Bloomington Contra-Dance

               Our goal for our trip to the weekly Bloomington Contra-Dance was to have a fun time, and our class absolutely accomplished that goal.  I haven’t been placed in a better environment yet in Bloomington where I’ve felt as strong of a connection with the people around me. It didn’t matter if you had been there for the past six years, or if this was your first time and checking it out. Skill level doesn’t matter, and that’s what I loved about it so much. It was a place where people could come together as a community and feel one with the arts of music and dance.

               If my enthusiasm for the Contra-Dance isn’t already obvious, I would have to say that it was one of the most liberating experiences and most fun I’ve had with a large group of people in all of my life. Everyone who showed up either knew what they were there for or had an initial idea. They came together to experience music and dance as cultural cohorts. This experience gave every one a taste of different cultures than the ones they came from. From speaking to many of the fellow participators, many of them had professions that took up their time while they weren’t taking part in the weekly Contra-Dance. When music is heard in public setting, people normally think of a radio playing in the background of the supermarket or a concert that they paid several dollars to be at. But at this public dance, it was a very affordable four dollars to actually be a part of the performance.  The music was set at a very manageable tempo that everyone could stay in time with and not stress out about missing a step or two. This leads me to my next point. This event invites people of all different shapes, sizes, and skill levels. As a short guy, I would keep getting partnered with women much taller than me, but that was okay. When glancing around the room, there was no science to the way people got together. It was an event that requires two people to be together. There is no seclusion or solidarity in the Contra-Dance. It forces you to interact with your partner not necessarily conversationally, but you both are given steps to follow, and from each neighbor change you and your partner would get better at the directions that you were given. When the music ends, there is a connection between you and your partner that either verbally or nonverbally is indicated and you feel a sense of accomplishment.

               The Contra-Dance is a beautifully crafted event. All your preconceived notions and insecurities can be left at the door when you attend events like this. Finding something in life that is genuinely fun is something that you want to squeeze the most out of. I will be attending future Contra-Dance on account of how much of a thrill it was for me and my friends. In today’s culture, people assume you need to engage in alcohol consumption or drug use to have a fun time dancing. But the feeling of euphoria that the Contra-Dance gave me was something that can’t be found through any drug or any amount of alcohol consumed. The moments in life that give those feelings of joy are the ones that will stick in your mind forever, and are the ones that you want to experience again.

               I now have a new found respect for participatory music and actions.  The numbers of benefits behind participatory music and actions are countless. Participatory music makes you feel connected with all the people you are playing with. Even though we weren’t playing instruments, the dancers played a large role in the success of the music players. By stomping and stepping to the beats being played, we weren’t only giving the music life through our dance, but we added to the sound as well. I had similar feelings when I was at the farmers market. You feel similar feelings of oneness and togetherness when attending an event that isn’t based on music as well. These participatory actions take cultural cohorts and transfer them into our daily lives, thus making them cultural formations.  This gives prove to the fact that participatory music and actions don’t determine success on the amount of money that they collect at the end of the night, or the quality of sound coming from the instruments, but success is determined by the laughs and the amount of positive energy accumulated by the people participating.

               The Contra-Dance blew away any and all expectations that a newcomer could have. It took the art of music and made it into an aspect of life that you can come to weekly and feel the feeling of unity in a way like none other. These events make you value the parts in your life that have been overshadowed by a high fidelity and studio art that has become the social standard for our lives. For a population as a whole, we need music to function and feel connected, so if we can emphasize the importance of social interaction through participatory, we will likely break out of the impersonal society we live in today.