Santa Fe Contra Dance
Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Contra dance.
Details
- Where
- 1125 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM. Directions
- When
- 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 7:00-10:00PM with introduction session at 6:30.
- Fees
- Pay What You Want - suggested $10/person, $10-20/family.
- Access
- Wear clean, soft-soled, non-marking shoes; layering recommended as the dance hall warms up.
- Walk-in or reserve
- No partner or reservation required; just show up.
- Managed by
- New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society.
Contra dance is a form of traditional American social dance with its roots in western European folk dance. The structure of contra dance is long line sets down the dance hall with your partner across from you.
Notable Events
- 1983The New Mexico Folk Music Society, the dance's sponsoring society, was founded in 1983 by a small group of musicians and registered with the state as a nonprofit corporation. folkmads.org
- 1992By 1992 the musicians recognized the importance of dance both kinetically and monetarily, and the organization changed its name to the New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society. folkmads.org
- 1994The biggest dance took place in 1994 with an estimated 140 people; a propane leak was noticed, the lodge was evacuated, and the dance occurred in the parking lot as firefighters investigated. santafenewmexican.com
People
- Will McDonald, musician, dancer, and Odd Fellow; helped establish the first contra dance (1990).
- Richard Wilson, one of the group of friends who began renting the hall with McDonald.