Editing Contra dance (section)

==Choreography==<!-- This section is linked from [[English Country Dance]] -->
[[File:Dela Says Yippee at YDW 2019.webm|thumb|350px|Attendees of Youth Dance Weekend 2019 dance "Dela Says Yippee" by Dugan Murphy to music by Calluna]]
{{main|Contra dance choreography}}
Contra dance [[choreography]] specifies the dance formation, the figures, and the sequence of those figures in a dance. Contra dance figures (with a few exceptions) do not have defined footwork; within the limits of the music and the comfort of their fellow dancers, individuals move according to their own taste.

Most contra dances consist of a sequence of about 6 to 12 individual figures, prompted by the [[Caller (dance)|caller]] in time to the [[music]] as the figures are danced. As the sequence repeats, the caller may cut down his or her prompting, and eventually drop out, leaving the dancers to each other and the music.

A ''figure'' is a pattern of movement that typically takes eight ''counts'', although figures with four or 16 counts are also common. Each dance is a collection of figures assembled to allow the dancers to progress along the set (see "Progression", above).

A ''count'' (as used above) is one half of a [[bar (music)|musical measure]], such as one quarter note in {{music|time|2|4}} time or three eighth notes in {{music|time|6|8}} time. A count may also be called a ''step'', as contra dance is a walking form, and each count of a dance typically matches a single physical step in a figure.

Typical contra dance choreography comprises four ''parts'', each 16 counts (8 measures) long. The parts are called A1, A2, B1 and B2. This nomenclature stems from the music: Most contra dance tunes (as written) have two parts (A and B), each 8 measures long, and each fitting one part of the dance. The A and B parts are each played twice in a row, hence, A1, A2, B1, B2. While the same music is generally played in, for example, parts A1 and A2, distinct choreography is followed in those parts. Thus, a contra dance is typically 64 counts, and goes with a 32 measure tune. Tunes of this form are called "square"; tunes that deviate from this form are called "[[crooked tune|crooked]]".

Sample contra dances:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/by_title.html|title=Michael Dyck's Contradance Index: By Title|website=www.ibiblio.org|access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref>

* Traditional – the actives do most of the movement
:''Chorus jig'' (proper duple minor)
::A1 (16) Actives down the outside and back. (The inactives stand still or substitute a swing).
::A2 (16) Actives down the center, turn individually, come back, and cast off. (The inactives stand still for the first {{music|time|3|4}}, take a step up the hall, and then participate in the cast).
::B1 (16) Actives turn contra corners. (The inactives participate in half the turns.)
::B2 (16) Actives meet in the middle for a balance and swing, end swing facing up. (The inactives stand still.)
::''Note:'' inactives will often clog in place or otherwise participate in the dance, even though the figures do not call for them to move.
* Modern – the dance is symmetrical for actives and inactives
:"Hay in the Barn" by Chart Guthrie (improper duple minor)
::A1 (16) Neighbors balance and swing
::A2 (8) Ladies chain across, (8) half hey, ladies pass right shoulders to start.
::B1 (16) Partners balance and swing.
::B2 (8) Ladies chain across, (8) half hey, ladies pass right shoulders to start.

Many modern contra dances have these characteristics:<ref>CONTRA DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY A Reflection of Social Change MARY McNAB DART 1995.</ref>
* longways for as many as will
* first couples improper, or Becket formation
* flowing choreography
* no-one stationary for more than 16 beats (e.g. first couple balance and swing, finish facing down to make lines of four)
* containing at least one swing and normally both a partner swing and a neighbor swing
* the vast majority of the moves from a set of well-known moves that the dancers know already
* composed mostly of moves that keep all dancers connected 
* generally danced to 32 bar jigs or reels played at between 110 and 130 bpm
* danced with a smooth walk with many spins and twirls

An event which consists primarily (or solely) of dances in this style is sometimes referred to as a "modern urban contra dance".