Walker family brings contra dance to campus

Nate Kimball Staff Writer

On Monday, Nov. 14, 30 people looking for a good time and a reason for procrastination gathered in the student’s building to honor a growing Vassar College tradition: the art of contra dancing.

Contra Dancing involves a group of live musicians directing participants through a series of steps to form a uniform dance. Jeff Walker, Professor of Geology, has been leading contra dancing groups at Vassar and around the Hudson Valley for years with his family, which makes up the Walker Family Band.

Walker comments that the popularity of contra dancing has always varied at Vassar, but started with “Square Dance Weekends” before the College went co-ed in the 1960s. For the past ten years, the Walker family band has been hosting contra dances sporadically there was a biweekly dance in the Aula, the former student nightclub, in the 90’s and the American Culture department hosts a dance at its annual picnic.

Walker has been teaching intermittent contra dancing sessions in the dance department, and hosted a barn dance at his home in Hyde Park, NY in the beginning of the year that was attended by about 20 Vassar students from his classes.

This year, contra dancing has been gaining popularity at Vassar with additions such as a group on facebook.com called “Contra-Dancing Fools”.

Emily Vail ’09, the creator of that group, said that she started it after a great experience with other Vassar students at a dance at the Arlington Reform Church in the beginning of the year.

“It seems like the kind of thing where the people who know about it love it,” said Vail, and we wanted to spread the word that there’s this great opportunity to go contra dancing so close to campus.”

Vail also commented that there are usually more students from Bard then from Vassar at these dances, even though the Arlington Reform Church is just a few minutes from campus.

Rowan Hill ’09 remarked, “Contra dancing is some of the best fun I’ve had at Vassar. And there’s no hangover the next morning.”

Hill attended a dance at Bard a few weeks ago, which has a contra dancing club that is recognized by their student association.

“They had a kick-ass night with lots of people. I don’t see why Vassar can’t move in the same direction.”

Leah Wilks ’09 has much more personal involvement with contra dancing. Her parents met at a contra dance and she has been very involved in it for many years.

“It brings the weirdest group of people together to form the most fabulous community. The music can be great. When it is, everyone whoops and hollers and the energy in the air can be tasted,” commented Wilks.

Everyone at the dance seemed to want more of it at Vassar, whether they have been doing it for years or if they just started that night. People grabbing smoothies in UpCDC gathered around and watched, and some even came down and joined the crowd.

Contra dancing has been prominent in the periphery of Vassar activities for a long time, and many hope that its rising popularity will raise awareness around campus.

Why do it? Wilks sums it up very well: “You don’t have to know how to do it prior to coming, and you never have to have a partner…plus it is totally acceptable for men to wear skirts.” Well, I’m convinced.