Contra Double Dance with Here on the Hill and Luke Donforth!

Join us for an evening of Contra Dance to celebrate the beginning of the new semester on Friday, Jan 23rd! Beginners welcome, with a intro to contra lesson starting at 6:30pm, followed by live dancing to music from the Scanlon, Roy & James Trio from 7-10pm in Willard Straight's gorgeous Memorial Hall. Alexandra Deis-Lauby is joining us from NYC to call for the event! Join us for a phenomenal time!

If you are a student, Please, Please, Please fill out the dreaded physical activity waiver: https://cglink.me/2ee/s95776 before the dance! OR at the dance!

$15 visitor and cornell non-student, FREE all students! Pay @ door with cash or Venmo. 

Registration through CampusGroups is primarily used for tracking types of attendees and ensuring event waivers are signed. Reach out with any questions or concerns!

No experience or partner is required. If you'd like an example of what a very well-attended contra dance such as we hope to host looks like, check out a video from a festival earlier this year! 

Contra at NW Folklife 2024: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT2A-ZhcKZE

Contra is a form of folk dancing, where each individual has one partner and they dance in concert with predetermined footwork alongside upwards of 50 additional couples per dance. Contra is remarkably inclusive, with roles such as lead or follow being gender-agnostic. The music played at contra dances is traditionally live and variously acoustic, consisting of such instruments as violin, keyboard, guitar, assorted methods to produce percussion, and occasionally special solos from the likes of saxophones. Each dance is guided by a “caller,” who selects from an assortment of pre-drafted dances shared between authors. It is highly dynamic, with each event largely showcasing unique combinations of moves to entertain even experienced dancers, while orienting new dancers within movements such as “swing your partner” or “spin towards your right shoulder” they will have limited difficulty learning, and practice multiple times throughout any given dance. 

The hobby crosses many generational lines, with community dances frequently attracting parents with their young to teenaged children as well as spry retirees seeking a delightful night out with their friends.

Cornell Contra Dance Club | Website | View More Events

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