contra dance
noun
con·tra dance
ˈkän-trə-ˌdan(t)s 
variants
or contredanse
ˈkän-trə-ˌdan(t)s
also kōⁿ-trə-ˈdäⁿs
1
: a folk dance in which couples face each other in two lines or a square
2
: a piece of music for a contra dance
Examples of contra dance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Using big on-screen labels, Baker signals as these people enter and exit Lacy’s life — rivals for Janet’s attention — in a pattern that comes to resemble the regional contra dance depicted in the final scene.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
Erin Clark/Globe Staff People dance along with the band Kingfisher, a folk and contra dance group, during PorchFest in Somerville on Saturday.
—Lauren Booker, BostonGlobe.com, 14 May 2023
Birmingham Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance (FOOTMAD) contra dance with Red Mountain Yellowhammers and caller Jef Hodge.
—Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, al, 27 Dec. 2021
Live music, inspired by traditional sea shanties and early-New England contra dance tunes, accompanies the story, as the cast and audience walk through the preserved landscapes.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2021
Mud in Yer Eye, providing contra dance and folk music to Clevelanders since 1978, returns for another year of fun and frivolity.
—cleveland.com, 10 Sep. 2019
After a pre-ball dance lesson, Bangers & Mash waltzes, polkas, mixers, quadrilles, country & contra dances, and other popular 19th-century couple and set dances.
—Lisa Herendeen, The Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2019
DANCE Bridgewater Community Dance Series features folk, square, and contra dance.
—Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2018
Members of the contra dance group, known as FOOTMAD, will be on the floor tonight at the downtown YWCA, with music provided by the Red Mountain Yellowhammers.
—Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, AL.com, 31 Dec. 2017
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
Erin Clark/Globe Staff People dance along with the band Kingfisher, a folk and contra dance group, during PorchFest in Somerville on Saturday.
—Lauren Booker, BostonGlobe.com, 14 May 2023
Birmingham Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance (FOOTMAD) contra dance with Red Mountain Yellowhammers and caller Jef Hodge.
—Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, al, 27 Dec. 2021
Live music, inspired by traditional sea shanties and early-New England contra dance tunes, accompanies the story, as the cast and audience walk through the preserved landscapes.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2021
Mud in Yer Eye, providing contra dance and folk music to Clevelanders since 1978, returns for another year of fun and frivolity.
—cleveland.com, 10 Sep. 2019
After a pre-ball dance lesson, Bangers & Mash waltzes, polkas, mixers, quadrilles, country & contra dances, and other popular 19th-century couple and set dances.
—Lisa Herendeen, The Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2019
DANCE Bridgewater Community Dance Series features folk, square, and contra dance.
—Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2018
Members of the contra dance group, known as FOOTMAD, will be on the floor tonight at the downtown YWCA, with music provided by the Red Mountain Yellowhammers.
—Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, AL.com, 31 Dec. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near contra dance
Cite this Entry
“Contra dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contra%20dance. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share