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Contra Dance

(Contra)

Library of Dance Favorites

» Circle Left, Circle Right
» Star Right, Star Left
» Right and Left Through
» Ladies' Chain
» Balance the Ring, Petronella Turn
» Do-Si-Do
» Seesaw
» Spiral (Right Shoulder Round)
» Allemande Right
» Balance and Swing

Complete List of Demo Videos

Given that there are over 15,000 contra dance choregraphies, which have already been meticulously documented by The Caller's Box, here we present not full choreographies, but demo videos of some of the fundamental contra dance figures that form the building blocks of those choreographies.


All Active Figures
» Circle Left, Circle Right
» Star Right, Star Left
» Forward and Back
» Right and Left Through
» Ladies' Chain
» Balance the Ring, Petronella Turn






Partnered Figures
» Do-Si-Do
» Seesaw
» Spiral (Right Shoulder Round)
» Mad Robin
» Two Hand Turn
» Mountain-Style Do-Si-Do
» Allemande Right

Swing Figures
» Balance and Swing
» Give and Take, Swing

Twirls to Swap (with Preparatory Balance)
» Box the Gnat (R-in-R Twirl)
» Swat the Flea (L-in-L Twirl)
» California Twirl
» Star Through
» Roll Away with a Half Sashay






Special thanks to Aden H., Gina P., Vignesh N., Maryleen P., Sophia L., Emily M., and Angeles V. for demoing these figures!

© 2025 Nick Enge

If you or your community is interested in learning Contra, .

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.

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