Years ago, I was a regular attendee of contra dances. For those who don't know, Contra dance is a synergistic amalgamation of Square and Line dancing.
People dance in couples, facing another couple (a square), in a long line of couples. There is folk music (jigs and reels being quite popular), usually provided by live musicians and there is a caller.
The dance starts with moves between you, your partner, and the couples around you. The series of moves progresses you up and down the line miraculously landing you back with your partner in your original square.
It is very aerobic.
On one occasion, we practiced a complicated maneuver called "A Zipper." In a Zipper you change hands with persons cat a-corner from you four times in a row, then turn around and go back. At the turn point, you meet the same person every time. This person is called "your shadow". Zipping down the line can get confusing, especially at a snappy clip. Looking bewilderedly for my "shadow" the experienced dancer held out her hand and said "Destiny." I took it with a smile and said "Bill". She laughed gloriously as we pivoted around each other and we zippered back to our partners.
Around eleven o'clock that night a group of us headed down to the lake for a cooling swim. There was little moon thanks to thin clouding. It was impossible to see any details in the rural Indiana dark of night. The best we could do was make out the dark human shapes of each other against the gloomed landscape. One of those rare moments where I felt safe doing the skinny-dipping thing.
Floating around in the water, chatting about stuff, making jokes three guys and two women heard the noise of others coming.
Two dark shapes, a couple, moving down the lighter gray of the dirt road. In the gaps of our conversations we could here them talking. Not the words, just the carrying murmur.
They stripped, came into the water and joined the conversation nameless. On hearing the woman's voice I piped up with, "Destiny?" To which she replied, "Bill?" Then she chuckled and told the story of how we met on the dance floor to everyone.
She ended by saying she loved that I called her Destiny, but Her real name was Jo. When she had said "Destiny" to me she was being metaphoric, not telling me her name.
We laughed.
"I've met so many women at these dances with names like Autumn, Willow, Freedom and Prairie that I just figured..."
It was a favorite story of hers for years, and may still be. It is still one of mine.
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Some Contra Dance Links:
Now, What in the World is Contra Dancing?
Great list of Dance Terminology
Here is a link to a comprehensive listing of Contra Dances in the U.S. and Canada.
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Comments: 9
and thanks for the links, i'm going to check them out.
You've captured the experience perfectly!
Danielle - How cool! Let me take a minute to thank you for your music. We dancers need it, as ya know.
Ed - Thanks, man. I know they have Contra dances in MA. The Columbus, OH group had inherited a caller from Mass. Here is a link to a comprehensive listing of Contra Dances in the U.S. and Canada.
Bob's Contra Dance Page"
Aileen - It certainly is.