Contra and Waltz

I went to a contra dance last night, figuring that would be a good way to forget about the Bronco game. What is contra dancing? Here is a good definition, from a google search for those terms. (http://www.sbcds.org/contradance/whatis/#Def0>

“A dancer and his or her partner dance a series of figures, or moves, with each other and with another couple for a short time. They then repeat the same figures with another couple, and so on. The figures are similar to those of old-time square dancing. The figures are combined in different ways for each different dance.”

Contra is high energy, and at the end of a three hour dance you will be exhausted. You need to staying mentally alert, paying attention to the caller’s instructions, and not messing up the dance for everybody. Each dance lasts about 15 minutes, and the patterns for every dance are different. The music starts slow, allowing you to get familiar with the groups of steps, then picks til you are blazing by the end. It’s not uncommon to get stuck once in a while, as in your mind going blank. (This happens to me right after I have squeezed and swung a pretty woman, and can’t think about anything but that for a few seconds). The thing to do when you are stuck is to glance over to the other couples in the line to see what you should be doing, and catch up. Contra dancers are friendly and kind, and will help you if they see you are having some difficulty, especially if you are new to contra.

The thing I love about contra dancing is that it is always done to a live band, with the fiddle is the main instrument. On Friday night I went to a contra that had three fiddles most of the evening. I have always loved roots fiddle music, and the fastest fiddle songs sort of catch in my feet and are expressed in a smile that is hard to contain.

On Sunday the best fiddler I have ever heard was playing. Her name is Sandra Wong and I am in love with her. She has long black hair, a warm smile, and plays the fiddle with such passion that I feel a good 20 years younger when dancing to it. She has played the violin since she was seven. Read more about Sandra here. She has a cd for sale here.

Sandra is such a master that she tends to raise her volume level and intensity of playing at transitions in the dancing, like when you swing your partner at the end of a sequence of contra patterns. Right then is my favorite part, and my partners can feel the effect of Sandra’s fiddle in my touch and intensity. I am gentle with the ladies that don’t like to spin fast, but I have to admit I favor the athletic ladies who’s love of music and dance matches my own.

Sandra finished the evening with the most gorgeous waltz I have ever heard played. My partner said she was new to dancing, but within ten seconds or so was on the beat and following my leads gracefully. It was a great time, and in the midst of leading my partner, the haunting melody of Sandra's violin gave me chills. The experience of hearing Sandra play that beautiful waltz and dancing with such a warm and passionate partner is something that is to me is like up at a timberline campsite, and seeing the sun break over the lowlands to the east on a calm morning. As the first sunlight colors the peaks behind you, and you turn to see it just breaking over the horizion below, you know the peace and spiritual uplight of this moment will remain with you for a very long time.

Yes, that describes how Sandra's playing affects me. As I said, I am in love with her. If you saw her and listened to her play, you would be also.