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1 History

At the end of the 17th century in France, English country dance was developed under the name contredance or contredanse. Described and developed by Raoul-Auger Feuillet in Recüeil de contredances (translated by John Essex as For the further improvement of dancing), contredance led to the development of Baroque dance.

2 Contra Dance Events

Most contra dance events are open to all comers, regardless of experience, and the tradition is to change partners for every sequence (so you don't need to bring a partner). A typical evening of contra dancing is 3 hours long, including an intermission. During an average event, a dozen or so dance sequences are done. Almost all dance sequences are "walked through" before the music begins as the caller teaches that particular sequence. The music begins and the dancers repeat that sequence some number of times before the dance ends. Then the dancers thank their partners, and find new partners for the next dance.

At public dances, music is invariably provided by a live band playing jigs and reels from the British Isles, Canada, the USA, and, as a novelty, tunes exhibiting the musical motifs of other exotic locales ( eastern Europe, Russia, etc.).

No special outfits are worn, but 'peasant skirts' are popular with women (and some men). Low, broken-in soft-soled non-marking shoes are recommended.

3 Choreography

Most New England Contradances consist of a sequence of about six to twelve individual figures. These figures are prompted by a caller (like a square dance) in time to the musicMusic often an art/ entertainment, is a total social fact whose definitions vary according to era and culture," according to Jean Molino. 1 It is often contrasted with noise. According to musicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez: "The border between music and no as the figures are danced. As the sequence repeats, the caller may cut down their prompting, and eventually drop out, leaving the dancers moving to the music.

3.1 Types of Sets

New England Contradances often are arranged in long lines of facing or opposing partners, called sets. The three predominant arrangements or formations are proper, improper, and Becket. (Becket formation is named after "Becket Reel" by Herbie Gaudreau , probably the first contradance to use this formation. The dance itself is named after the town of BecketBecket is a town located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,755. History Becket was first settled in 1740 and was officially incorporated in 1765. Geography According to the United States Census, MassachusettsMassachusetts is a state of the United States of America, part of the New England region. postal abbreviation is MA and its traditional abbreviation is Mass . It is properly called the Commonwealth of Massachusetts although there is no legal distinction b). Unlike the so-called "whole-set" dances (like the Virginia Reel ), you and your partner are primarily interacting with an adjacent couple for each round of the dance. The sub-groups of two couples is known as the "minor set". (Rare dance sequences have three couples per minor set; these are called "triple minor", while the usual grouping is called "duple minor".) Couples consist of one "lady" and one "gentleman"; ladies are usually women, and gentlemen (often abbreviated "gents") are usually male, but contra dancers are notorious for taking the "opposite" gender role.

Proper:

Improper:

Becket:

Sets are generally arranged so they run along the length of the hall with the "top" of the set is the end closest to the band and caller (correspondingly the "bottom" of the set is the end furthest from the caller). Dancers moving toward the band are moving "up the hall" and "down the hall" when moving away. As a dance progresses, so do the dancers: the arrangement of the figures causes each couple to move together up or down the hall, when they reach the end of the hall they reverse direction across the set. When a couple reaches the end of the line, they simply turn around and join back in, going in the other direction.

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Topics: Contradance Set Dancers Dance Ladies Figures Left Shoulders...

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ContradanceA New England Contradance is an American traditional dance evolved from English country dance and European contradance . History At the end of the 17th century in France, English country dance was developed under the name contredance or contredanse''.