VT Contra Dance

[jemsterrr27]

what's that name of this tune?

[Wilixer]

looks like fun!

[GremlinMayer]

aaaahhhh! I took my first contra lessons last night! So fun! Now I'm addicted. Hope iI get to be this great. :) Thanks for sharing!

[abelardogreen]

Wierdos, I love it.

[ToeIn2194]

I would LOVe to do this man it looks so hard.

[warriorofthegeats]

@ToeIn2194 It's not as hard as you think :-) It's all about patterns that repeat.

[ToeIn2194]

@warriorofthegeats Thanks. I think I am going to try to learn this. These people are having so much fun. This looks like the best.

[analemma2345]

Blue shorts dude looks so much fun to dance with!!

[rainonme07]

I am absolutley in love with contra dancing!!!! I just started about 2 months ago and it is amazing!

[spickart4]

@rainonme07 yay! it's addicting isn't it?

[stnbraten]

on second view i noticed that the one in the black shirt and blue shorts is permanently spinning the ladies while (all) others are merely rotating with their partners.

reminds me of that game "sid meier's pirates of the carribean" (if you know the game, you know what im talking about XD)

anyway awesome vid and that blue shorts really is pro! ^^

[littletownpunk7]

does anyone else notice the guy in the skirt?

[ToeIn2194]

@littletownpunk7 Yup

[techbonus]

Ahhh...so THIS is the dance that was created in honor of 2 of the Earth's most bravest warriors: Bill "MAD DOG" RIzer and Lance "SCORPION" Bean.

Looks fun!!

Any clips on "The Mega-Shell Mambo"?

[palonitas]

love this place!!

[AmericanCWOVI]

whats the name of the Tune?

Contra is insane as an Irish dancer i find them quite fun.

Ever in the Champaign Illinois Area COME TO CONTRA!

[NSResponder]

Who's the band?

-jcr

[Mollkid]

Beeswax Sheepskin

[wemusicians]

@NSResponder Sounds like Anna Patton on clarinet.

[comtraya101]

any tips for newcomers

I'm thinking of attending one next wk

[chopstick85]

just relax, have fun and enjoy it. if there's a beginner's session try to go, but unlike other dancing styles it's not 100% necessary.

most of all, if people give you pointers or try to steer you in a certain direction, don't take it as criticism. we were ALL there when we started out. contra is a communal dance so we depend on each other...that includes making sure people aren't too confused, and are still having fun!!

[tomdschneider]

Just go!

[Callithyia]

@comtraya101 as chopstick85 says, just have fun and don't worry about messing up. contra's about the lowest-pressure social dance there is; you'll notice that people who have been doing it for years and years will mess up too, and no one minds. if you miss a move, just pause for a few beats and start at the next point in the dance you know, and the people around you will help you figure it out. there's no worries, and no pressure-- just lots of fun :D

[funkyproductionsbap]

@Callithyia nice comment...it's true...i just started dancing like 3 weeks ago and at the end of the month im going to an event in my town that's for contra dancing.......hope it goes well

[dansetrad]

Superb video! One of my favorites. I've often refered people to it to get a feeling of what an evening of folk dancing can be like. The energy that it generates is amazing! I started calling to have people get in touch with the joy of dancing. The toughest part is getting people to dance their first dance (or go to their first evening) Once they do, then they "get it" and want to do it again. So if genuine human connection is what you're seeking, look no further.

[NibblesThePig]

why is the camera hidden?

[Mollkid]

The shutter did not open all the way...so it's not a hidden camera, but a slightly malfunctioning camera, yes. That's why you see the two dark areas in the corners.

[TheEradicator13]

@Mollkid I just assumed you were a stalker

[GazelleInfidel]

what date was this? great dance hall, great people, but does anyone know the precise date this was taken?

[Mollkid]

@GazelleInfidel I believe it was in December of 2006...or the very next month, January 2007. You can probably find out if you go onto Montpelier's past schedules and look for when Beeswax Sheepskin played....

[BarnacleBillsBastard]

Does anyone know the 1st fiddle tune they were playing.

[marsmannix]

SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

i have never left a dance without a smile on my face

[AmericanCWOVI]

totaly is is place for swing. Kilts are fun when Contra dancing too :)

[dstipek]

looks like a place for swingers.....

[uurosietoes]

That looks really fun!!!

[ZFroggirl]

THat looked awesome!

[RavenLH]

They were teaching us this dance and I've never had so much fun dancing.

[gaboenanton]

I was there too!!!

Also, I enjoyed it a lot! ;)

[gaboenanton]

I have danced overther!!!

It's great!!!

[sweavo]

great stuff! search for ceilidh to see a british / irish relative of this

[johncfl]

But, can I meet a good looking honey? As I am not a nerd?

[sweavo]

you're out of luck, contra chicks dig nerds

[friendlier]

Love the fellow on the right, in mustache and flowing red skirt!

[Mollkid]

Thanks woodbow, for posting that! That was my whole purpose for taking the video! I wanted to be able to explain/show people what contra is and somehow give them a taste of the energy/flow that is so fun to experience. I think ALL contra dances should be like this if done well.

[woodbow]

This video really conveys the energy of a good contra dance. When friends ask, "What is contra dance?", I send them a link to this video.

[AmericanCWOVI]

WENT TO ONE LAST NIGHT IN Illinois :)

they are alot like Civil War balls. they are awsome

[ninetysevenpoint3]

wow! that is ALOT of people!

[BellaTune]

Glen echo has more!! If you like contras and you live near, or plan to visit DC, then go to the Friday night dances at glen echo!

[RadicalEel]

Glen Echo is where it's at! Great bands, great callers, great dancers, great dance floor.

[arielmoriah]

yo... is that dude with a gotee wearing a skirt?

[AutisticLemon]

I wouldn't be surprised. Have you been to a Contra? Many guys do.

[BellaTune]

I wouldn't say many, but don't be shocked to see one or more. It really depends on the crowd.

[freelancer4726]

this looks like so much fun!

[OakmontAesthetics]

There seems to be a man wearing a pink dress dancing in the video. He stays on the right side of the screen most of the time.

[jericsynergy]

Skirt, not dress. Skirts and kilts are common at contra dances.

[OakmontAesthetics]

I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Callithyia]

Contra's way more fun in skirts ^^

[powderedtoastmanman]

I know alot of those people. I used to go to that dance all the time. Now I live far away and it makes me very sad. But happy to see it too. Lol

[chopstick85]

awesome.

Anna Patton+clarinet=swoon

[guitarwhoopa175]

i love montpelier. i danced there last night. the floor is awesome.

[gearysveggies]

where in montp?!?!?!

[foufga]

omg love contra... some of those people are wayyy too bouncy

[ChhotaNimbooda]

looks like fun!

[brraindead]

yes, i love the mtp dance, when im at home, i go every time. i live in france now though. does anyone know of any contras on this side of the ocean?

[valkyrie607]

What up Mont-P!! One of the best dances ever!

[onomonapoeia]

this band, with the clarinet, rocks. I think I've seen them perform, and the band members make music in their own image-- HAWT.

[figuresleep]

WONDERFUL! this is THE best contradance video, it really captures the moment of a GREAT dance. hollering, stomping, fast-paced. other videos of contras are very slow& boring because frankly it was probably a very boring dance that night. Warren Wilson, Asheville, NC and River Falls, SC are really, really fast energetic dances, too!

[o0yummmyrice0o]

i'm really interested in learning this type of dance... thanks for the video!

[bluestarmercury]

wow. thats all i can say, wow. im really empressed

[contragirl]

Is it like this every time?

[Mollkid]

Yes! The dances there are awesome. Great dancers...and the dances are always high energy and interesting to dance! I've been all over the northeast to contra...and this is the best regular dance there is. (opinion) :)

[contragirl]

WOW! I love contra dancing! I've been doing it all my life, and this is the best video i've seen Jillan

[mpower9]

The dance was held on January 7 with Will Mentor calling and it was every bit as much fun as it looks on the video.

[Mollkid]

The band playing is Beeswax Sheepskin...they are AWESOME and have a great sound.

Montpelier is the best place to catch a contra.

[mpower9]

the most fun you can have standing up -- at the Capital City Grange, 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays, year round except for the 1st Saturday in August when you can go to the Champlain Valley Folk Festival instead.