Contra dance?

mt4sbwy

Folk dancing and music played a HUGE part in how FI and I started dating, we both really enjoy it, and we regularly attend local dances.  We also don't know how to ballroom dance, and I abhor most modern music.  We're debating the merits of having a contra dance as part of our wedding reception - I think it would be meaningful and significant, not to mention more fun and more likely to get people dancing, and he thinks that people expect traditional dancing and that with a lot of beginners the dance would be awkward.  I also think it would be a great way for us to socialize, since you dance with everyone.

We plan to have about two hours of dancing time after the meal.  There are four people who I know are regular dancers on the guest list (including us and my MOH), five people from my side of the family who will be open to trying it (basically everyone from my side who is capable of dancing), and FI thinks he remembers going to a contra dance at one of his cousins' weddings.  The band would also be able to play waltzes, foxtrots, and polkas if the contras weren't working.  We're having the reception in a hotel.

How would you react if you were a guest at such a wedding?  All of our guests know the emotional significance, but half of FI's family is very stuck on tradition.  How would you indicate that spike heels might not be the best option?

danieliza1127

I have no idea what a contra dance is but I do know that you will have some guests who won't try it simply because they don't dance or won't be willing to try something they've never done before.  As long as you have realistic expectations that not everyone will get on the dance floor, then do what you want.

antimony

Friends of mine did English Country Dancing (which is about the same difficulty level as contra, and related).  Lots of people danced, lots of people sat out entirely, everyone had a good time?   Since it sounds like you afford to get live music, rather than a caller working from records, those who don't want to dance will have gorgeous music to listen to. 

A good caller *is* key for this sort of thing.

As for warning about shoes -- put it in the invite!  Not the recommendation, but that there will be contra dancing.  If you think a lot of people won't know the word "contra" -- maybe say "square and contra dancing" even if you won't have any squares on the program?  It's just a more familiar term. 

duckie1905

I wouldn't participate but that is me.  You know your guests best.

Many I know would be really uncomfortable with what you are suggesting.

MyNameIsNot

You'd have to give me a lot of booze to convince me to try to do this.  

I probably wouldn't dance at all, but I'd be fine hanging out without dancing, too.  

If you really want to get most everyone on the dance floor, you'll probably want to do something more universally appealing.  If you're ok with only a few people dancing, this is fine.  

tracy_k

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_contra-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:81a4b9d8-c516-4c9d-9bd7-4dd0f265444dPost:228590ae-edff-4937-9bb4-a9c68a1a1f0a">Re: Contra dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]Friends of mine did English Country Dancing (which is about the same difficulty level as contra, and related).  Lots of people danced, lots of people sat out entirely, everyone had a good time? 
Posted by antimony[/QUOTE]

This. And you may want to hire an instructor or two and do lessons for part of it.

Only you will know if it's going to be something your guests will enjoy or hate. Like PPs said, if half your guests will hate it it may be best to limit the contra dancing to a portion of thereception and have regular dancing for the rest of it.

I went to a wedding that had an Irish ceilidh theme, and they had instructors. Just about everyone participated, it was a lot of fun and I've never seen people dance so much. It was kinda cool.

aerinpegadrak

Remember, the reception is more for your guests than it is for you.  So if your guests are all into the contra dance thing, then awesome!  If they wouldn't know what to do, or would prefer not to try it, then you're going to have a lot of people sitting out or even leaving early.

At your wedding, you're the hostess, and a good hostess wants to throw the best party she can.  If the majority of your guests would see folk dancing as an awesome party, then go for it!  But if the majority of people would be utterly bored or even uncomfortable, then you should probably try to at least mix in some more typical dancing.