Maura began contra dancing in the 1990s and grew to love this New England social dance form that has been gaining in popularity since its revival in the sixties. She learned from Marian Rose and others about dances children could do that would lead them into contra dancing, and quickly brought dance teaching into her repertoire with children as an elementary school teacher. It was more fun than supervising basketball! It also seemed far more useful than javelin throwing or baseball, for regular people. Despite jeers of “This isn’t gym!” from the bigger boys, she found they usually let go and enjoyed themselves eventually.
These days Maura teaches and calls contra dancing for adults, and offers a program of easy dances for families, mixed-age communities and groups of children.
Maura also offers this curriculum as a professional development program for teachers and recreational leaders.
Contra Dance is a social dance similar to square dancing, sharing moves such as circle, swing, ladies chain, allemande, etc. But it is done in long lines with just one other couple at a time, then couples progress down and up the line. Everyone dances with everyone else in the line. It is done to live music, usually fiddle and piano or guitar. It is easy and fun for everyone, using primarily a walk step. Find out more about contra dance through the local contra community website: http://www.ottawacontra.ca
If you decide to have a contra dance for your next party or community gathering, Maura will teach a beginners’ class and then teach and call every dance. The program is flexible, and adaptable for people who are at different levels (zero to expert).
Maura will contract the band and sound system if desired, and the resulting evening will be the most fun your group has had in years!
If you'd like more information on upcoming Ottawa Contra Dances, click here to view the Ottawa Contra Dance poster.
Focusing on simple dances done to the accompaniment of singing, this program is fun for groups of children, with or without the inclusion of many adults. Usually this program also involves some singing before and after dancing, utilizing similar, folk-based reptetoire including original songs. Suitable for pre-school and primary/junior students, and also for their teachers as a professional development program. Maura usually works on her own for this program, but musicians can be included.