Contra Dance Etiquette
Click here for the Etiquette flyer.

Contra dancing... high energy, whirling, twirling fun! To foster a safe, friendly atmosphere, TCD offers the following suggestions:

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and expect to sweat. Many of us bring an extra shirt to change into partway through the dance since we think dancing in a dry shirt is more fun—and our partners agree! Drink lots of water: Dehydration is no fun, even if water leads to more sweating. Please also wear sturdy, clean, soft–soled shoes to protect our floor. Many dancers bring shoes that they put on at the dance.

• Contra dancing, unlike most sports, throws you into the arms of another new person every few seconds. Some dancers are hypersensitive or allergic to highly scented products such as perfume, after–shave, cologne, etc, and others react to odors such as spices, onions or garlic. Please be thoughtful in your pre–dance scent application. And, yes, fresh bathing and clean clothing win you points.

• Anyone may ask anyone else to dance. Same–gender dance partners are common. To be welcoming and to help people not fear rejection, we also cultivate a community in which you generally accept an invitation to dance unless you have good reason not to.

• Many experienced contra dancers improvise during a dance. We encourage artistic expression and experimentation, but being on time and helping your partner be on time are always more important than nifty embellishments.

• Dancers flirt to various degrees. Contra dance flirting is usually meaningless fun, but of course dancers do also find romance on the floor. Please pay attention to your partner's comfort with flirting.

• People dance in close physical contact—but please hold yourself so that both you and your partner are comfortable. Remember that your partner's comfort zone may be different from yours!

• Eye contact can help prevent dizziness during swings and allemandes. Eye contact is also fun, friendly, and flirty. If you're not comfortable with eye contact, try using your partner's ear, chin, collar, etc., as a dizziness–preventing focus—but be careful not to focus your gaze anywhere that could make your partner uncomfortable (e. g., down at a woman's chest!).

• You should be comfortable at a contra dance. However, different people are comfortable in different ways, so dancers can have a mismatch. In the event that someone approaches you or dances with you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, here are some suggestions: Your comments will probably be most effective in person, especially if the other dancer is unintentionally causing you physical pain. We suggest gently and forthrightly saying, "Please don't do X. When you do X, it makes me feel Y. I would prefer it if you do Z." This feedback can help people learn and grow. Remember that in all likelihood this person has no desire to make you uncomfortable and will be appalled at themselves and grateful to you when they find out. If approaching this person by yourself doesn't feel possible, please discuss the issue with a board member (TCD Board) and we will work with you to solve the problem. If you're not sure who board members are, please ask the person who made the announcements.

• We welcome children. However, please keep your children who are not dancing off the dance floor for safety on all sides.

• Contra dance demands coordination with yourself and with others. Dancing under the influence, just like driving, can be a tricky proposition. Please be responsible, especially so that your dancing doesn't impair the rest of the set.

Happy Dancing to you all!