Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Fairfield’s Contra Dances draw energetic crowds
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FAIRFIELD – If you’re looking for a place to move your body on a Saturday night, the city of Fairfield has you covered.
On the third Saturday of every month, dozens of residents gather at Morning Star Studio on the east side of the square for American Contra Dancing. The dances draw between 30-50 people, according to organizer Jennifer Hamilton, who is often the caller. As the caller, her job is to guide the dancers by announcing instructions in rhythm to the live music. This practice makes the dance accessible to beginners. On top of that, Hamilton leads a 30-minute “refresher course” for dancers to learn the basic steps before the big group convenes at 7:30 p.m.
“That half hour is all you need to have a fun evening of dancing,” Hamilton said. “I teach them figures throughout the night as the dance goes on, so that gives the experienced dancers something more dynamic they can do.”
One of the things Hamilton likes about Contra Dancing is seeing people of all ages and abilities enjoying each other’s company.
“It’s not uncommon to see children, adolescents, middle-aged people and elders all dancing together,” she said. “And it lets you trade partners, so instead of just one other person, or Square Dancing where you dance with eight people, you’ll dance with 40 people.”
American Contra Dancing evolved from English Country Dancing, which Hamilton said was her “first love.” She described English Country Dancing as having a sharper learning curve than Contra Dancing because of its complexity and variety.
“It feeds that part of me that’s a dancer who is interested in the quality of movement,” Hamilton said of English Country Dancing. “You don’t need a partner, which can be daunting, especially for women, if you go into an environment where people are already coupled.”
Hamilton hosts English Country Dancing sessions every week at her house, where her porch becomes a dance hall for the evening. That group is smaller with about 14-16 people typically in attendance. Those interested in attending English Country Dances or learning more about Contra Dancing can email Hamilton at fairfolkdancers@gmail.com.
Hamilton grew up in Iowa City, and said taking dance lessons was a “big source of delight” in her youth. In college, she got a degree in nursing with a minor in dance. She encountered Contra Dancing once at an event, and thought it was really fun, but didn’t take such an active interest in it until she moved to Fairfield in the early 1980s. In Fairfield, Hamilton met Frieda Gratzon, who taught American Contra Dancing, English Country Dancing, Scottish Country Dancing and more.
“I wanted to feed this part of me that needed to move, but I was also a young mother at the time, and I wanted something my kids could participate in,” Hamilton said. “This dance has always been family friendly.”
In the early 1990s, Gratzon announced that she was stepping down from leading the dances. Hamilton was sad because she assumed it meant there would be no more dancing in Fairfield, but other dancers encouraged her to pick up the torch and continue Gratzon’s legacy. Hamilton went from being a dancer to being the group’s main caller, though she’s not the only one. She added that, for the English Country Dances, they are small enough that she can dance and call at the same time.
Hamilton said Fairfield is lucky to have multiple bands willing to play for a few hours at each Contra Dance. At the most recent dance on Feb. 15, the Fairtown Ramblers performed, and that group includes Ann Bosold, Alison Stimson, Dorothy Rowe, Lang Stallings, and guest performer David Stimson who was visiting from Maine.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
