Fran Field, contra dance instructor at Lee Senior Center, leads a workshop for beginners before the dancing session begins. Photo by Shirley Ruhe.
Thirty-six hands join in a circle and step to the left, then to the right. Fran Field, contra dance instructor at Lee Senior Center, leads the group in a contra step workshop, a dance similar to square dancing. Allemande left, then allemande right. "Wait I'm confused. How do I get from this step to the next one?" Field demonstrates with a partner from the group.
"I think we're ready to do it with music." Field puts on the folk music and the fiddle starts in. "Everyone to the center. Now back." Do-si-do. Two partners pass around each other back to back and return to their original positions. Some dancers turn one direction and others stand in place looking puzzled. "O.K. Let's try it again."
This is the first session of contra dancing and will be offered on fifth Fridays from 1-3 p.m. Participants don't need to come with a partner.