BIDA - Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Contra Dancing FAQ | BIDA FAQ

Contra Dancing FAQ:

What is contra dancing?

It's super fun but really hard to describe: check out this video, Dancers

then come to our dance and give it a try! Beginners are always welcome at our dances.

I've never contra danced before. What should I bring with me?

Enthusiasm!
Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to sweat some; it's a good idea to bring an extra shirt, especially in the summer.
Bring a clean pair of shoes to change into, in order to protect the floor. Many dancers prefer suede or leather soles, but sneakers are fine -- you don't need anything special, just avoid tracking in grit from outside.
A reusable water bottle – we’ll have water available, but help us cut down on the number of disposable cups we go through!

What other contra dances are there in the area?

We're glad you asked! Check out Ted Crane's Dance Database at dancedb.com; the Dance Gypsy at www.thedancegypsy.com; and for a local calendar of all kinds of folk dancing try the Folk Arts Center's calendar at www.facone.org/fdrb/home/index.html.

BIDA FAQ:

What does BIDA stand for? Mentoring

Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates

How do you pronounce "BIDA," anyway?

"BYE-da"

Where is your dance and how can I get there?

We're accessible by public transportation! Most of our dances are held at the Cambridge Masonic Hall, 1950 Mass Ave, which is less than a block from the Porter Square stop on the Red Line. For other public transit options (including commuter rail and bus schedules), check out www.mbta.com or Google Maps transit directions. If you prefer to drive, on-street parking is free on Sundays, with no permit required.

Whaddaya mean, "intergenerational?"

We want to encourage everyone to socialize and dance with people from different generations, in order to share their enthusiasm and experience, and to have fun! We think our dance community will benefit from breaking down barriers that seem to exist between generations.

You have all these goals: how do you make them work?

We hold a variety of different events, some of which focus on certain goals more than others. As a whole, we make sure that all of our events work towards our primary goal of developing community.

Our potlucks and parties allow people to socialize informally, and we encourage people to wear nametags at our events. We post etiquette and dance style posters encouraging everyone to think about how they can improve their own dancing and raise the dancing level of the community, and we also ask our callers to give style and dance-improvement tips from the mic. Our mentoring program cultivates opportunities for experienced performers to share their knowledge with newcomers, which also strengthens everyone's ties to the community.

How can I get involved in BIDA?

Thanks for asking! We'd love to have you get involved. There are lots of opportunities available for dancers, musicians, callers, and organizers, whatever level of experience or interest you might have. Check out our "Get Involved" page for details!

How can I start something like this in my area?

First, figure out what your goals are, and how a new dance organization can benefit your community. Then, check out the amazing "starter kit" resources provided by the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS). These kits cover all sorts of dance-related topics, and the section on organizing community dances is especially helpful if you want to start an organization like BIDA. And feel free to email us at bida@bidadance.org. We'll be happy to share any experience or ideas that we have, and we are always interested in learning about what other groups are doing.

For more information or to join our email list, email