do the lightbulb, balance and swing

[cos]

On my recent visit to NYC, I went with eisa and zahl to Alchemy, a weekly goth night at CB's gallery. Contrary to what we had heard, there is actually a bit of dancing there, though the dance space is small and most people are off at the other end of the place, lounging at the bar or on couches. So, we danced.

Sitting down resting after a while, I saw eisa pull zahl into a decidedly ungothlike dance move. Then she came over and grabbed me and said something about a "contra swing", which I completely fumbled, partly due to failing a mental context switch and partly we didn't start with a balance - apparently it really does help! We did manage a nice improvised gypsy and something kind of like a hey. A bit later we were facing each other and two other people were just in the right position to be the other couple and I called a right hand star, but alas, only eisa responded and the other people probably didn't even register the nonsense.

One year at Falcon Ridge, I went out to a nearby swimming pool with a few friends, and someone started randomly calling contra calls while we were in the pool. That didn't work too well, but it was fun. I thought that was the strangest attempt at contra I'd ever try, but no.

What we need, to try this for real, is at least two couples, preferably four, who know contra, like going to goth clubs, and are nutty enough to want to try this. Then we can invade some goth night and do the silliness. Who's in?

Comments

[entrochan.livejournal.com]

Ok, that sounds like *lots* of fun. Count me in if it happens!

[coraline]

i'm in!!!

Okay, I'm not from around here..

[heinleinfan.livejournal.com]

What in the blazes is contra dance?

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

There's a goth night called Alchemy around the corner from me :)
You can also lindyhop to some goth music.

[eirias.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you liked to contra dance!

Next time you're in Madison, we should go - Pete is a contra fiddler and Sig used to dance all the time (that's how they met). There are some nice people in the contra scene here (also some wackos, but enh, whatever).

Re: Okay, I'm not from around here..

[coraline]

dances done by the anti-sandinista rebels!

ok, maybe not. it's a traditional american form of folk dancing which is a little bit like square dancing, only with better music and without the really stupid-looking costumes.

[diatom.livejournal.com]

yay, contra! *sigh* there's even a queer contra here. and a gender-free one. funny how easy it is to sweat at this stuff.

[regyt.livejournal.com]

I like the idea, but I can't dance and don't know contra.

[penk.livejournal.com]

I just don't know what a lightbulb is. :)

But yeah, the balance is a great "step-stomp-step-stomp-start" rhythm-getter-goer. I just love hearing a gym full of people doing it. 8)

[dreams-of-wings.livejournal.com]

If you can teach me to contra I'll absolutely be there.

[tiguh-tiguh.livejournal.com]

Contras are fairly easy, it's just walking thru space, creating patterns.
I'm teaching at Pinewoods this summer - the ultimate experience in new england contras and squares! :)

[cos]

Huh. how'd you miss that? And how'd I miss that? very strange.

[cos]

That makes you sound like someone who contras but doesn't goth.
Everyone knows "the lightbulb" is one of the most common goth dance moves :)

[cos]

Oooh! Yes! Let's do that when you come back. Now we have three missions. Does that call for an evil-sounding cackle?

[selki.livejournal.com]

I'd go contra at a goth club! I have a black dress. I hardly ever get to Mass, though.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Alchemy's at The Nation on Thursday nights. http://www.alchemy-dc.com/
http://www.alchemy-dc.com/venue.php

[larksdream]

Me too! Lessons! Lessons!

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Tech Squares has an annual Pool Dance. MWSD in one of the MIT Pools. It's one hell of a workout.

One of the last thing I went to at Johnny D's... I wish I could remember what... Lisa Greenleaf ended up calling (while dancing) a bit of Contra. The band was non-plussed.

[rhysara.livejournal.com]

I am inordinately amused by the visual image. Unfortunately, while i do contra dance (or at least used to), people would laugh themselves silly at the thought of me at a goth event.

[cos]

The whole point of this excercise is to give people a reason to laugh themselves silly!
Though apparently you're a few steps ahead of the rest of us if all it takes is the mere thought :)

Where do you (or have you) dance(d) around here?

[rhysara.livejournal.com]

My mother used to dance when I was little. We lived in Rhode Island for a time so she (with me in tow) used to attend a lot of the Rhode Island and Cape Cod area dances. Then we moved to NH and started going to a lot of NH/VT ones. I don't think I've been to a dance since I was in college, though my mother keeps threatening to come down to MA to visit me some weekend with the express purpose of dragging me to some of her old favorites.

[ambrosiaoferis.livejournal.com]

greetings via lj for no particular reason :)

well

[said71.livejournal.com]

Attention! A new service from the company Live Journal! Online Dating Services for Singles!! (http://supersearchs.com/search.php?qq=online+dating)

[cos]

Awww *smile* Wanna go contra dancing in a goth club? Or just one or the other?

[selki.livejournal.com]

I'd been saving this in case I get a Friday off sometime (making Ths. night down in DC more possible), but if cchan8 is right about this being a pretty smoky place, I'll need to bow out until my furry pet / dust / cigarette smoke allergies subside again.

It sounds like fun, though!

[mackelzinzie.livejournal.com]

ooh ooh me me