CONTRA DANCES.
The Contra Dances take their names from the positions of the dancers, the word contra meaning “against” or “opposite to.” Instead of the partners standing side by side, they face each other, being arranged in two parallel lines, ladies on one side and gentlemen on the other.
The Virginia Reel.
This is one of the most lively of all the Contra Dances, and is a universal favorite. Form in sets of six couples, the six ladies ranging in line, and their partners ranging in another line, facing each other; the gentleman and lady of the head couple standing at the end of their respective lines at the top of the room. The space between the lines should be about four feet. The couples, for the sake of description, may be numerically designated first, second, third, and so on (in their order as they stand) to the last couple; the top and bottom couple being that couple which happens during the dance to occupy the position at top or bottom of the lines. Each couple in turn becomes top couple and bottom couple at least once during the progress of the dance.
First Gentleman and Last Lady Forward and Back.—The two take four steps directly towards each other and four steps backward to place, without turning.
First Gentleman and Last Lady Forward and Swing Right Hands.—The two dance forward to the center, join right hands, swing once around, and step backward to place.
First Gentleman and Last Lady Forward and Swing With Left Hands.—Exactly like preceding movement, only joining left hands instead of right.
First Gentlemen and Last Lady Dos a Dos.—They advance to middle, pass each other on right hands, move around each other to the right, back to back, without turning, and back, passing to left of each other, to places.
First Couple Turn with Right Hands.—The first gentleman and his partner join hands across the head of lines, turn fully once around, and drop right hands.