the bloomington contra dance~

I think I met our goal for this evening at the Bloomington Contra-Dance: I definitely had fun. I was able to observe all the characteristics of a participatory event and at the same time enjoy myself and become a part of the festive atmosphere. This event made me feel that I was a part of something bigger than myself. It was different than any other mainstream forum for public dancing because everyone was working together and collaborating and every individual was a part of the whole. The more experienced dancers worked to make sure the newer dancers were included and helped us understand the moves better, and this improved the skill of the entire group. It was very democratic and non-hierarchical.

The contra dance embodied several participatory values. Every single person was essential to the success of the dance-- the caller, the musicians, and every single dancer on the floor. It was easy to see this because if one person or a couple or a square were off beat or did a move wrong, the entire row fell apart. It was quite difficult to coordinate all of the dancers, even though we walked through the dance beforehand without music; I think it was because there were so many newcomers. But even though we made it more challenging for the group as a whole, there was no sense of inequality between the more experienced and less experienced.

I thought the entire experience was so much fun. From the moment I got there, I never felt left out or frustrated even though I was a beginner. I tried to dance with more experienced partners, and that allowed me to improve the longer the night went on. It was still challenging, but by the end I felt more comfortable with the moves and began to understood how I fit into the larger group as an individual dancer. It became so seamless at one point that I didn't have to think about my own individual steps anymore, and I just sort of floated from neighbor to partner to other people up and down the row. I like contra dance better than swing dancing (the other type of participatory dance I've tried) because you get a chance to dance with more people through the course of the evening.

I think it helps to have an open mind to this sort of experience. Yes, some of the people in this cultural cohort are a little eccentric. But everyone was kind and inclusive and I would certainly attend again. I think it is important to be tolerant and flexible and just try to have a good time. People are genuinely excited to include you in the contra dance community. Also, participatory music and social action have the ability to bring people together without a sense of competition. They allow for flow and communitas and an alternative community setting outside the capitalist framework where emphasis is placed on values like democracy and social inclusiveness. Communities with these sorts of shared values can allow people to see a bigger picture outside the individual cultural cohort. Communities like the contra dance community coordinate with other grassroots communities (ie the farmer's market) to work together towards a common goal and make a difference in our world. Also, contra dancing is SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!