Reel People: Contra brings folks together

Lights dim, the band strikes up, and guests gather on the dance floor: It’s Contra night at Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center.

Contra is a group folk dance that requires partners to move through a sequence of lines and circles. Women wear flowing skirts to enhance spins and turns as they whirl around the room with their partners at the whim of the caller. The caller serves as a liaison between the dancers and the band. Tonight the honor goes to Joey Norton, who calls directions for the dance and describes the tempo played by Terns of Tide. Most songs, usually jigs and reels, consist of four beats per measure. 

The contra dances at Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center are open to dancers of all levels of experience. Each dance begins with a session to review basic moves and calls. The regulars are a mixture of dancers from Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice all seeking an outlet for their passion.

For contra dancer Lisa Bohn, the experience is about constantly changing dance partners and socializing.

“The thing about contra is that you change partners all the time so you dance with everybody,” Bohn said. “Each dance you get to dance with a lot of different people. That’s what makes it fun.”

The next scheduled contra dance at Fogartyville Community Media & Arts Center takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18.