The Contra Dances take their names from the positions of the dancers, the word contra meaning “against” or “opposite to.” Instead of the partners standing side by side, they face each other, being arranged in two parallel lines, ladies on one side and gentlemen on the other.

The Virginia Reel.

This is one of the most lively of all the Contra Dances, and is a universal favorite. Form in sets of six couples, the six ladies ranging in line, and their partners ranging in another line, facing each other; the gentleman and lady of the head couple standing at the end of their respective lines at the top of the room. The space between the lines should be about four feet. The couples, for the sake of description, may be numerically designated first, second, third, and so on (in their order as they stand) to the last couple; the top and bottom couple being that couple which happens during the dance to occupy the position at top or bottom of the lines. Each couple in turn becomes top couple and bottom couple at least once during the progress of the dance.

First Gentleman and Last Lady Forward and Back.—The two take four steps directly towards each other and four steps backward to place, without turning.

First Gentleman and Last Lady Forward and Swing Right Hands.—The two dance forward to the center, join right hands, swing once around, and step backward to place.

First Gentleman and Last Lady Forward and Swing With Left Hands.—Exactly like preceding movement, only joining left hands instead of right.

First Gentlemen and Last Lady Dos a Dos.—They advance to middle, pass each other on right hands, move around each other to the right, back to back, without turning, and back, passing to left of each other, to places.

First Couple Turn with Right Hands.—The first gentleman and his partner join hands across the head of lines, turn fully once around, and drop right hands.

Separate and Turn Second Couple.—The gentleman joins left hands with second lady, and swings her half around; at the same time the first lady joins left hands with second gentleman and swings half around; the first gentleman and his partner meet, facing each other. The first couple repeat these movements with each other, and each succeeding couple until they reach the bottom. Then the first couple join hands and dance up the middle to their former places at the top. The gentlemen march to the left and the ladies to the right in line, and come up the middle to places. The top couple dance down the middle to the bottom and become bottom couple. Top and bottom couples begin the figure over again, and continue until the first couple have reached their places again at the top. Sometimes, in the march, when the first couple, having marched down the outside, meet at the bottom of the set, they stop, join hands and raise their arms, allowing all the other couples to pass under. This leaves them at the bottom of the lines.

The calls for the Virginia Reel are as follows:

First gentleman and last lady forward and back.

First lady and last gentleman the same.

First gentleman and last lady swing right hands.

First lady and last gentleman the same.

First gentleman and last lady swing left hands.

First lady and last gentleman the same.

First gentleman and last lady swing both hands.

First lady and last gentleman the same.

First gentleman and last lady dos a dos.

First lady and last gentleman the same.

First couple turn right hands.

Separate and turn second couple, left hands.

Turn right hands.

Separate and turn third couple, left hands.

And so on to the bottom.

Join hands and back to places at top.

All gentlemen to left, ladies to right, march down outside and up the middle.

Head couple down the middle to bottom.