Contra dancing is a great way to survive the Maine winter

When someone asks me how long I’ve been doing contra dance, my answer is simple: “Since I was little.”

I don’t remember exactly the age at which I was drawn into the larger world of folk dance, but I do remember being confused by the changing structures and being too small to reach my partners. Despite my childhood clumsiness and inability to follow instructions, it grew on me, and by the time I got to high school I valued it so much that I volunteered to attend weekly meetings at my home dance in Concord, Massachusetts.

It’s now my favorite form of physical activity – even more so when the days get shorter and colder in winter. What other types of exercises allow you to wear a twirl skirt and dunk like you’re in a fancy ballroom?

That’s why I was very excited when I moved to Belfast earlier this year and learned that the monthly Contra dance hosted by Belfast Flying Shoes was within walking distance – and that there were others on the mid-coast and other parts of Maine .

After my first ten minutes at the Flying Shoes dance, I knew this was the place for me. My only disappointment was that it doesn’t happen more often.

Contra, a form of social folk dance, has its origins in the British Isles and France.

In the basic format that eventually became established in developing countries, dancers join together and form long lines of pairs, called sets. As a band plays and instructions are given by a so-called caller, the dancers then perform various moves throughout the set, with more flamboyant participants adding dips, twirls and other flourishes.

Contra bands typically play violins as well as other instruments including banjos, guitars, keyboards and less conventional options such as the cello. Foot percussion can also be integrated.

However, despite its Old World origins, the New England contra dance has changed over time, often replacing more gendered terms such as “lady” and “gentleman” with more neutral alternatives such as “lark” and “robin”.

Contra dancing is a great option for couples going on a date, friends looking to hang out, or anyone else looking to meet strangers and get some exercise.

I’ve never met anyone willing to give it a try who didn’t love it – even and perhaps especially the self-proclaimed “non-dancers.”

So, to all of you who are curious and ready: put on your boogie shoes and join hands as a foursome!