The Western Reserve Contra Dance invites people to take part in contra dance

Staff report

CANFIELD

The Western Reserve Contra Dance will have its second dance session at the Dublin Grange Theatre Co., 6571 Fairground Blvd., from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Contra dance is a highly energetic and aerobic style of folk dance popular in 17th-century Colonial America and Great Britain.

Laura Tellman of Liberty started the event after witnessing contra dance at the Civil War Ball hosted by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society in 2014. Tellman found help from the acoustic-string folk band One String Short, which plays at the dance, and its leader Dennis Kempthorne, who helped organize the event, which takes place the second week of every month.

“Everything is taught. There are no uniforms or clubs or anything like that,” Kempthorne said. “It’s a really loosely knit type of group, and we line everybody up, and there we go.”

Guests of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Tickets cost $8 per person, and participants can wear casual attire as long as they have rubber-soled shoes. The event will provide light snacks and refreshments. Visit westernreservecontradance.com for information.