Using Contra to Teach Square Dancing
What is Contra?
Contra is an American form of folk dance where you dance with a partner. You dance a series of moves with another couple, and the end of which you progress (move on) to a new couple and repeat the same sequence of moves with them. The sequences are almost always 32 bars (64 steps) long, and are known as “once through” the dance.
You can see a video of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsnhN_LK-9k
Why is it good for teaching SD?
Many of the moves used in Contra are the same as the basic moves in SD, and moreover most basic and mainstream moves can be danced with 4 people (the exceptions are the circle based ones such as Grand Square and Right and Left Grand, and those requring 8 people: Eight Chain Thru, Pass to the Centre, Spin Chain Thru, Ferris Wheel, Dive Thru and Trade By). You also can't have a 1/4 or 3/4 tag formation, but there are no moves at Mainstream that rely on that formation.
But why use it?
Fundamentally it’s far less boring in the initial stages – people are learning while having fun, and don’t really see it as “lessons”. In fact you don’t even have to tell them that they’re learning square dance! But on top of this:
Suitable for any number of dancers
Where contra really wins is that to dance it you only need an even number of people - not a multiple of 8 as with a square formation. So you only need one angel, and people only have to sit out a short while (if at all) which means teaching is quicker as you don’t have to swap people in and repeat.
Repetition reinforces, but is not boring
The repetition reinforces the move into the mind. In a square dance this gets boring very quickly, but in contra it doesn't because you're always doing it with new people.
Simpler to identify who you’re doing the move with
One of the things beginners struggle with is what formation the move is being done in (line or box) and who they’re doing the move with. Using contra, the formation is obvious, and you don't have to work out who you're doing the move with - it's always the other couple.
Twice as Much Dancing
Since everyone dances all the time, there is more dancing done than e.g. Head Ladies Chain, Side Ladies Chain.
Variation from Square
Squares have to be used for certain moves, so using contra for those that work that way gives variety.
So how do you use it?
You need to start by understanding the formation and the progression.
The best way to use Contra to teach SD is to use a particular variation of the contra formation called Becket. In this formation the dancers are in two long lines, the lady is on the right hand side of the man, and everyone is facing another couple across the set.
When it's time to move on, everyone moves one couple to the left of where they were. If there's an odd number of couples, there will be a couple “out” (i.e. with no other couple to face) at one end of the set. These couples sit out for a bit and then come back in on the other side of the set. If there's an even number, just move everyone 2 couples to the left. See images for more details (with grateful thanks to Taminations from whom I have shamelessly borrowed the icons).
Then what?
See anewapproachSSD.html for a new way of teaching MWSD.