Editing Country dance (section)

==Characteristics==
[[File:English country dancing in Manhattan in May 2024.webm|thumb|upright=1.3|English country dancing in Manhattan in May 2024]]
A ''set'' is a formation<ref>[http://contrafusion.co.uk/Formations.html Dance Formations]</ref> of dancers. The most common formations are ''longways for as many as will'', i.e. couples in long lines, and ''squares'', consisting of four couples. The longways formation occurs in more than 12,000 modern [[contra dance]]s;<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/ Contra Dance Database]</ref> it was also the most popular formation in all the dance publications of the 18th and early 19th centuries.<ref>[https://www.google.com/search?q=site:imslp.org+country%20dance Search of IMSLP for "country dance"]</ref> In 2003, Burleson's Square Dancer's Encyclopedia<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30316510 Burleson's Square Dancer's Encyclopedia]</ref> listed 5125<ref>[http://fortytwo.ws/~cbaker/Call%20Evolution%20by%20Clark%20Baker.pdf "Call Evolution"] by Clark Baker, Don Beck; fortytwo.ws/~cbaker</ref> calls or figures. Circles and fixed-length longways sets are also very common, but the possible formations are limited only by the imagination of the choreographer.

Thomas Wilson, in 1808, wrote, "A Country Dance is composed of an indefinite number of persons, not less than six, but as many more as chuse, but six are sufficient to perform any figure in the treatise."<ref>{{cite book| url=https://www.loc.gov/item/42049716/ | last=Wilson|first=Thomas|title=An Analysis of Country Dancing|date=1808|publisher=W. Calvert|location=London}}</ref> Wilson was writing about his own period. In fact, there are numerous dances for two couples, and quite a few for three or five dancers.

A ''figure'' is a pattern that the dancers trace along the floor, simple ones such as Circle Left are intuitive and can be danced with no prior knowledge, while complex moves such as [[Strip the willow]] need to be taught. The stepping and style of dancing varies by region and by period.

Wilson in 1820 wrote, "Country Dance Figures are certain Movements or Directions formed in Circular, Half Circular, Serpentine, Angular, Straight Lines, etc. etc. drawn out into different Lengths, adapted to the various ''Strains'' of Country Dance Music." .<ref>{{cite book| url=https://imslp.org/wiki/A_Companion_to_the_Ball_Room_(Wilson%2C_Thomas) | last=Wilson|first=Thomas|title= A Companion to the Ballroom |date=1820|location=London}}</ref> Again, the possible figures are limited only by the imagination of the choreographer. Examples of some of the figures are provided in the [[Glossary of country dance terms]].

The music most commonly associated with country dancing is folk/country/traditional/historical music, however, modern bands are experimenting with countless other genres.

While some dances may have originated on [[village green]]s,<ref name="Percy A. Scholes 1970">[[Percy Scholes|Percy A. Scholes]], ''[[The Oxford Companion to Music]]'', Oxford University Press 1970, article "Country dance".</ref> the vast majority were, and still are, written by dancing masters and choreographers.

Each dance consists of a series of figures, hopefully smoothly linked together, designed to fit to the chosen music. The most common form of music is 32 bar jigs or reels, but any music suitable for dancing can be used. In most dances the dancers will progress to a new position so that the next time through the music they are dancing with different people.

While English [[folk dance]] clubs<ref>[https://www.setandturnsingle.org.uk/index.php?option=com_contentbuilder&controller=list&view=list&search_form_id=1&id=1&Itemid=1026 "Set and Turn Single"], directory of folk dance clubs, setandturnsingle.org.uk</ref> generally embrace all types of country dance, American English country dance groups<ref>[https://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/~winston/ecd/hotbeds.htmlx "ECD (English country dance) around the United States"], www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/~winston/</ref> tend to exclude modern contra dances and [[square dance]]s.

[[File:Softly Good Tummas at YDW 2024.webm|thumb|upright=1.3|The English country dance "Softly Good Tummas" (1718) at Youth Dance Weekend 2024 in Vermont]]
Country dancing is intended for general participation, unlike folk dances such as [[clogging]], which are primarily [[concert dance]]s, and [[ballroom dance]]s in which dancers dance with their partners independently of others. Bright, rhythmic and simple, country dances have appeal as a refreshing finale to an evening of stately dances such as the [[minuet]].<ref name="Percy A. Scholes 1970"/>

Historically, the term ''contra dance'' is another name for a country dance. Howe, in 1858, wrote that "The term 'Country Dance' is the one invariably used in all books on dancing that have been published in England during the last three centuries, while all works issued in France within the same period employ the term Contra Dance, or in French "Contre Danse". As the authority is equally good in both cases, either term is therefore correct. The Country or Contra Dance has been one of the most popular amusements in the British Isles, France, and other continental countries from time immemorial".<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/resource/musdi.243.0?sp=25 Howe's ''Complete Ball-room Hand Book'', p. 25]</ref> However, "contra dance" is most commonly used today to refer to a specific American genre called contra dance.