Contra dancing is a popular pastime in rural states like Vermont. Usually in these dances, couples come together for a fun, energetic, social evening with other enthusiastic dancers. The way these groups avoid running into one another or stepping on toes is they have a caller. The caller calls the dance, step by step, with an overview before the music even starts. And the best callers have national followings.
Today in our Summer School series, we get a lesson in how to call a contra dance from Luke Donforth, a member of the Mad Robin Callers Collective, which holds monthly dances and helps instruct people who want to learn how to call a contra dance. (The music in this story is performed by The Free Raisins.)
