Welcome to the Greater Orlando Contra Dance and to Contra Knights, the student contra-dancing club at the University of Central Florida! Our dances feature high-tempo, gender-neutral dancing. We are Florida’s only gender-neutral contra series.

New? Check out the video below or our What’s Contra? page!

Scroll down for details on our next few dances.

We dance:

  • 2nd and 4th Fridays: Greater Orlando Contra Dance, open to EVERYONE! FREE FOR STUDENTS!
  • Thursdays: Contra Knights UCF student club dances for students and under-30s. You don’t have to be a student or attend UCF. These are FREE!
  • Holidays, semester breaks, and regional events happen, so CHECK THE SCHEDULE!

Social media:

Here’s the first dance of our first school year. Almost nobody here knew how to dance 90 minutes earlier. You can do it, too!

We’re beginner-friendly and we’ll teach you everything you need to know. If you can walk, you can dance! No partner or experience needed. There are more videos on our What’s Contra? page and there’s an FAQ, too.

Scroll down a section for the campus dance for students and under-30s.

Visit our Dances and Events page for the full schedule.

NEXT GREATER ORLANDO CONTRA DANCE:

FEATUREFriday the 13th! If you’re so inclined, wear a danceable costume or T-shirt manifesting bad luck. Winner by group acclamation gets a free dessert at Jeremiah’s after the dance. (Must participate in Jeremiah’s outing to collect prize.)
WHOEverybody! (Dance is not restricted to students and under-30s.)
WHENFRIDAY OCTOBER 13, 7:00 – 10:30 pm. Door opens at 6:30 pm. Beginner lesson at 7:00 sharp! Dance 7:30 – 10:30.
WHEREWinter Park Ballroom Dance Co., 6904 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, Florida (next to Jeremiah’s Ice Cream). The floor is suspended hardwood with a poly finish.
PARKINGPlenty!
CALLERJoe Harrington (Orlando) – Calling is gender-neutral.
MUSICGadabouts:
Marietta Massey – banjo and percussion
David Massey – keyboard
Bill Paine – mandolin
Kathie Aagaard – fiddle
LEVELBeginner/intermediate. Dances start easy and get more complex later. First-timers should be ready to dance for the lesson at 7:00.
COST$15. Students and job seekers FREE!
ATTIREWear what’s comfortable, see videos. This is athletic, so you will sweat. Hopefully a lot! Dress lightly and bring a water bottle. No perfumes, please. Stilettos and very high heels discouraged!

CONTRA KNIGHTS (STUDENT) DANCES:

WHOStudents and under-30s (roughly, we’re not checking) are invited. UCF affiliation NOT required!
WHENMOST THURSDAYS, 8:30 – 11 pm during Fall semester. Beginner lesson at 8:30 pm! Check INSTAGRAM or DISCORD to confirm time and location.
WHEREUCF Student Union room 221. The floor is hard plastic laminate.
PARKINGParking Lot H2. Our circular campus is confusing. Please note where your car is and map the walk in your favorite smartphone map app.
CALLERStudents and Joe Harrington – calling is gender-neutral.
MUSICCaller will DJ a mix of traditional and contemporary contra dance music.
LEVELBeginner/intermediate. Dances start easy and get more complex later. First-timers should be ready to dance for the lesson at 8:30.
COSTFREE!
ATTIREWear what’s comfortable, see videos. This is athletic, so you will sweat. Hopefully a lot! Dress lightly and bring a water bottle. No perfumes, please. Flip-flops, stilettos and very high heels discouraged!