Contra Dance Workshop

We're hosting an easy beginner's lesson to contra dancing! Come see what the Folk Music and Dance Society is about!

Contra dance is a type of traditional New England social dance. No experience is required! Dancing consists of simple walking figures with a partner and other dancers, however no one is required to bring a partner, and a caller prompts each figure of the dance. Each dance usually lasts from 8-12 minutes, though this workshop will focus primarily on teaching dances rather than a full evening of dancing. You may ask anyone to dance, and you are not required to say yes. The caller will use the terms larks and robins to call individual partner roles. There will be a break with a waltz halfway through the evening. We recommend you bring soft-soled shoes and a water bottle. Masks are not required, but will be available if you would like one. Please do not attend if you feel unwell.

*Notes on accessibility: contra dancing is fairly active as it requires long periods of walking, however wheeled mobility aids can work well for various figures. Chapin is wheelchair accessible from the southeast Mary Woolley Hall elevator with accessible parking just adjacent to that entrance. This will be a fairly low-key event in terms of volume, but there will be speakers present.

Sam Thibeault, president of the Mount Holyoke Folk Music and Dance Society, will be teaching and calling the dances. The music will be traditional English, Irish, Scottish, and French Canadian folk tunes.

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