What is contra dance?

The term contra dance refers to a traditional dance formation. To form contra lines means that you and your partner usually stand across from each other, forming, along with other couples, two parallel lines that run the length of the hall. This longways geometry is in contrast to other traditional dance geometries like squares, circles, couples, or single lines. In a contra dance, you, your partner, and another couple dance a 32-bar phrase of simple figures done with a smooth walking step, then progress onto another couple and repeat the phrase. It's about the geometry, the patterns, not the footwork. The dance phrase progresses you and your partner along the set to other couples. Everyone dances the entire time. A set may consist of a handful of couples or of twenty or more couples.
This is a technical definition of the form. Most contra dancers would consider it inadequate to convey the experience of the dance itself.

So what else needs to be said to describe contra?

As a historical form, contra is rooted in New England. The form is also related to old southern American dances with longways sets, like the Virginia Reel. Both of those traditions are rooted in English country dances like those portrayed in movies like Pride and Prejudice. In the 1970s, traditional dances gained a footing in the youth subculture in America, with its preference for non-materialistic values, and what we know today as Contra Dance derives that moment in history, as well as from the older tradition.
Today's contra dances are energetic and lively. As a user-friendly, roots-based dance form, it continues to stimulate an egalitarian, cooperative spirit, and you'll find people from all walks of life, urban and rural, who "love the spirit," as one dancer from France said. Because live music is always part of the experience at a contra dance, because the dances are easily grasped after a 30-minute lesson, and because people of any age or background are welcome, contra dance thrives in the twenty-first century.

Is contra dance similar to square dance?

Contemporary western square dance is a very different experience from contra dance; however, many of the basic figures in contra are similar to those in western squares (swing, dos-à-dos, allemande). Older square dances (quadrilles) and long-ways dances like contra are part of the same community dance tradition.
Like squares, contras are prompted by a caller. Unlike squares, the figures in contra are repetitive. This means that dancers quickly learn the pattern, the caller stops calling, and the dance takes on a life of its own.

What if I've never danced before?

At most contra dances, if you attend a 30-minute workshop prior to the dance, you'll be ready to jump in when the dancing starts. Experienced dancers are generally more than willing to assist new people, and experienced dancers and beginners dance together in the same lines. Since the step is a smooth, walking step and the figures are repeated every 32 bars, it's just not that hard to catch on.

What's the culture at a contra dance?

Because contra dances are community dances, you'll dance with people of all ages and backgrounds. The emphasis is on energetic, participatory dance and music, so expect no drinks stronger than water.

Do I need to bring a partner?

No. People come to contra dances alone or with a partner. It's customary (but not required) in the U.S. to dance with different partners throughout the evening, even if you come with one. You'll see men asking women to dance, as well as vice versa. Male and female attendance generally balances itself.

What do I wear?

Dress for comfort and pleasure. A contra dance calls for colorful, fun clothes. You will get hot, even in winter. Women prefer dresses or skirts for the twirl factor and the coolness. Men wear lightweight pants or shorts and shirts. Wear comfortable shoes that slide well on a wood floor. Experienced dancers prefer leather-soled shoes. Flip flops, high heels, or sticky rubber-soled shoes are not a good idea.

What is the music like?

Music is live at contra dances. Musicians and dancers feed off of each other. This gets the endorphins flowing and adds to the sense of community.
Expect reels, jigs, and hornpipes, usually with a fiddle as the lead instrument, backed by banjo, guitar, bass, and/or piano. You may also find accordion, wind instruments, and percussion. Contemporary musicians may weave in jazz or popular music elements. The vitality of the music is part of what keeps contra an active dance form, as opposed to a purely traditional form.