Contra Dance Calling

Hannah Naiman comes from a long line of folk musicians and dancers.  She has been dancing for more than 20 years, teaching and leading folk dances for over 6 years.  She has taught and participated in folk dance camps and programs in Quebec, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Kentucky.  Hannah brings an eclectic background to the dance floor, having graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance from Concordia University. She received an Emerging Artist Award from Green Street Studios in Boston for her contemporary folk-based choreography in December 2006.  She has a profound respect for the folk dancing tradition, but gets a real kick out of pushing the boundaries, and exploring contemporary innovations.  The mixture of old and new dances that Hannah brings to the floor will make every dancer a happy camper.









Upcoming Dances: 

Saturday, June 13:    Toronto Country Dance
                               St. Barnabas Church Hall (175 Hampton Ave., Toronto)

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What is Contra Dancing?

Though it is a living tradition, it's one that roughly 90% of people have not yet discovered.  Contra dancing, in a nutshell, is very much like square dancing.  Contra dancing uses the same movement vocabulary (ie dosido your neighbour, swing your parnter, etc.) but instead of dancing with just 8 people, as in a square, in a contra dance you have the opportunity to dance with perhaps 30 people.
Contra dances, like square dances, are done with the help of a "caller".  That's where I come in.  The caller teaches each dance before it begins in what's known as a 'walk through'.  Once the dancers have done the walk through, the caller will strike up the band, and she/he will continue to prompt the dance until it looks like everyone is flowin' along on their own.