Celebrate Pride Month with Queer Contra Dance Chicago at Old Town School, June 7, 2014
Queer Contra Chicago will hold its Pride month dance on Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 7:30-10:30pm in the Myron R. Szold Music and Dance Hall at Old Town School of Folk Music, located at 4545 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, near the Brown Line Western Ave. stop. Transit directions and parking information at http://www.oldtownschool.org/aboutus/directions/
Contra dance is a form of folk dance, similar to square dancing, but with lines of dancers rather than squares. In our gender-free version, instead of typical male-female gender roles, dancers determine their own role as a leader or follower. Everyone, gay or straight, is welcome! This month, we invite you to don your finest, queerest regalia in honor of Pride Month. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase at the venue.
Live music will be provided by THE GRAND OLE AUBREY BAND, and all dances will be taught by caller John Legge.
7:30-8pm Lessons for contra newbies; 8-10:30pm dance for all with a bit of time for socializing afterwards.
No advance planning or experience is needed, Admission is $10, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ContraChicago
or purchase tickets at LINK
Contra dance is a centuries-old New England folk dance tradition. It's the rowdy red-headed stepchild of English country dance ( the kind of dancing you see in Jane Austen movies ). Contra dancing is done to live traditional fiddle music in a variety of styles, from lilting Celtic-inspired tunes to rollicking bluegrass. All dances are taught by a caller, who "calls out" instructions throughout the dance. Queer contra dance takes the traditional division of the dance into "gentlemen" and "ladies" and gives it a queer twist. Instead of gender roles, dancers choose whether or not to wear an armband, which determines their role. ( If you're curious, the "armband" role corresponds to the traditional gentleman's or leader's role, but there's not much difference between the two roles. ) The caller uses the term "armbands" or "bands" to refer to the dancers wearing armbands, and "barearms" or "bares" ( no, not bears ) to indicate those without armbands. ( Description courtesy of Lavender Country and Folk Dancers - www.lcfd.org . )