Here are a few tips that we think might help beginners.....
Get Started with a Lesson
We STRONGLY recommend that you arrive early for the beginner's lesson. Each and every Brooklyn Contra dance starts with a detailed beginner's lesson from the caller. The caller will give you the general breakdown of how the dance works, go over simple moves, and talk about how to stay in time with music. It's fun and an invaluable experience – you will enjoy the rest of the dance much more after the lesson.
About Partners
While Contra is danced with a partner, bringing one is not necessary. It’s a great way to meet new people! Get out there and say “hello!”
It can be challenging and even frustrating to dance with another new dancer. We highly recommend that new dancers who wish to learn quickly seek out more experienced dancers as partners. They’ll help guide you during the dance, accelerating the learning process. If you brought another new dancer with you, it will be more fun to dance with them after you’ve both danced with other people and gotten the feel of things. Don’t be shy, mix and mingle!
It is traditional in Contra that you change partners throughout the night, so don’t be intimidated to ask someone to dance, or surprised if someone asks you! But do always feel free to turn down a partner as well.
About the Caller
The caller is here to help you. When the caller is teaching, please be courteous, give your full attention, and avoid side conversations. When the caller asks for "hands four and pass it down" (you’ll see), join hands in groups of four and hold them until the group below you has done the same. This way each dance can start as soon as possible.
About Mistakes
If you make a mistake or miss a figure, don’t worry about it – it’s all in fun! Smile and, instead of rushing through the botched figure, skip it and go on to the next. That’s what the experienced dancers do. It is more important to your fellow dancers that you be ready for the next figure than for you to complete each figure. The figures repeat, so if you miss it one time, you’ll have plenty more chances to get it right. Just hang in there!
About the Dancing
Move with an easy and smooth walking step. Try to avoid jumping or bouncing when swinging. Dance each figure within its musical phrase.
Maybe the most important concept is the most simple: Giving Weight! Try and keep a gentle connection to your partner whenever you’re connected by keeping arms firm to support each other through the figures. You want to offer just enough resistance or pull to let your partner know you're there without yanking or having to be yanked. Be sensitive to others’ needs and preferences.
Keep in mind that there’s a lot to take in the first time, but every experienced dancer has been through it. You’re likely to enjoy it, even more, the second time, once the people, figures, and music are more familiar to you.
If you can walk, you can contra. Remember to have fun and get out there and DANCE!
An Inclusive and Safe Environment
We strive to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. If at a dance you ever feel unwelcome or unsafe, we encourage dancers to speak with an organizer in person or to send us an email. We rely on dancers’ feedback to keep our community healthy and constantly moving forward.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, religion or any other basis prohibited by law. If you have questions, comments, concerns or complaints, we urge you to contact a dance organizer at a dance, or email us at info@brooklyncontra.org.
Still have questions? Maybe we've answered them in our FAQs.