Contra Dance Research Paper

I have grown up to the music of a fiddle, the rush of a contra dance swing, and the warmth of a supportive community of quirky guides, role models and great friends. Contra dancing, a traditional New England folk dance related to square dance and descended from Jane Austen's English Country Dancing, has been an integral part of my entire life.

My parents met at a contra dance, so even before I could walk, I attended dances riding on my father's shoulders as he danced. Music surrounded me and rhythm echoed through my bones. At age four, I went to my first Family Week at Pinewoods Camp. For the whole week, all I knew was dancing, story-telling, swimming, and running along paths in the rustic Massachusetts woods. I learned to love being part of this community as I danced through the open air pavilions, followed by the smell of pine trees.

Every year since, I have gone back for at least one week, and each time my appreciation for the community increases. I learned to distinguish and enjoy many different styles of dance with children both younger and older than me. As a little kid, I idolized the teenagers who were able to dance so confidently and beautifully with so many different kinds of people – from very young children to elderly adults. I was in awe of their ability to improvise and experiment with

Balanced positive tension between dancers is called giving weight; tug too hard and everything is pulled off balance, remain limp and the dance cannot flow. I view this as an analogy for life. For everything to function smoothly and effectively, I have to put some of my own strength and work into my interactions and life. If I don't pull my own weight, everything collapses. I strive everyday to be a role model while humbly continuing to look up to those who still inspire and encourage me. I put my own weight into the mix, trusting that others will be there to hold me