What is a Country Barn Dance or Contra Dance?

Country Barn Dances,  were all the rage in the 1800's. It is a form of North American folk dance in which the dancers form two sets of parallel lines which run the length of the hall. Sometimes Country Barn Dances are also called Kitchen Dances, Old time Country Dances, or Contra Dances and often include square and circle dances. 

Each dance is taught by the caller before it is danced. The caller continues to prompt the dancers as needed. Each dance consists of a sequence of moves that ends with couples having progressed one position up or down the set. As the sequence is repeated , a couple will eventually dance with every other couple in the set. The patterns of the dances usually gives each individual a chance to dance and meet each of the other dancers by the end of the night.

Because the pattern of moves of each Dance is repeated often, the dances are easy to learn. Both beginning and experienced dancers happily share the floor throughout the evening.

"Barn Dances" may consist of many different dance forms, Circle dances, Long ways or Whole set dances, Square dances, Contra dances, and Waltzes. All of which use the same dance moves just in  different patterns and formations. At a "Square Dance" the caller will usually only call Squares. At a "Contra Dance" the caller will usually only call Contras. At a "Barn Dance"  we do a little of everything.

What Is it Like?

Country Barn Dances,  have a relaxed, family like atmosphere where the emphasis is on dancing and listening to a live band.

For many dancers the live music is the great attraction. New England and American Old Timey traditional  tunes comprised of reels, jigs, and hornpipes form the basic repertoire. Bluegrass, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and Cape Breton tunes are also played. 

The fiddle is the lead instrument, with guitar,  banjo, hammered dulcimer, and mandolin, also picking out melodies. The driving rhythms and lilting melodies are accentuated by the solid background of a stand up acoustic bass or wash tub bass, and the bodhran, an Irish drum. 

Barn Dancing is excellent aerobic exercise that you can take at your own pace. In a Barn Dance your feet are never asked to do more than walk to the music.

Above all, New England Barn Dancers are a community of friendly, active people and they welcome new dancers, from youngsters to seniors.

I Don’t Know How, I Don’t Have A Partner

Come and listen to the melody of the fiddle, the ring of the mandolins and banjo, or better yet, get up and join in the fun of the dance. Don’t worry if you don’t know how, it’s easy and we teach each dance before we play it. At almost every Barn Dance you will find people at all skill levels, from beginners to experts willing to share.

New England Barn Dancers are a very open and welcoming group of people. You don’t have to come with a partner. It is customary to dance with a number of different partners. It is acceptable for either a man or a woman to ask someone they haven’t met before to dance. Dancing is a great way to make new friends.

It’s always a fun filled, happy event!