Contra Dancers Far and Wide Attend Annual Ann Arbor Dance Festival

On Friday, February 24^th, through Sunday, February 26^th the annual “Dawn Dance Festival” was held at Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor.  The emphasis of the weekend was squarely upon Contra dancing and English Country dancing – although there were also classes on Scottish dancing, the “Hambo,” a ukulele workshop, two open waltz sessions, a pub-sing, and on Saturday night from midnight until two a.m., swing dancing.

I had intended to direct this post at the men out there.  Whenever I ask a woman about coming to a contra dance, she is apt to blame her husband. 
Shaking her head, she’ll say, “He would never do that.”

Of course, I realize that she may just have the habit of using her husband as a
scapegoat, and this may very well be a pattern of behavior for her. On the other hand, I’ve encountered a few more women than men at some dances.  So there may be some truth to her claim.

Guys, remember how are fathers or grandfathers could dance?  I mean they could get up and foxtrot or waltz after a romantic dinner with your moms and grandmothers, without wearing a glittery outfit?  Well, this is the perfect substitute.  There is a caller - a built-in instruction manual.  When you become fluent you can toss in all the dips and flourishes that you want.

Contra dancing, I will reiterate, is a way to meet people, it’s grand exercise and our forefathers contra danced.  Allow me to repeat the exercise claim:  Over the weekend, I perspired through eight shirts.  I overheard one fellow say that he changed his shirt every hour.  That was his rule. Does anyone need to burn off a few calories out there?

I never knew what contra dancing was until a little over a year ago.   A
lot of people compare it to square dancing but it’s very much different from
square dancing.   You dance with more people. There’s more action.  Husbands,
if you don’t want to dance with your wife, there are many options.  You can dance with another woman for each dance.  In fact, that's the etiquette. You and your wife can go your separate ways.  I’ll dance with your wife.

You can always get back together when they have a waltz before the break for a “cool-down,” prior to snacks.  I can’t waltz very well yet anyhow…but I’m
learning.

I was leery, skittish, cowardly, at my first dance.  I watched.  Four women came up during the evening and asked me to dance. I declined each one. 
I thought it looked too complicated. Then one lady sat down beside me. 
We chatted a bit, and then she patted me knee and said, “The great thing
about contra dancing is…if you mess up, you just laugh it off!”

She was right.

My weekend in Ann Arbor was one of the best weekends of my life.  It
eclipsed last year, my first Dawn Dance, which had hitherto been the best
weekend of my life.  Knowing folks, recognizing faces, took the wonderful occasion up a notch.  I had a great time.

Food…there are snacks at every contra dance, but at the Dawn Dance there was a veritable banquet.  Volunteers bring food.  It seems that everyone brings something; and, for those that don’t, donations can be made.  Pizzas are brought in one night, ice cream the next. It was the first time I’ve ever
danced three days straight.  I stayed at a hotel in Ann Arbor for the weekend.  By
Sunday I was beat.  My calves were stiff from swinging.  I was happy and exhausted and a little sad.

As the end of the final song of the weekend was being played, the caller directed all the dancers to converge on the stage to thank the organizers and the band.  A tear welled up in my eye.  I’ve included a few photos herein.  The person who took them commiserated with me about the end of the weekend and his feelings. 

“One minute you’re part of this big family and the next minute you’re driving home, alone.”

A detailed schedule for upcoming dances can be found at “AACTMAD.ORG”. The nearest dance is the “OCTDS” dance in Troy every fourth Saturday at First United Methodist.  (This month’s dance is March 24^th.)

This weekend there is a dance Friday night, 8:00 pm, at Central United Methodist in Detroit. 

Folks, in my last post I mentioned this monthly dance – held at Central Methodist - right across the street from the Fox Theatre, next to Cheli’s Chili. But I forgot to mention that: Parking is free!   All you do is pull into the lot beside the church, right off Woodward Avenue, and tell the attendant, “I’m here for the dance!” and they wave you right in.