About this site.
The purpose of this website is for dance organizers to find out details about contra dance callers, musicians, and bands in Kansas and Missouri. The information came from the individuals themselves, and will give some insight about the dance preferences of the callers, and the style of music the band or musicians can provide for your dance. Over time, the site hopes to be a living history of contra dance in Kansas and Missouri over the last decade. The comments on the site come from the callers and musicians themselves, in reply to a November 2006 questionnaire.What is contra dance?
[Contra dancing] is an American dance tradition that evolved from the country dancing of England, France, Scotland, and Ireland. You dance with a partner in two long lines that face opposite of each other. Contra dances are led by a caller, and there are no set steps or dances to learn. Many of the dance steps are already familiar to most people because they occur in square dancing, too, such as do-si-do, and swing your partner. In contra dance, you just listen to the music and caller, and follow the caller's directions. Contra music is lively, and its style depends on the band or musicians. The music can be jigs and reels in the Irish tradition, or old time stringband music. Beginners are welcome and encouraged by experienced dancers at a contra dance event because the pleasure of dancing is to share it with others. Often, a dance combines true contra dances with other types of social dances: circle dances, squares, and mixers. In that case, the dance is more correctly called a community dance.[Return to Top]
From Susan Sanders.
Welcome to this site! I have been a contra dancer for over 15 years. My first experience with contra dance was at the invitation of a Kansas dancer who organized the first Kansas City contra group back in the year - well, quite a while ago! I have enjoyed dancing in Kansas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and Texas. The idea of sharing the pleasure of dance with people in many locales, makes contra dance a way to enter into community with others. By creating this site, I hope people all over our region, in the States, and all over the world, can see what a wonderful treasure of callers and musicians we have here in the Heartland. I hope the pages will help and encourage people to organize community and contra dances in their cities and towns.Please check back to see what's new, and if you have comments or suggestions, send email to Susan Sanders.
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