What is Contra Dancing?

If swing dancing and square dancing met in a bar, you’d get contra.

Contra dancing is a type of community folk dance. This informal dance style draws from a wide geography of traditions, evolving from English country dancing and bringing in many influences including African call-and-response. They came together in the Northern Appalachia region to become the raucous, foot-stomping, high-energy partner dance we know today. 

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Here’s how the dance works: Each dance starts when you find a partner. You can come to a night of contra dancing alone or with a friend, but you can expect to dance with many new people over the course of a night. Couples form parallel lines and move up and down the dance floor, interacting with every other couple in their line. There is no fancy footwork involved – anyone can do it! Calling all of the dances from the stage, the dance caller teaches each dance before the music starts. 

Whether you're looking for a night out or a new community Contra is a night of great live music, dancing, and joy.  

Brooklyn Contra strives to be an inclusive space, which means we welcome all people of all cultural origins, national origins, dance abilities, and gender identities.

New to contra dancing? We've written up some Tips for Beginners.

Still have questions? Maybe we've answered them in our FAQs.

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1st and 3rd weekend of every month!

 

Saturday, Sept. 20th:

Friends, we hope your ready for a barn burner of a dance! We’ve got the High Strung string band coming up from Philly for an extra long set, Abigail Hobart all the way from Spain to call an evening of amazing dances, and a special late night DJ set from Chloe Rosenthal followed by a little more blues dancing at our after party!

Tickets Available Here!

Dance Schedule:

  • 7:00pm Lesson

  • 7:30pm Dancing Starts

  • 9:20pm Second Half Dancing w/Advanced Dances

  • 11:00pm Techno Set

  • 12:00pm Afters at Logan’s Run

High Strung is a vibrant new four-piece from Philadelphia. With foot-stomping reels, pulsing marches, and soaring jigs, High Strung blends Celtic, Canadian, and American folk traditions into an electrifying sound, guaranteed to keep the floor moving until the last waltz.

  • Saturday, September 20, 2025

  • 7:00 PM 11:59 PM

  • Camp Friendship339 8th StreetBrooklyn, NY, 11215United States