California Twirl Contra • Oxy Folk Dance Troupe • Performance: Dublin Bay • November 2019

Dancers from Occidental's Folk and Historical Dance Troupe performed a selection of English dances that were precursors to contemporary contra dancing, and taught us about their historical context.
This is Dublin Bay, originally known as "To Wed and to Bed." It was one of the early English Country Dances known as Playford dances, after well-known 17th century John Playford.* It demonstrates how introducing a progressive element turns the original two couple set dance into a contra dance.
*John Playford was the publisher of "The English Dancing Master, or Plaine and Easie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances, with the Tune to Each Dance," considered the first English Country Dance (ECD) manual published.
The Occidental's Folk and Historical Dance Troupe was founded almost 50 years ago by Betchen Barber and is now directed by Alan Knoerr. Thanks to both of them for participating tonight and sharing their historical expertise with us! Thanks also to the Oxy dancers who put on such a delightful performance!
November 8, 2019.
Contra dance in Eagle Rock, CA.
California Twirl is a gender-free contra dance series, affiliated with the Southern California Community Dance Coalition (formerly California Dance Co-operative).
www.sccdc.org/contra/california-twirl/