (periodically held in nearly every state), Canada, and other Anglophone countries.

How does a contra dance work without a partner?

Contra dancing is a social dance that one can attend without a partner. The dancers form couples, and the couples form sets of two couples in long lines starting from the stage and going down the length of the dance hall. Throughout the course of a dance, couples progress up and down these lines,…

How old do you have to be to go to a contra dance?

Contra dance events are open to all, regardless of experience unless explicitly labeled otherwise, and it is common to see dancers anywhere from 15 to 70 years of age, and with a variety of backgrounds. Contra dances are family-friendly, and alcohol consumption is not part of the culture.

When was the 100th anniversary of the Pittsburgh contra dance?

Pittsburgh Contra Dance celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015. These and others continue to be popular and some offer other dances and activities besides contra dancing. In the 1970s, Sannella and other callers introduced dance moves from English Country Dance, such as heys and gypsies, to the contra dances.