There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. Vicki Baum The fiddler tunes the strings. The guitar player strums a couple of chords. Around the room, the dancers ask for a partner for the first contradance of the evening. Smiles are plentiful. Cares are left at the door. For the past two hundred years people across America have gathered in houses, churches, and dance halls for the wonderful evenings of social contradancing.
Easily accessible by all people, it requires no special training or natural talent. Young and old, tall and short, fast and slow, all can come and have a beautiful evening, interacting with friends in simple and beautiful traditional dances.
Melodies, though old, sound fresh and new each time as the dancing lives on, each time similar to the last, but never the same. Every Monday evening, the Cincinnati Contradancers host a dance at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center for the enjoyment of all who care to attend. Come be a part of the tradition.
It won't be the same without you! Also, this excellent video from Jim Crawford features dancers from the Chattahoochee Country Dancers Atlanta area speaking about their appreciation for contra dancing. Welcome to Cincinnati Contra Dancing! Please Note: Starting in January , dance start times have changed. See below. Monday night dances start at pm. There is a free Intro Session at and the dance runs from pm to pm.
Children 12 and under are free, and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Monday dances are free admission for anyone who is attending for the first time. Our monthly Saturday dance is usually on the second Saturday of the month and starts at pm. Consult the schedule for detailed information about each dance. Some contra basics Contra is a communal style folk dance that is fun and easy to learn.
