Editing Contra dance (section)

==Events==
[[File:Glen Echo Park contra dance.jpg|thumb|250px|Contra dancers swing at a Friday night dance at [[Glen Echo Park, Maryland|Glen Echo Park]] in the suburbs of [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
Contra dances take place in more than 200 cities and towns across the U.S. ({{As of|2020|lc=y}}),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heatmap |url=https://www.trycontra.com/heatmap-points.html |access-date=2021-10-29 |website=www.trycontra.com}}</ref> as well as in other countries.

Contra dance events are typically open to all, regardless of experience, unless explicitly stated otherwise. It is common to see dancers with a wide range of ages, from children to the elderly.{{sfn|Horton|2001|p=205}} Most dancers are white and middle or upper-middle class.{{sfn|Horton|2001|p=205}} Contra dances are [[family-friendly]], and [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] consumption is not part of the culture.{{sfn|Sannella|1982|p=12|ps=: Although the author speaks of "public square dances," he is referring to the type of event that has come to be known as "contra dances." See also Steve Zakon, quoted in Dart 1995, chapter on "The Contra Dance Event."}} Many events offer beginner-level instructions prior to the dance. A typical evening of contra dance is three hours long, including an intermission. The event consists of a number of individual ''contra dances'', each lasting about 15 minutes, and typically a band intermission with some [[waltz]]es, [[schottische]]s, [[polka]]s, or Swedish [[hambo]]s. In some places, [[square dance]]s are thrown into the mix, sometimes at the discretion of the [[caller (dance)|caller]]. Music for the evening is typically performed by a live band,{{sfn|Horton|2001|p=204}} playing [[jig]]s and [[reel (dance)|reels]] from Ireland, Scotland, Canada, or the USA. The tunes may range from [[traditional music|traditional]] originating a century ago, to modern compositions including electric guitar, synth keyboard, and driving percussion – so long as the music fits the timing for contra dance patterns. Sometimes, a rock tune will be woven in.<ref>Perpetual eMotion sing 'Eleanor Rigby' {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9veEzgGoO8Q|title=5/6/11, 2 of 9: Perpetual e-Motion at the Concord Scout House|website=[[YouTube]]|date=8 May 2011 |access-date=24 Oct 2014}}</ref>

Generally, a leader, known as a caller, will teach each individual dance just before the music for that dance begins. During this introductory walk-through, participants learn the dance by walking through the steps and formations, following the caller's instructions.{{sfn|Hast|1993}} The caller gives the instructions orally, and sometimes augments them with demonstrations of steps by experienced dancers in the group. The walk-through usually proceeds in the order of the moves as they will be done with the music; in some dances, the caller may vary the order of moves during the dance, a fact that is usually explained as part of the caller's instructions.

After the walk-through, the music begins and the dancers repeat that sequence many times before that dance ends, often 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the length of the contra lines.{{sfn|Hast|1993|p=25}} Calls are normally given at least the first few times through, and often for the last. At the end of each dance, the dancers thank their partners. In North America, the norm at contra dances is to change partners after each dance.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.bobarcher.org/dance/uk_us_comparison.html#usa_contra_dance_scene|title=UK / USA Dance Comparison|website=www.bobarcher.org|access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> In the short break between individual dances, the dancers invite each other to dance. Booking ahead by asking partner or partners ahead of time for each individual dance is common at some venues, but has been discouraged by some.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musaique.com/contradance/articles/kevra-letter.html|title=Susan Kevra's Letter to the Greenfield Contra Dancers|access-date=24 December 2018|archive-date=27 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227233731/http://www.musaique.com/contradance/articles/kevra-letter.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gainesnet.com/booking.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109125019/http://www.gainesnet.com/booking.htm|archive-date=9 January 2015|title=Please ask someone else to dance|website=www.gainesnet.com|access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dance.ravitz.us/call.php|title=Notes on Calling Contra Dances by Cary Ravitz|website=www.dance.ravitz.us|access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Greenfield New Year's Eve Contra Dance 2.webm|thumb|left|upright=1.3|A pandemic era New Year's Eve contra dance in [[Greenfield, Massachusetts]]]]
Most contra dances do not have an expected dress code.<ref name="contradance1">{{cite web |url=http://www.contradance.org/html/new_dancer_info.php |title=CCD - What is Contra Dancing? |publisher=Contradance.org |access-date=2013-12-05 |archive-date=2014-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114110353/http://www.contradance.org/html/new_dancer_info.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> No special outfits are worn, but comfortable and loose-fitting clothing that does not restrict movement is usually recommended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sactocds.org/NewWebsite/index.php/contra-dance-what-to-wear/ |title=Contra Dance – What to Wear? &#124; Sacramento Country Dance Society |publisher=Sactocds.org |access-date=2013-12-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207212329/http://www.sactocds.org/NewWebsite/index.php/contra-dance-what-to-wear/ |archive-date=2013-12-07 }}</ref> Women usually wear skirts or dresses as they are cooler than wearing trousers; some men also dance in kilts or skirts.<ref name="contradance1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hatds.org/contra-faq.html |title=Contra Dance in Houston, TX - Contra Dance Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=HATDS |access-date=2013-12-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013075435/http://www.hatds.org/contra-faq.html |archive-date=2013-10-13 }}</ref> Low heeled, broken-in, soft-soled, non-marking shoes, such as dance shoes, sneakers, or sandals, are recommended and, in some places, required.<ref name="contradance1"/> As dancing can be aerobic, dancers are sometimes encouraged to bring a change of clothes.<ref name=CBDC>{{cite web|title=Your first contra dance|url=http://www.chicagobarndance.org/your-first-contra-dance/|work=Chicago Barn Dance Company|access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref>

As in any social dance, cooperation is vital to contra dancing. Since over the course of any single dance individuals interact with not just their partners but everyone else in the set, contra dancing might be considered a group activity. As will necessarily be the case when beginners are welcomed in by more practiced dancers, mistakes are made; most dancers are willing to help beginners in learning the steps. However, because the friendly, social nature of the dances can be misinterpreted or even abused, some groups have created anti-harassment policies.<ref name=CDSS-Social>{{cite web|title=Social and Community Dynamics|url=http://www.cdss.org/recruit-young-people.html#social|work=Country Dance and Song Society|access-date=5 December 2013|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150340/http://www.cdss.org/recruit-young-people.html#social|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=OFB>{{cite web|title=Dance Guidelines|url=https://oldfarmersball.com/newsletters/articles/guidelines.pdf|work=[[Susquehanna Breakdown Music Festival|Old Farmer’s Ball]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323114203/https://oldfarmersball.com/newsletters/articles/guidelines.pdf|access-date=5 December 2013|archive-date=2017-03-23}}</ref>