Contredance or contredanse is the name given to French developments of English country dance at the end of the 17th century. Discribed and developed by Raoul-Auger Feuillet in Recüeil de contredances (tanslated by John Essex into For the further improvement of dancing) contredance lead to the development of Baroque dance.
A New England Contradance is an American traditional dance evolved from English country dance and Europeancontradance. Most New England Contradances consist of a sequence of about six to twelve individual figures. These figures are recited by a caller in time to the music as the figures are danced.
New England Contradances often are arranged in long lines of facing or opposing partners. The three major 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 Becket, Massachusetts.)
Proper:
F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2...
M1 M2 M1 M2 M1 M2 M1 M2...
Improper:
M1 F2 M1 F2 M1 F2 M1 F2...
F1 M2 F1 M2 F1 M2 F1 M2...
Becket:
F1 M1 F1 M1 F1 M1 F1 M1...
M2 F2 M2 F2 M2 F2 M2 F2...
(key: band is to the left, F=female, M=Male, 1=1st couple, 2=2nd couple)
A figure is a short dance "step" or "move", sort of a choreographic building block. Most figures take eight counts of music, although figures with four or sixteen counts are also common.
Basic figures:
Balance
Swing
Allemande
Star
Do-si-do
Ladies Chain
Long Lines Forward & Back
Right & Left Through
Hey For Four
Figure Eight
Promenade
Petronella Turn
Courtesy Turn
Circle of Four
Turn as a Couple
Turn Alone
California Twirl
Down the Hall Four In Line
Box the Gnat
Roll Away with a Half Sashay
Turn Contra-Corners
Gypsy
Cross Trail
Pass Through
Right Hand High, Left Hand Low
Butterfly Whirl
As a dance progresses, so do the dancers: the arrangement of the figures causes each couple to move together toward or away from the band. When a couple reaches the end of the line, they simply turn around and join back in, going in the other direction.
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 the evening, 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 you repeat that sequence some number of times before the dance ends, you thank your partner, and find a new one 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.
