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The Arts Center in Athens' season of contra dances begins on Saturday, November 7, 2009, 7:30-10:30 PM,  with music by CONTRAINDICATED. Contra dances are held in the Sue E. Trotter Theater at The Arts Center, 320 North White St..  Other dances are planned for January 16th and February 6, 2010.  Adult admission is $7.00 and students are $4.00.

Contra dance sponsors are Southeast Bank & Trust, Edward D. Jones - Jim Nelson, Kathryn Hunter and The Wildman, and Jack & Connie Allen.

Contra dancing, or country dancing, is a form of American folk dance in which the dancers form a set of two parallel lines which run the length of the hall.  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.  Many of the basic moves in contra dancing are similar to those in square dancing (swings, promenades, allemandes).  A square dance set comprises only four couples, whereas the number of couples in a contra dance set is limited only by the length of the hall. 

Contra dances have a relaxed, family-like atmosphere where the emphasis is on dancing, a welcome relief to noisy smoky dance halls.  Contra dancing is excellent exercise that you can take at your own pace.  Above all, contra dancers form a community of friendly, active people and they welcome new dancers, young and old.

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A PARTNER?  No problem.  Many people come to a contra dance alone.  Dancers are encouraged to dance with many different partners throughout the evening.  If there is an excess of one gender, it is customary for women to dance men's parts (and vice versa) to form couples and extend the set.

For many people, the live music is the great attraction.  Traditional jigs, reels and hornpipes from the Scots-Irish tradition on both sides of the Atlantic form the basic repertoire.

For more information and directions, go to www.athensartscouncil.org or call The Arts Center at (423)745-8781.

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