3rd Saturday Contra Dance

You’ve seen announcements here many times for this monthly event, but what exactly is a contra dance anyway? Well I just had to know so I asked the organizers and here’s what I found out…

It’s similar to square dancing, but you end up forming more of a line than a square. Also, each couple dances with a progression of other couples rather than with the same group throughout the dance, as is done in square dancing. You end up dancing with everyone’s partner rather than just your own.

It is a low-impact aerobic workout that is FUN! Everyone dancing is smiling and laughing the whole time. And it’s for all ages – Parents with infants in backpacks – children 10 years old partnering with 85 year-olds and everyone in between.

Contra dancing originated in New England as a kind of indigenous (American) folk dance. It has been sweeping across the country and it’s being done all over the northwest. It’s huge at Seattle’s Folk Life Festival. Here on the island it was happening around 25 years ago out at the labs but it kind of died out until recently being brought back around 2010 as the 3rd Saturday Contra dance at the Grange. (There is also a Monday night contra dance put on by Mike Cohen which is comprised of mostly local callers and musicians, and anyone can sit in). The 3rd Saturday one tends to bring bands and callers from off-island, many of whom travel the country doing so.

This weekend, Saturday September 17 at the Grange it’s musicians Clyde*, Forrest and Jerry with Amy Carrol calling. *Clyde Curley is a former San Juan Island resident who “wrote the book” on contra dancing. Yes, literally – He and some partners have written 3 music books for “contra-bands”.

Saturday, September 17 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM
At the Grange, 152 First St. N.
$10.00 donation appreciated ($5.00 for students)

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