I'd differentiate between a singular contra dance - longways sets, duple minor (some triple minor chestnuts in special cases e.g. The Young Widow), jigs/reels typically (except exceptions as discussed). I would characterise them choreographically as ideally linked figure to figure in a continuous progression. I think (even though the etymology is spurious) I would want to have the feeling of a contrary person as well as my partner.
A contra dance evening might well feature the other styles particularly if it's a one-off party etc. but I would not say they are contra dances themselves. Similarly square dances are not contra but might make an appearance in this context. I'd be more inclined to include the non-contras in an "American" night at a festival rather than at a "contra" night. Ted Sanella and Larry Jennings quite clearly included these styles in their books but in seperate sections to the contras. So yes, I think I agree with you Colin. On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 8:47 PM Colin Hume via Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > I'm in Germany, and I'm speaking for the next few days at a Conference run > by the European Callers and Teachers Association. > Several of my sessions are about Contras, and speaking to the Contra > Coordinator as we drove to the hotel I realised we had very > different ideas about what a contra is. I say it is an American (or > American-style) dance, longways duple or triple. He classes > three-couple dances (such as Ted's Triplets), four-couple dances and > circles as contras. He even classes my dance "Sting in the > Tail" as a contra. This is for two three-couple sets side-by-side and > involves siding into line, set and turn single. I would > regard this quite definitely as "Playford"-style, and I think Americans > would categorise it as English. But what is a contra? I > know the hot-shots would say that it's longways duple improper or Becket > with a partner swing and preferably a neighbor swing, but > is that your definition? What about an early American dance such as "The > Young Widow" - is that a contra? Can a dance in waltz > time be a contra? I think of a contra as mainly danced to reels or jigs, > though I know there are a few to slip-jigs. Within > reels I would include marches and American hornpipes, which are smooth, > but not English hornpipes which I would dance to a > step-hop. And not Strathspeys. I would say contras are done to a walking > step, apart from the swing which is often a buzz step. > But do you agree with me? > > Answers fairly quickly please! > > Colin Hume > > Email [email protected] Web site http://colinhume.com > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: [email protected] > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >
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