“What to do on a Saturday night?” asks Emma Talamantes, community programs manager for Lost Sierra Food Project. “Around the nation, there are probably at least a hundred contradances on any given Saturday night. Here in Plumas County, there will be one on March 29 at the Vet’s Hall in Quincy at 7 p.m.” Talamantes shared that this is the third year LSFP has sponsored a dance; proceeds benefit the returning Quincy Farmers Market. This year, the farm has teamed up with Plumas Arts and Feather River Food Co-op to sponsor the dance.
Contradancing is a lot like square dancing, but is also decidedly different, said Talamantes. Instead of a square, most of the dances are done in long lines or in circles. The term comes from “country dance.” It’s a style of dance born in colonial America, in response to what was perceived as rather stodgy English country dancing. The form keeps evolving as new dances are written, and new tunes are composed.
“Contradancing truly lives on as a contemporary community art form,” said Talamantes. She said dances are family friendly. Many parents will dance with a little one in arms or in a backpack, or even as an extra, if they can move fast enough. Generally, everyone 8 years old to 80-plus can fully participate. “It’s easy and challenging at the same time, and you get to interact with so many people to keep the moves going,” said Talamantes.
As in square dancing, there is a caller, and some of the moves are similar. Square dances are often conducted with recorded music, but contradancers like live music, and Talamantes promises that Kenny Davis and Johny McDonald won’t disappoint at the Vet’s Hall. She encourages participants to drink lots of water, wear layers that they can peel off and be prepared to spin around. Tickets are available at https://plumas-arts.snwbll.com/ticketing/contra-dance.
Information provided by Lost Sierra Food Project
