Contra dance catching on in Coeur d'Alene area
<p>KEITH COUSINS/Press</p><p>Nora Scott leads a large group of participants in a Contra dance at the Meadowbrook Community Hall in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday. The Contra dance drew more than 75 attendees of all ages.</p>
<p>KEITH COUSINS/Press</p><p>Nora Scott, from the Spokane area, instructs participants in a classic Contra dance during an event at the Meadowbrook Community Hall in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.</p>
COUGAR GULCH — As more and more people made their way inside the Meadowbrook Community Hall in Cougar Gulch on Saturday night, Caller Nora Scott added new steps participants would use during the next song.
"Anyone who can walk and listen to music can do this," said Scott, a Spokane-area resident who has been calling Contra dances for more than 20 years. "It's not supposed to be stressful."
More than 75 people of all ages filled the historic barn house for the Contra dance, held for the second year at Meadowbrook Community Hall. The dance was sponsored by the Arvid Lundin and Deep Roots band as a way to give to local charities while exposing residents to social form of folk dancing that originated in New England. Throughout the night, Arvid Lundin and the band played traditional Celtic music as Scott led the dancers.
"Getting everyone engaged, off their chair, and willing to take a risk in order to have fun is the best part for me," Scott said. "And seeing their eyes light up before they ask about doing it again is just amazing."
Char Beach, a Coeur d'Alene resident who is also a part of the band, told The Press that a Contra dance is somewhat similar to line dancing, with long lines replacing the small squares of their country counterparts. The dance, she added, is a social one that sees everyone in the room dance with each other before the night is through.
Events, Beach said, are often held in Spokane, Sandpoint, and Moscow on a monthly basis. However, Beach added her band and other Contra dance enthusiasts have been trying to bring further exposure for the festive gatherings to Coeur d'Alene.
"We thought a benefit event would be a great way to do that," Beach said. "Some people come because they like the music and some come because it's a social dance. But everybody can participate and we often get a good, multi-generational gathering of folks."
Kimberlee Ciccone, a Coeur d'Alene resident, was in attendance Saturday and told The Press she also attended the event last year. She was once again volunteering at the event, and said she loves that it combines giving to charity with a fun, family friendly dance.
"You don't need a partner, as long as you can count to eight you can Contra dance," Ciccone said. "And the band just rocks it."
In the spirit of the upcoming election, each participant received a chip and was allowed to vote for one of three local animal charities. The proceeds from the event, Beach said, will be divided based on the proportion of votes.