About us
LIVE MUSIC, friendly people, and an aerobic high...who could want more? Join us for high-energy contra dancing!
Contra is easy to learn. You don't need to bring a partner. We'll teach you everything, starting with a FREE beginner workshop before each dance! We're inclusive, so we don't use gender-role terms in our dances. Check out https://orlandocontra.org/ for videos, FAQs, and details on all our dances, as well as links to our communities on Facebook and Discord.
STUDENTS (K-PhD), job seekers, and second-time (ever) dancers get in FREE at all our dances!
What's contra? Some quick answers (see video, more on the website):
- It's a fast, modern version of America's original non-native folk dance!
- If you've heard of speed dating, this might be called speed dancing. You dance with everyone in the room, every dance!
- Intergenerational community dancing fun! No leading or following. Experts and newbies all dance together, so you learn quickly. All dances are taught.
- It's as much a community of fun friends as an activity. We often go for ice cream after dances.
- WE WELCOME BEGINNERS! Bring friends or come alone and make some!
- Dances get more challenging after 9pm, so there's something for everyone.
We dance most 1st and 3rd Fridays in Winter Park. This dance often has LIVE MUSIC and professional dance teachers, thanks to a grant from United Arts of Central Florida!
We sponsor a student-only dance at UCF, called Contra Knights, which is open to all students (not just UCF). If you're a UCF student interested in reviving this group, come to a dance and talk to us. We're happy to advise clubs at other local schools, too!
Upcoming events
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LIVE! Contra Dance Like the Founders with Joe Harrington and The Rafter Ringers
Winter Park Ballroom Dance Co., 6904 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL, USJoin us for an exciting evening of social dancing to live music sponsored by the Orlando Contra Dance!
Tl;dr: Contra is an energetic dance for everyone! Beginners should come at 7pm for the lesson.
Contra was all the rage in the late 1700s! It was danced at Mt. Vernon and Monticello, and up and down the coast from Georgia to Maine and beyond in both directions. As Americans created our own dance out of English Country Dancing, contra musicians created new musical styles like the Appalachian Old Time, New England, Quebecois, and Cape Breton fiddle styles. Old Time later developed into Bluegrass, Jazz, Blues, and Rock. Come learn the modern version of the dance that started it all!
Theme: Wear red-white-blue or historical costumes. Prize (free future admission) for the best modern and historical outfits (1 prize each), by scientifically calibrated applauseometer. Costumes are optional and must be danceable. No swords or weapons, please!
What's contra dance? Check out the videos, FAQ, and links to all our social channels:
https://orlandocontra.org/Contra is dancing for joy of movement to great music. It's not a dating scene, and it's fun for folks from about age 10 or even younger through our elder years. No partner? No problem! We encourage singles to join in the fun and meet fellow dance enthusiasts.
Dances start easy and get more challenging as the evening progresses. BEGINNERS SHOULD COME FOR THE LESSON at 7pm. All dances in the beginner session are taught.
Whether you are a seasoned contra expert or entirely new to dancing, our inclusive and welcoming atmosphere will have you twirling and swinging in no time. This event is open to everyone looking to make new friends and enjoy the vibrant community of Orlando. Our dance calling is gender-neutral.
Intermediate lesson topic: 2nd Timer Lesson
Is this your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time? This lesson is for you! We'll hit the basics one more time, then answer your questions, work toward a really fun swing, and show you how to take it from walking to dancing with confidence!6:45 Doors open
7:00 Beginner lesson (everyone can join)
7:00 Intermediate lesson (if you've come at least once)
7:30 Beginner/Intermediate dancing
9:00 Intermediate/Advanced dancing
10:30 Dessert at Jeremiah's Italian IceCaller (teacher): Joe Harrington (Orlando) - Calling is gender-neutral.
Music: The Rafter Ringers (Orlando)
Greg Baldwin - fiddle, accordion
Tony Wickner - bass, guitarWe use Facebook, Instagram, Meetup, and many other media to invite new dancers. Typical attendance is 25+, including 5+ new dancers. Don't worry if you only see a few people interested here. You'll be in good company.
Join us at the Winter Park Ballroom Dance Co., just 15 minutes from UCF and 100 yards east of Jeremiah's Italian Ice.
Admission is $15. Students and job seekers are FREE! If it's your second contra ever: FREE!
What to wear? Contra dance is great exercise and loads of fun besides, so bring a water bottle and dress for cardio. This is an alcohol-free event.
Starting at 9, expect the full catalog of contra moves, interaction along diagonals, and the occasional no-walkthrough dance. If these dances are a bit more than you're ready for, you're invited and very welcome to stay and enjoy the music and fellowship of the dance community, and to join us for ice cream afterwards. Don't worry, you'll be dancing in the second half soon enough! Our free Intermediate Lesson will help you get there.
Click GOING and we'll see you there!
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Past events
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