Bloomington Contra-Dance.

Attending the Contra-Dance at the Boys and Girls club was an experience, maybe and experience I will have again one day. Contra-dancing is something that is unlike the dancing of my generation. It becomes more personal, which can cause people to feel uncomfortable at times. Still it is one of the several participatory interactions Bloomington has to offer.

Holding hands with strangers and having conversations with them was unusual at first and later seemed more natural. Being a newcomer, the more experienced dancers were welcoming and proactive with teaching our group the different dances. If we messed up they would laugh a little, but they would help us get better and learn how to do things the correct way. Dancing with all of those people made me feel more connected to a part of Bloomington that many college students here probably never experience. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable even after dancing for a little while, partly because it was difficult for me to dance with some of the taller men, but also because of how controlling some of the more experienced dancers were. My body had to become acquainted with the fact that someone else was guiding my steps.

Contra-dancing is similar to other partner dances in that the male is the lead and in control. The dancing of my generation however, does little to institute control in the male figure. The dancers rarely make eye contact or have conversation, it is a very impersonal experience and once the dance is over you go your separate ways. With Contra-dancing, you hold hands with your partner, the two learn to move together while facing each other and even make some kind of relative eye contact. While dancing and changing partners constantly I found myself feeling more comfortable dancing with my classmates even though I knew their skill level and mine would not improve by us dancing together. I found myself turning down some older men asking me to be their partner, only to then say yes to someone I knew. I felt rude for turning them down, but physical contact with people I hardly know has never been something I am comfortable with.

Dancing with people I had never met before was something I had already experienced with in a Salsa class. Only that experience was more of an intimate one than a friendly, welcoming one. Mostly due to the nature of the dance styles, making connections with people while dancing can take some time to become comfortable with when in todays reality, simply making any kind of connection with people is becoming more of a rarity. I would like to say that I will attend a Contra-Dance at least one more time, but that is not something I will not go out of my way to make sure happens.

Socially, participatory interactions are important for people to feel connected and gain a sense of belonging. All humans have a need to feel like they are accepted and belong. By taking part in events like the Contra-Dance or the Farmers Market they get a sense of welcoming by the community. Everyone that is in attendance is there because they want to be there. They wish to share the things they make, do, and enjoy in the hopes that other people will enjoy them as well. A great benefit to participatory social actions is that it creates a greater sense of community. Once a community is connected they begin to have more of an understanding of the people in it. Having an understanding causes people to care about the wellbeing and lives of their neighbors. They will find themselves wanting to give back to the community more often and fixing the problems within the community. A community where the people give back and are connected continues to create environments that are conductive to creating even more relationships.  

Finding a community that has a strong connection that is welcoming and open is becoming harder to find with the lack of social interactions people have now. Attending a Contra-Dance is not, and will not, be for everyone. Yet, there will be something for everyone that has a participatory aspect to it within a community, especially the Bloomington one. I consider myself lucky to have found a college where the town is more than just a typical college town. The people that live here make it a real town, with more than just college students and businesses that focus solely on those students. The Contra-Dance taught me that there really is something for anyone to be a part of in this community.