CONTRA DANCING IN
LINCOLN NEBRASKA!!
Monthly
contra dances accompanied by live traditional music are held in Lincoln,
Nebraska, usually on the first Saturday of each month. This web site provides details and links to
related folk dancing events in the area.
“Down the hall, four
in line”
When?
– the first Saturday of each month from 7:15
– 10:30 p.m (instruction for beginners from 7:15 to 7:30). Dance schedule for 2002:
January 5, 2002
February 2
February 9 – Extra dance! (intermediate dance)
March 2 – Special Irish Ceili!
(see picture of 2000 one below)
April 6
May 4
June 1
July 6
August 3 – LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED
September 7
October 5
November 2
December 7
Et cetera . . .
Where?
Auld Recreation Center in Antelope Park, 3130 Sumner
(off A Street) [except for Aug. 3 dance - see above]. The Auld
Recreation center is a beautiful, climate-controlled hall with a wooden floor
(see the photos on this page). The park
can be accessed by turning onto Memorial drive from A street, South Street, or
Garfield when coming from 27th street. Watch
for signs. Here are maps
and detailed directions.
How much does it cost?
$6 for adults and $3 for students. Children under 12 are always FREE! (adult
supervision required). Special family
rate of $15! If you’ve never been contra
dancing before you qualify for the special “come to one, get one free”
deal! First-time dancers will be given
a coupon for free admission to a subsequent contra dance.
Contra dancing is fun
for kids too!
What is contra dancing?
Contra dancing is one of the traditional North
American dance forms. A contra dance is
danced with couples in long parallel lines called “sets”. Each couple moves up and down the hall
during the dance so that during the course of each dance you will get to dance
with everyone in your set. Contra
dancing originated in New England where it descended from English Country
dancing and other Western European folk dancing. If you’ve ever done any folk dances from the British Isles, or
Scandinavia, you’ll be comfortable with contra dancing similar. Many of the figures in contra dancing are
the same as those in square dancing, so if you’ve ever been square dancing
you’ll recognize the calls immediately.
For some additional definitions and explanations of contra dancing click
here.
“Ladies chain across”
What if I’ve never danced before?
Contra dancing is one of the easiest
types of dancing. All you need is
energy and enthusiasm. Almost everybody
picks up contra dancing the very first dance they try. Your feet are never
asked to do more than walk to the music.
Children as young as seven or eight can contra dance. Dances are always taught before hand and
walked through at least once. During
the dance the caller prompts you what to do next. During a dance the steps repeat many times so you soon learn what
to do. If you’re new to contra dancing
it is helpful to come at 7:30 for the free beginner’s class because all the
basic figures will be carefully explained for the first few dances.
Jim Roeder
calling a dance
Do I need to bring a partner?
No. In fact,
in contra dancing it is normal to dance with a new partner each dance. It is also definitely OK for women to ask
men to dance. Since each couple dances
with every other couple in their set each dance, by the end of the evening you
will probably have danced with everyone in the hall!
Do I need to wear anything special?
No. Just
wear comfortable light clothing. The
Auld recreation center is air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter.
Some of the members of
“Hot Rosin” – Lincoln’s own contra dance band
What is the music like?
We have live music played on fiddles, banjos,
mandolins, guitars, and other instruments by members of Lincoln’s own contra
dance band – “Hot Rosin”. The music is
from the Celtic/American folk tradition.
Click here
for an audio sample by the band Stringdancer.
For more information on the Lincoln Contra Dances
For further Information call or e-mail Jon Brt
402-826-2480 (jb31318@alltel.net), Judy
Duerr 402-476-2441 (judid0000@netzero.net),
or Patricia Fuenning 402-730-8155/402-476-8728 (lunitatucumana373@msn.com). Also contact Pat if you are coming from out
of town and would like accommodation.
Another web page about Lincoln contras: http://lincontra.tripod.com/
“Swing your partners”
Other contra dances near Lincoln
There is also a third Saturday contra dance
in Omaha. Dances are from 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm. The location is changing so check
here for the location. Cost is
$5.00 / adults, $2.50(?) / students and teens. Children 12 and under are free
(if accompanied by a parent). Live
Music is provided by various local Omaha bands. For more information:
(402) 551-5275, (402) 334-0678, or (402) 391-4765
E-mail: VLPRATT@aol.com
or carolq@mindspring.com
People usually car-pool to the Omaha contra dance
from Lincoln. Call (402) 476-8728 if
you’d like a ride from Lincoln.
Additional contra dance information on the web.
Another web site including a good
explanation of contra dancing
Other Folk Dancing in Lincoln
International Folk Dancing - The Lincoln International
Folk Dancers meet on Friday evenings in room 310, Mabel Lee Hall on the
University of Nebraska City Campus – call (402) 421-6627 or (402) 423-1261 for
information.
Irish Folk Dancing - Lincoln
Irish Dancers – for additional information call LuAnne at (402) 475-8674;
e-mail: kme@inetnebr.com or lranderson@alltel.net
Scottish Country Dancing – for information call Nick
or Jennifer at (402) 464-8914
March 2000 Irish Ceili
Folk Music in Lincoln
Lincoln
Association for Traditional Arts (LAFTA) – a non-profit corporation of
approximately 150 members. P.O. Box 30561, Lincoln, NE 68503-0561; Tel. (402)
580-8656 or e-mail laftaNE@yahoo.com
Other Folk Dancing in Omaha
International
Folk Dancing (Omaha) – Omaha International Folk Dancers – Sunday
evenings – for information,
contact Carol at (402) 391-4765 or at carolq@mindspring.com.
Morris Dancing (Omaha) – Prairie
Waves Morris Dancing – Tuesday evenings – for information call David Nichols, (402) 280-2986 (work), or (402)
553-2562 (home).
Scandinavian Dancing (Omaha)
– Scandinavian Folk Dance – every
Wednesday – call Poul V. Steffensen (402) 331-6413 for more information.
Scottish Dancing (Omaha) – Omaha
Scottish Dancing.
Other Traditional Music and Dance in Omaha – web page
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[updated:
Saturday May 4, 2002]