Brooklyn Contra works to build a New York City community that supports the creation of accessible art and culture. We believe in a City and world where culture is participatory, created by the people who experience it, working with traditions and evolving them across and between generations. We strive to build a more inclusive and cooperative art economy that honors the experiences of all of New York City’s diverse population, and actively creates space for all of those populations to thrive physically and creatively.
Contra dancing is a type of community folk dance. This informal dance style draws from a wide geography of traditions, evolving from English country dancing and bringing in many influences including African call-and-response. They came together in the Northern Appalachia region to become the raucous, foot-stomping, high-energy partner dance we know today.
Here’s how the dance works: Each dance starts when you find a partner. You can come to a night of contra dancing alone or with a friend, but you can expect to dance with many new people over the course of a night. Couples form parallel lines and move up and down the dance floor, interacting with every other couple in their line. There is no fancy footwork involved – anyone can do it! Calling all of the dances from the stage, the dance caller teaches each dance before the music starts.
Whether you’re looking for a night out or a new community Contra is a night of great live music, dancing, and joy. Brooklyn Contra strives to be an inclusive space, which means we welcome all people of all cultural origins, national origins, dance abilities, and gender identities.
New to contra dancing? We’ve written up some Tips for Beginners.
Still have questions? Maybe we’ve answered them in our FAQs.