BRUMMIE CONTRAS
  • HOME ; Spring '22
  • Dates
  • QUAKER Hall : ABOUT THE VENUE
  • What's a Contra
    • But I've never really done this stuff before !
  • Tributes
    • Barry Selwood
Why don't you come along. Sample it to find out !
Contras are lively and friendly occasions. You're here to enjoy.
"Getting right" an unfamiliar dance does involve brainwork too, but a few mistakes hardly matter - a fairly good recovery afterwards is the fun challenge.
A Contra
 has lines of couples: conventionally of alternating gender: usually in "minor sets" of 4 people.

"American style contras" are fun and energetic - you're helped for each dance through its sequence of moves by a caller.
They should leave you dancing to the music, once you've learned a few times, the move sequence for that particular dance.
Because dance develops best through dancing different sequences with a variety of partners, a good contra caller makes available plenty of dances with "walking through" kept to a minimum. 
Each dance has its particular series of moves which you repeat with each couple that you meet as you move along - That's down the set if you were originally "ones" in your minor set of 4 people.
leave some opportunity to extemporise - 
 
Contras began with lines of couples: of alternating gender: usually in "minor sets" of 4 people.

"American style contras" are fun and energetic - you're helped for each dance through its sequence of moves by a caller.
They should leave you dancing to the music, once you've learned a few times, the move sequence for that particular dance.
Because dance develops best through dancing different sequences with a variety of partners, a good contra caller makes available plenty of dances with "walking through" kept to a minimum. 

Contras are lively and friendly occasions. You're here to enjoy.
"Getting right" an unfamiliar dance involves brainwork too - but a few mistakes don't really matter - a fairly good recovery afterwards is the fun challenge.
A Contra
 has lines of couples: conventionally of alternating gender: usually in "minor sets" of 4 people.

"American style contras" are fun and energetic - you're helped for each dance through its sequence of moves by a caller - who should leave you dancing to the music, once you've learned the move sequence for that particular dance.
Because dance develops best through dancing different sequences with a variety of partners, a good contra caller makes available plenty of dances with "walking through" kept to a minimum. 
Each dance has its particular series of moves which you repeat with each couple that you meet as you move along - That's down the set if you were originally "ones" in your minor set of 4 people.
leave some opportunity to extemporise - 
 
A Contra has lines of couples: conventionally of alternating gender: usually in "minor sets" of 4 people.
[The dances from which contras evolved have a partner opposite - and a men's line facing their women - standing "proper" in the "set".]
"American style contras" are fun and energetic - you're helped for each dance through its sequence of moves by a caller - who should leave you dancing to the music, once you've learned the moves for that dance.
Each dance has its particular sequence of moves which you repeat with each couple that you meet as you move along - That's down the set if you were originally "ones" in your minor set of 4 people.
leave some opportunity to extemporise - 
 
A Contra (Contra Dance) has lines of couples: usually of alternating gender: and usually in "minor sets" of 4 people.
The dances from which contras evolved have a partner opposite - and a men's line facing their women - standing "proper" in the "set".
Dances described for "proper sets" were first published in England by Playford in 1651.
Later dances were devised to begin with the men and women alternating - today termed "contra lines".
 
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CONTACT US page

​I / we wish to be AT THE NEXT DANCE
Page DID HAVE details to get £1.50 each off door price next time.
Also deadlines (to check before you email).
For a group, download a form to complete & email.

MOST OF THE PAGES WITHN THE FOOTER HERE REFER TO EVENTS & CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WERE DAMAGED, CHANGED OR HELD BACK BY THE COVID PANDEMIC.
THEY WILL BE AMENDED WHEN SITUATIONS CAN STABILISE WITH A MORE DEPENDABLE OUTLOOK.

Go to Great Alne Long Weekend website -
24th -27th April in 2020 for its DETAILS.

Event doubly extends the last w/e of April in 2020 
Quality workshops for ALL ages / abilities.
Enjoy a contra here on the Friday eve.
Karin Bellaart from the NETHERLANDS will also bring all kinds of lovely INTERNATIONAL DANCES as Nel did in 2017 & 2018.

EXCELLENT PART-SONG & A WIDE RANGE of OTHER DANCING.

Bring (grand)children. Share Maypole/Morris dances & ring handbell tunes from before noon on Sat & Sun.
NEW IN 2018 - EXTRA Sat/Sun PRICE DROPPED for ADULT DANCERS and THEIR ACCOMPANIED u18's

( The Great Alne Long Weekend is a "sister" website to this one) -
 click-on to go to one of these pages - 

ELMDON HEATH CC/RAIL/BUS  - Page especially to help with Rail Station connections, and Sunday bus services to Elmdon Heath Community Centre Hall. Our venue for "fans".


See ROUTEMAPS:DOWNLOAD&PRINT -
 - Page has maps for car, bus stops, bike path & walking routes -
- to the   -  Elmdon Heath Community Centre venue. Download this to a smartphone to carry to walk from bus etc,
(or print on paper) to carry: even in the car. Ideal for initial visits. 




 CONTRA - What's that !   -  Information Page,


 But I've never really done this stuff before !  - Information Page.

DANCE DATES page
​  
FLIERS for NEXT BRUMMIE CONTRA pages. These may Pop-up : often below Dance DATES.
They are in pdf. You may view or DOWNLOAD.
If you would like to share out the fun of the "Brummie Contra" dances - then (regularly please) download, print - and distribute a few of these fliers in your area & dance club.
For some Contras to come, a flier page pop-up may show below other main pages or elsewhere !