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. 

Jessica pink.jpg

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.

BkC-web-collage-v1.jpg

1st and 3rd weekend of every month!

 

Sunday, November 3rd

Live music from Local Favorite Cake Jam!

5:00pm to 8pm

Friends! We’ll see you for a dance with local favorites Cake Jam, with calling from Michael Karcher!

Cake Jam brings layers of musical complexity to the stage with twin fiddles and rhythmic piano, an icing of traditional tunes, a ganache of fancy tricks and a foot percussion topper that is sure to get a rise out of anyone in the room!

Michael has been having the time of his life calling dances and weekends around the North America since 2011. He has honed a warm and concise style of teaching and calling, to the delight of dancers across the continent.

Tickets Available Here!

Sunday, November 3rd, 5-8 pm
Lesson at 4:30 pm
Camp Friendship, 339 8th St. Park Slope

Social Hour (at Logan’s Run) to follow the dance

Cost of entry:
Free for Sustainer and Sponsor members, $9 for Supporter members and students, $15 for non-members
Camp Friendship, 339 8th St. Park Slope

More Details Here