Indianapolis, IN 2023-03-07

One of the great glossary dances. Simple figures and gentle timing, but not so comprehensive that it leaves you with no options to make the second dance feel distinctive. Definitely a favorite of mine.

I was taking a course on gender and sexuality at the time I wrote this. The title is a double pun; "Contra is essential" is one meaning, "against cultural/biological essentialism" is another.

Based on Paul Balliet's First Hey, shifted and with one phrase changed. Offers an opening that works much better with a barn-burner of a tune, with a runaway B section. Manages the energy throughout the sequence better than Paul's original dance, in my opinion. At the very least it offers a distinctly more driving and chunky feel compared to the original.

Balter - to dance artlessly, without particular grace or skill, but usually with enjoyment.

Although neither expected nor intended, this dance is suitable for a crowd with a high proportion of beginners, as one caller reported to me: "I called a couple of your dances tonight. There were totally brand new dancers in the mix--folks with not even other dance experience--so even basic stuff required like 3 walk-thrus. We did Dave Found The Missing Coffee Cup, and Balter Dance. Balter Dance was particularly well received for its chains for both ladles and gentlespoons, which is rare, and works beautifully with the alternating stars. One person commented that it was great for helping new dancers, since you're in physical contact with either a partner or neighbor almost all the time, so you don't get lost or wander in the wrong direction."
So by accident, this dance was aptly named.

Cary's notes:

"This is similar to Heart of Glass but modifies the entry to the star promenade to relax the timing.

Wildflowers B [https://contradb.com/dances/1960] - inverted version, can be medleyed."