Contra Dance
Also known as: American Contra, New England Contra
History & Cultural Context
Contra dances emerged in New England during the colonial period as Americans adapted English country dance traditions. Dancers stood in two parallel lines, with couples progressing down the line while executing figures called by a caller. Contra dances became central to American colonial and frontier dancing traditions. The form experienced decline during the 20th century but has been revived since the 1970s by folk dance enthusiasts.
Cultural Significance
Contra dances represent American adaptation of English traditions and remain central to New England folk culture. Contemporary contra dance revival celebrates these traditions.
Peak Popularity
Signature Figures
- Dos-à-dos
- Allemande
- Balance
- Circle
Notable Codifiers
- American colonial tradition
- contemporary contra community
Dance Lineage
Track Your Contra Dance Progress
Practice Contra Dance figures between lessons with Figure Focus — step-by-step breakdowns, floor diagrams, and progress tracking. Free to use.
Contra Dance Playlists
Curated collections on the LODance YouTube channel — performances to watch, lessons to learn from, and the right music to practice with. Tap a collection to play.
▶ Performances · Open on YouTube →
Contra Dance Music & Tempo
Drawn from 25 Contra Dance tracks in the LODance music library.
Example tracks at practice tempo
- Petronella — Traditional108 BPM
- Speed the Plough — Traditional120 BPM
- Devil's Dream — Traditional New England120 BPM
- Money Musk — Traditional New England120 BPM
- Reel de Montréal — Traditional120 BPM
- Kitchen Girl — Traditional120 BPM
Contra Dance on screen
Films and television where Contra Dance appears, with the sequences worth watching for.
What to Wear
Attire guidance for Contra Dance and other Historic American Contra dances. Each card below is sized to the moment — class, practice, social, or competition — because the wardrobe shifts as the stakes do.
Reading the cards
In Class
Very casual: T-shirt and comfortable pants, sneakers or dance shoes. Contra dance is deliberately low-barrier.
Social Dancing
Casual and inclusive. Jeans, sundresses, comfortable layers. Some dancers bring a change of shirt (it's aerobic). Skirts that twirl are popular but optional. No dress code enforcement.
Competition
Contra dance is non-competitive by tradition. Performance groups wear coordinated casual outfits.
Shoes
Any smooth-soled shoe that allows pivoting. No flip-flops. Dance sneakers, jazz shoes, or Keds-style flats are ideal. Avoid shoes with grippy rubber soles.
In Practice
Bring water and a change of shirt — contra runs aerobic. The community is genuinely casual; arriving overdressed reads as someone unfamiliar with the form.
Common Pitfalls
- ✗Rubber-soled sneakers — pivots become impossible.
- ✗Flip-flops or sandals without back straps — feet leave the shoe in fast figures.
Price Range
- Budget: Keds, jazz shoes, or dance sneakers $30–80; existing casual clothing.
- Mid: Dedicated dance sneakers $100–180; twirling skirts $40–100.
Quick Tips
- •Suede-soled shoes allow controlled sliding and pivoting — essential for most partner dances.
- •Avoid rubber soles on dance floors; they grip too much and can cause knee injuries.
- •Bring a separate pair of clean shoes for the dance floor to keep it in good condition.
Sources & Further Reading
Where This Dance Is Documented
Early American dance manuals; Playford lineage; New England collections
An editor's note on where the technique for this dance is actually written down — sometimes a named book, sometimes the fact that no such book exists. A judgement, not a count of what we hold.
Cultural & Historical Context
Contra Dance emerged from New England during the 1750s—1850s. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.
Formative Influences
Codifiers & Standardizers:
American colonial tradition, contemporary contra community
Signature Movement Vocabulary:
Dos-à-dos, Allemande, Balance, Circle
Primary Source Documents
The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.
Last reviewed: August 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.
Related Dances
More in Historic American Contra
Virginia Reel
The Virginia Reel was a specific contra dance tradition from colonial Virginia featuring specific figures and remaining popular in American schools and folk communities.
Square Dance
American square dances evolved from French quadrilles and English country dances, adapted to frontier life with caller direction and remaining central to American folk culture.
Contra Dance in art
Browse the gallery →Public-domain works our catalogue identifies as depicting contra dance.
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