Bloomington Contra-Dance

           

           Going to the Bloomington Contra-Dance was the best decision that I’ve made since I have been on campus. While originally possessing a neutral sense of enthusiasm, I was genuinely surprised as the night carried on. The presence of live music including the fiddle and accordion was remarkable. The sounds made by these instruments were so vivid and clear that I hardly could tell it was being performed live. I honestly had a grand time throughout the night and look forward to the next encounter with the lovely people and the overall old time music and dance atmosphere.

            In the preliminary stages upon our arrival at the Boys and Girls Club, a feeling of awkwardness and discomfort surfaced through my body language due to my attendance in a foreign situation. Initially, I had absolutely no idea of what was going on let alone how to dance. As I slowly acclimated to this unfamiliar environment, my confidence and level of comfort steadily increased. After making drastic improvement, I made the gutsy decision to let completely loose. I connected emotionally with the people who were there at the Boys and Girls Club through conversation between and during dances. During nearly all of the dancing, my newly acquired neighbors would introduce themselves and ask me questions. This loquacious environment definitely connected me with the people. Having been a former regular attendee at the Boys and Girls Club in my hometown, I naturally took a liking to the environment. It reminded me of home and gave me a sense of comfort. This eventually gave me a feeling of euphoria, exciting me further about my extended stay in Bloomington. I was do-si-doing, swinging my partner round and round, and waltzing: all maneuvers that I had no idea that I could do, but after repetition, conquered quite wonderfully. As soon as I made the decision to let loose, the entire atmosphere changed for the better. I confidently asked ladies varying in age from fourteen years old to ninety years old if they would care to dance with a stiff amateur like myself. Compared to other forums of music, this experience was entirely more accepting and enjoyable. This Old Time Music and Dance ambiance involved participants of all skill levels, which draws a crowd that is much more diverse than other mainstream forums for public dancing. The more experienced regulars, who belonged to this social cohort due to their consistent attendance on Wednesdays, assisted the obvious beginners in learning the step patterns and dance moves, providing more uniqueness to this mode of dance. Learning and teaching is one aspect of participatory music that truly makes it unique. An additional trait that made this experience different from other mediums of song and dance was the interaction among several different people. In this friendly environment, it forced you to meet new people at the event by constantly swapping partners after the conclusion of one cycle of the dance. Also, I found it very appealing that this event was taught so that everyone was included. At many other, more formal, social gatherings, it is expected and assumed that everyone knows how to dance. This inclusion is also one of the several benefits of participatory music. Men old enough to be my grandfather were asking girls younger than me to dance. Men younger than myself were asking women as old as my grandmother to dance. People danced together to connect socially with everyone, not to solely connect socially with their particular demographic. I constantly found myself meeting new people to dance with, which inclined us to strike up conversation, which lead to similar interests and an authentic feeling of solidarity. In a nutshell, that is the sole purpose of participatory music. Everyone can have fun dancing and socializing with new and accumulated friends.

            This Contra-Band event showcased many of the benefits of participatory music beautifully. As the entire group exemplified, everyone got involved which made the music more entertaining. It is an environment that is specifically designed to created relationships. Listening to music combined with universal activity makes a huge impact on the way the music is perceived by people. People did not need to be “good” at what they were doing; they just needed to add to the social bonding in order for the event to be successful. It is a very democratic atmosphere that emphasizes fun rather than competition. When amateurs amalgamate in a social gathering, it is often more amusing when people are sub-par at what they are doing. Simultaneous participation encourages comfort by not singling any one person out, so its ability to provide a safe and secure environment is also a huge benefit. Through open-mindedness, I learned that participation leads to a personal connection that simply cannot be achieved through high fidelity situations and other mediums of music.

            After experiencing the Contra-Band dance for the first time, I can honestly say that I have every intention to go there again. The amazing people are the main reason for my next appearance at the Boys and Girls Club. They were so nice and welcoming; I always strive to surround myself by the types of people. Letting loose with some of my friends and meeting new people really is an awesome time. Although I am not the best dancer, I can totally see myself improving that aspect of my life through persistent attendance and practice on Wednesdays at the Boys and Girls Club. After all, I am in total support of the Bloomington community, so giving four dollars in exchange for a night full of fun and meeting new friends is without a doubt the easiest decision to make. I am genuinely grateful for this entertaining opportunity that we discovered in class.