Contra Dances
The contra dances on this page are formatted roughly similiar to "Dancing
for Busy People" HTML has several limitations that make exact formatting
impossible. The book also contains many useful diagrams on various contra
formations that are difficult to reproduce. The key to reading the description:
- Each dash represents one beat of music.
- Each line represents eight beats of music.
What's Here
An excellent contra to be used at beginner parties. If the gender ratio
is uneven, just have people remember their home line. Kids love this dance.
Tunnel Contra
Author Unknown
Formation: Six couples or fewer. All the men in a line
on the caller's right. All the ladies in a line on the caller's left.
Record: LS E-40 or E-Z 722 or TNT 271 "Pass Me By"
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
1-8 - - - -, All Pass Thru, - U-turn Back
9-16 - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
17-24 - - - -, All Pass Thru & U-turn Back
25-32 - - - -, Top couple Slide Down (Others Arch)
33-40 - - - -, Lady up inside,man up outside
41-48 - - - -, Man down inside,lady down outside
49-56 - - - -, - - Everybody Swing
57-64 - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
The prompts shown below are abbreviated and should be used only after the
dancers are completely familiar with the dance.
1-8 - - - -, - - - Cross
9-16 - - - -, - - - Forward
17-24 - - - -, - - - Cross
25-32 - - - -, - - Top Cpcouple down
33-40 - - - -, - - Lady up inside
41-48 - - - -, - - Man down inside
49-56 - - - -, - - - Swing
57-64 - - - -, - - - Forward
Description
1-8 Lines walk Forward & Back.
9-16 Pass Thru the opposite line in 4 steps and U-turn
Back in 4 steps to end standing where opposite line started.
17-24 Both lines walk Forward & Back.
25-32 Pass Thru the opposite line in 4 steps and U-turn
Back in 4 steps to end standing back in the home line.
33-40 The couple nearest the prompter join both hands with the opposite
person and slide (sashay) to the foot of the set. The rest of the couples
form a two hand arch as the active couple passes by to form a long tunnel.
41-48 The lady walks up through the tunnel as the man walks up the
outside of the man's line.
49-56 The man walks down through the tunnel as the lady walks down
the outside of the lady's line. The active couple then step into their home
line at the foot of the set.
57-64 Everybody Swing their partner and then step back into their
home lines.
Note: If you find the active couple cannot go through the tunnel within
16 counts, eliminate the final 8-count Swing and wait the 8 extra beats
of music before prompting the Forward & Back. The tunnel can also be
eliminated, if needed, for dancers with physical limitations.
This dance is very useful with people who already
know square dancing because couple face couple across the set instead of
the partner being across the set. You sing it like a singing call.
Slaunch to Donegal
Adapted by Ede Butlin from "Beckett Reel" by Herbe
Gaudreau
Formation: Couples facing couples, lady on partner's right,
in long lines down the hall. An even number of couples is required.
Record:Windor 4183 "Slaunch to Donegal"
Prompts
Intro - - - -, With your corner allemande left 1
1-8 - - - -, Everybody swing your own
9-16 - - - -, Slant left and right and left thru
17-24 - - - -, Straight across right & left thru
25-32 - - - -, Same four two ladies chain
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain back
41-48 - - - -, Same four star Left
49-56 - - - -, - - Star right
57-64 - - - -, With your corner allemande left
Description
1-8 Allemande Left with the corner.
9-16 Swing your partner and finish facing across the set.
17-24 As a couple, face diagonally to the left and Right
& Left Thru with the facing couple. Two couples, one on each end of
the set, will have no couple diagonally to the left. They face across the
set and wait in place for 8 beats of music.
25-32 Right & Left Thru with the couple across the
set. The two couples left idle, during the previous move, will change sides
of the set during the Right & Left Thru and have a new home line.
33-40 2 Ladies Chain across the set.
41-48 Chain the ladies back across the set.
49-56 Same four Star Left.
57-64 Same four Star Right back to the home lines.
One of the more unusual contras I've found. This
one and another version are both printed in "Dancng
for Busy People."
OXO Reel
Author Unknown
Formation: Contra lines of six couples. All the men in
a line on the caller's right and all the ladies in a line on the caller's
left.
Record: Grenn 122241 "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
Prompts
Intro Top Couple Sashay Down, Bottom Couple Sashay Up
1-8 New top couple Sashay down, New bottom couple
Sashay up
9-16 - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
17-24 - - - -, - - Circles & Stars
25-32 - - - -, Reverse the Circles & Stars
33-40 - - - -, All face up & Promenade to the Foot
41-48 - - - -, First couple arch and others duck thru
49-54 Promenade to the head of the set, - - - -
57-64 Top couple sashay down,bottom couple up
Description
1-8 First couple joins hands and sashay or walk to the foot
of the set down the inside while the bottom couple separate and walk or
sashay up the outside to the head of the set.
9-16 The new first couple joins hands and sashay or walk to the foot
of the set down the inside while the new bottom couple separate and walk
or sashay up the outside to the head of the set.
17-24 Everybody Forward & Back.
25-32 The top two couples Circle Left, the middle two couples Star
Left and the bottom two couples Circle Left.
33-40 Everyone reverses direction to Right Hand Circle on the ends
and Star Right in the middle.
41-48 Everyone faces the head of the set, separates and promenades
single file to the foot of the set.
49-64 The first couple forms an arch and the other couples dive thru
the arch and promenade to the head of the set.
The body flow in Homosassa Hornpipe is almost
perfect. I also like to use singing call records for this dance.
Homosassa Hornpipe
Don Armstrong
Formation: Contra lines 1, 3, 5,etc. active and crossed
over
Record: LS-164 "Homosassa Hornpipe"
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Actives DoSaDo in the Center
1-8 - - - -, - - Corner Swing
9-16 - - - -, Put her on the right & Half Promenade
17-24 - - - -, Same four Right & Left Thru
25-32 - - - -, - - Left Hand Star
33-40 - - - -, - - Right Hand Star
41-48 - - - -, The men drop Out & the Ladies Chain
49-54 - - - -, - - Chain Back
56-64 - - - -, Actives DoSaDo in the center
Description
1-8 Active couples DoSaDo their partner across the
set.
9-16 Swing the lady on the man's left hand side (corner).
17-24 Promenade half across the set with the corner lady,
men passing left shoulders. (The man can just keep his arm around the waist
of his partner.)
25-32 Same four Right & Left Thru back to the orginal
line.
33-40 Same four Star Left. (It helps if the man holds the
lady's left hand as they blend into the Left Hand Star.)
41-48 Same four Star Right.
49-56 The men stop at home position and the Ladies Chain
across the set to their partners. (The man can add a small left hand roll
out in four counts as the ladies are chaining toward them.)
57-64 Chain the ladies back across the set.
Double progression contras move the dancers two positions within the line
each sequence. This means the dancers move through the positions in the
set quite rapidly. In the following contras the dancers do not have to remember
to cross at the head of the set. Double progression contras do work better
when all the set have even numbers of duples.
Constant Contra
Mitch Pingel
Formation: Contra lines with 1,3,5, etc. crossed and active.
An even number of duples is recommended.
Record: ESP 412 "Steppin Out"
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Face the Corner & DoSaDo
1-8 - - - -, - - Corner Swing
9 -16 - - - -, Put her on your right & Star left
17-24 - - - -, - - Star Right
25-32 - - - -, Men drop out & Two Ladies Chain across
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain back
41-48 - - - -, All Pass Thru & U-turn Back
49-56 - - - -, With the new lady on the right Promenade Half
57-64 - - - -, Face a new corner & DoSaDo
Description
1-8 All DoSaDo the corner
9-16 Swing the corner. Place the lady on the man's right
hand side and face across the set as a couple.
17-24 Star Left with the couple across the set.
25-32 Same four reverse direction and Star Right.
33-40 The men drop out of the Star when they reach their
home line. The two ladies continue to hold hands and 2 Ladies Chain across
the set. The man will Courtesy Turn their partner.
41-48 Same 2 Ladies Chain back to their home line.
49-56 The two facing lines Pass Thru & U-turn Back.
57-64 The man takes the new right hand lady in Couple Promenade
position and Promenade Half back to the home line. (The active couples move
down the set two positions. A new couple becomes active at the head of the
set and a new couple becomes inactive at the foot of the set.)
Note: The first few times through the dance some people may be confused
about which person to Promenade Half in counts 57-64. Have the men look
to their right and the ladies look to their left.
Carrbean Contra
Don Armstrong
Formation: Contra lines with 1,3,5, etc. crossed and active.
An even number of duples is recommended.
Record: Grenn 12131 "In the Morning Dew" or Jewel
709 "Whup Whup"
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Everybody Forward & Back
1-8 - - - -, - - Corner DoSaDo
9 -16 - - - -, - Promenade Single File
17-24 - - - -, U-turn Back & return to place
25-32 - - - -, Allemande Left & the Ladies Chain
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain back
41-48 - - - -, All Pass Thru & U-turn Back
49-56 - - - -, With the new lady on the right Promenade Half
57-64 - - - -, Long lines Forward & Back
Description
1-8 The long lines go Forward & Back.
9-16 Face the Corner & DoSaDo. Be sure to finish the
DoSaDo facing the corner.
17-24 Promenade Single File by the corner, passing right
shoulders. All the men, on each side, will Promenade Single File. All the
ladies, on each side, will Promenade Single File.
25-32 All U-turn Back and return Single File back to the
corner.
33-40 Do a quick Allemande Left with the corner and then
2 Ladies Chain across the set. The man will Courtesy Turn his partner.
41-48 Chain the Ladies back across the set.
49-56 The two facing lines Pass Thru and U-turn Back.
57-64 The man takes the new lady on the right in Couple
Promenade position and Promenade Half across back to the home line. (The
active couples have moved down the set two positions. A new couple becomes
active at the head of the set and a new couple becomes inactive at the foot
of the set.)
Note: The first few times through the dance some people may be confused
about which person to Promenade Half in counts 57-64. Have the men look
to their right and the ladies look to their left. Don's original terminology
for the action U-Turn Back is Turn Alone.
This dance is done in a "beckett"
style contra formation, but the progression has the couples slanting to
the right for a Right & Left Thru. A little different. The tricky point
in the dance follows this when each couple is facing a new pair. If the
dancers haven't used this direction of progression before, they can become
confused. The dance was written by Allynn Rigg's of Englewood, Colorado
and dances very nicely.
Allynn's Mountain Reel
Allynn Riggs
Formation: Contra lines. Couple facing couple across the
set. The formation requires an even number of couples.
Record: TNT 228 "Merry Christmas Polka" or Blue
Ribbon 257 "Me and My Shadow"
Prompts
Intro - - - - , Across Two Ladies Chain
1-8 - - - -, - - Ladies DoSaDo
9-16 - - - -, - - Men DoSaDo
17-24 - - - -, Ladies Chain turn a quarter more
25-32 - - - -, Promenade go up & down
33-40 - - Wheel Around, - - Come back
41-48 - - - - , Find those two & Half Promenade
49-56 - - - -, Slant right & Right & Left Thru
57-64 - - - -, Straight across Two Ladies Chain
Description
1-8 Two Ladies Chain across the set.
9-16 Same two ladies DoSaDo.
17-24 Opposite men DoSaDo.
25-32 Two Ladies Chain and the men Courtesy Turn the ladies
1/4 more to face up or down the floor. The line on the prompter's left will
be facing away and the line on the caller's right witll be facing the prompter.
33-40 Promenade the direction you are facing for six short
steps. Wheel Around as a couple and walk the opposite direction.
41-48 When each couple is across from the original opposite
couple in the foursome the two couples Half Promenade across.
49-56 Each couple faces the couple diagonally to the right
and does a Right & Left Thru. Two couples, one at each end of the set
will have no couple diagonally to their right. They should face across the
set and wait in place for 8 counts.
57-64 All couples face across the set and Chain the Ladies.
Notes Allynn's original dance "Snow Mountain Reel", uses a Hey
for Four instead of the ladies & men DoSaDo.
During the holiday season, it is nice to have
an evening of dancing where the ladies wear long dresses, if they choose.
This nicely sets the stage for a contra dance that reflects music and styling
used over 100 years ago. The 'Market Lass" is from the heritage collection
of the Lloyd Shaw Foundation and dances beautifully with ladies in long
dresses and men in coats. Very nice for that special evening when the weather
is cold.
Market Lass Crossed
Traditional
Researched by Ralph Page
Formation: Contra lines. Couples 1, 4, 7, etc., active
& NOT crossed. (Proper triple)
Record: LS 1008 "Market Lass"
Prompts
Intro Actives Down the Outside (Intro misic is only four beats)
1-8 - - Below two couples, - - Cross Over
9-16 Up the outside pass one Couple, in & Forward six & Back
17-24 - - - -, Right Hand to partners turn 3/4
25-32 - - - -, Forward Six & Back again
33-40 - - - -, Right Hand to partners turn 3/4
41-48 - - - -, With the couple above Right & Left Thru
49-56 - - - -, - - Right & Left Back
57-64 - - - -, Actives down the outside
Description
1-8 The active couples 1,4, 7, etc. walk down the
outside of the set below two inactive couples and step into the center of
the set.
9-16 The active couples cross over to opposite side of
the set & proceed up the outside of the set past one couple and step
into the long lines.
17-24 Join hands with the couple on either side & walk
Forward & Back.
25-32 Actives turn their partner right hand 3/4 as the
inactives face to join lines of three facing across the hall. The right
hand turns should be done in the old style with the man holding the lady's
hand at shoulder level with his arm bent at the elbow.
33-40 The lines of three move Forward & Back.
41-48 Actives turn partner right 3/4 as the inactives face
across the hall. The actives finish back in their original lines. Men with
men & ladies with ladies.
49-56 Right & Left Thru with the couple above. Since
this is a same sex Right & Left Thru, it is really executed as a Pass
Thru followed by a Wheel Around and not with a Courtesy Turn.
57-64 Right & Left Back.
Don Ward from California recorded this
contra dance. On the recorded side of the record Don uses a Cast Off instead
of the Bend the Line. It works just as good with the Bend the line. The
Circle Left 3/4 followed by Swinging the one you face is a very nice combination.
A Nice Combination
Don Ward
Formation: Contra lines. Couples 1, 3, 5,etc. active and
crossed over.
Record: MacGregor C-302 "Walking the Floor Over You"
Prompts
Intro - - - -, Face the corner DoSaDo
1-8 - - - -, The same one Swing
9-16 - - - -, Promenade down in fours
17-24 - - - -, Wheel Around & Promenade up
25-32 - - - -, Bend the line & Circle Left 3/4
33-40 - - - -, With the one you face Swing
41-48 - - - -, Face across & 2 Ladies Chain
49-56 - - - -, Same four Star Left
57-64 - - - -, Face the corner DoSaDo
Description
1-8 All face corners and DoSaDo
9-16 Swing the same corner and finish facing down the set
in lines of four.
17-24 Promenade away from the prompter 6 steps and Wheel
Around as a couple.
25-32 Finish the Wheel Around and Promenade toward the
prompter, Bend the Line and finish facing across the set as a couple.
33-40 Circle Four with the couple across 3/4 around.
41-48 Swing the one you are facing. This is your original
partner. Finish facing across the set with your partner.
49-56 2 Ladies Chain across the set.
57-64 Star Left once around to the next corner position.
Simplicity Contra
Don Buzzingham
Formation: Contra lines. 1,3,5, etc. crossed over and active.
Record: Wagon Wheel 913 "Engine #9"
Prompts
Intro - - - -, With the one below DoSaDo
1-8 - - - -, - - Same Lady Swing
9-16 - - - -, - - Right & Left Thru across
17-24 - - - -, - - Right & Left Back
25-32 - - - -, - - 2 Ladies Chain
33-40 - - - -, - - Chain Back
41-48 - - - -, - - Star Left
49-56 - - - -, - - Star Right
57-64 - - - -, With the one below DoSaDo
Description
1-8 DoSaDo with the corner
9-16 Swing the same corner and face across the set with
the lady on the man's right.
17-24 Right & Left Thru with the couple across the
set.
25-32 Same four Right & Left Thru back to their home
line.
33-40 2 Ladies Chain across the set.
41-48 Same 2 Ladies Chain back..
49-56 Same four Star Left.
57-64 Same four Star Right.
