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Derek Oct 24 2024 11:35 PM
I am aware that many people do not want masks to be required at dances, however what people want is not always what is right and there are certainly people choosing not to attend dances and other large group gatherings without voicing their discomfort with lack of masking policies because they know that their voice will not make a difference. While the US has by and large decided that repeat COVID infections are inevitable, COVID is even more scary and even more devastating to the body than we knew in 2020, and new variants continue to mutate all of the time. It shows a lack of care for the wellbeing of the community not to require high-quality masks at a group gathering, but especially one with so much face to face contact and heavy respiration.
We've evolved our mask policy in direct consultation with our community and continue to monitor waste water COVID data (currently at the lowest level in visible history) for emerging risk. We encourage you to apply your passion and clarity of judgement toward organizing a dance series in accord with your own vision and beliefs.
The Hollmans Marjorie((AT))marjorieturner((DOT))com Mar 02 2024 4:24 PM
We continue to mask for health reasons and are about the only people we know who have never had covid! Have not danced since 2019. Amazed to see the masked dance option and looking forward to rejoining.

[additional comment text removed by admin]

Thank you.
The folks we have attending respect our event policies and the choices people make within them. We'll be happy to have you back dancing with us!
Gene Fry gene((DOT))fry((AT))rcn((DOT))com Jun 28 2023 12:55 PM
On masking questionnaire.
Some people do not come (or dance) because of mask restrictions. [Redacted name] jumps to mind. There are others ([more names]) who do not come to other masked dances for that reason.
There may be others like [them] re the Monday dance.
But they are probably not included in the questionnaire on June 26.
I suggest you adjust your results accordingly.
Our survey was widely publicized - if folks didn't participate, we won't presume to know what their input would be. Thanks for your thoughts.
Nancy Hensleigh Nanhens((AT))aol((DOT))com Jun 12 2023 11:19 PM
Hi Any change in the mask policy yet? Worcester is too far for me to travel but I appreciated the info. Thanks!
Nancy, we're currently running a sensing survey for community input on the mask policy through Wednesday, 6/28/2023. See the message on the top page of this site.
Nancy Hensleigh Nanhens((AT))aol((DOT))com Mar 05 2023 6:08 PM
Hi, are there any plans afoot to drop the requirement for dancing in N95’s now that cases are very low? I personally just can’t breathe well enough after a period of energetic dancing to wear one and they also make me very hot and uncomfortable. I just can’t/won’t attend as long as N95’s are required and it’s been over three years since I was able to dance in Concord. I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. The surgical masks aren’t so bad. Everyone I know including myself has already gotten Covid at least once or twice which most health authorities believe gives 40 weeks of good immunity. Covid is endemic now and we are going to have to live with it for decades to come! It’s not going anywhere. Of course anyone who wants to wear an N95 dancing should absolutely feel 100% comfortable continuing to do so! I am not knocking anyone else’s choice! How about it Concord?
Thanks for your comment. We may consider a change in the future but the last time we surveyed our participants there was a significant proportion who said they would not attend without the measures we have in place. As with most dance group's finances, you cannot make it if you lose your core group. If you're not aware, there are dances in the greater Boston area which have fewer to no health restrictions - for instance, the worcesterdance.org group. Stay well!
Art Anger Anger((AT))MIT((DOT))Edu Sep 04 2022 4:50 PM
Could there be a link to a printable page/file advertising contra dancing in Concord? It would not need to list each event, but invite newbies to try it out, listing the website and selected sources of information. Current dancers could print it and/or E-mail it to prospects.
Thanks - we may put something "printable" together when time allows. Meanwhile you may pass along our website address?
Bill Card bill((DOT))52((DOT))card((AT))gmail((DOT))com Apr 30 2022 8:46 PM
I know you're trying to minimize the labor required to put on the Monday contras. Would it be helpful to resume only every other week? Pragmatically, if sadly, this also allows enough time to isolate and test a suspected COVID case from one dance to the next...
Thanks for the suggestion, but the frequency isn't so much the issue as it is the sum total of activities required. We are taking a creative look at those duties to try and streamline them.
Michael Pavan michaelpavan((AT))comcast((DOT))net Apr 24 2022 4:38 PM
Someone posted at NEFFA (SU 4/24/2022) that Monday Dances had resumed and there would be a Dance on 4/25/2022. This website says "We are busy planning the return of the Monday Contras series at the Concord, MA Scout House. We hope to have further information available shortly." and it Calendar (which appears to be the Scout House Calendar says Monday Dances are "on hiatus"...
Hi Michael, someone got confused at the difference between the Scout House's April Barn Raiser fundraiser dances (happening on Mondays) and the regular Monday Contras series which our website here covers. We had provided links to the Scout House fundraiser events from several places our site so folks could have that info.
Christie Armstrong cmarmstrong05((AT))gmail((DOT))com Feb 02 2022 12:18 PM
Hello! I am traveling to Concord from Cincinnati in September 2022 and would love to catch at contra dance or English or Scottish Country Dance in the area. Are there hopes of opening back up by then? Thanks! Christie Armstrong
Hi Christie, we hope to be back to holding dances by then. Conditions currently seem to be improving and should that continue we look forward to reopening in warmer weather with suitable precautions, like full ventilation and participant protection.
Zoe zoemanos((AT))gmail((DOT))com Jun 03 2019 3:45 PM
What methods of payment do you accept, other than cash? Checks? Credit cards? Venmo? I love coming, but I don't always have cash on me. Thanks!!
Hi Zoe, we prefer cash but do accept checks. The door sitter has info on how to make one out, ask as you enter. BTW, if you're ever truly stuck on cash, etc. come anyway and we'll work something out. Thanks!
Carol Dec 23 2015 11:19 AM
Hello,

I am interested in attending your Contra dances, however I have never danced Contra before; do you offer instruction before hand?

Thank you.
Update: We now DO have a beginner session at 7:10 p.m., so please ask the door sitter to connect you.

Hi Carol, we don't have a formal beginner session but you really don't need one (none of the Scout House dances do). We can set you up with some experienced partners for the first few dances and you'll be off and running in no time. All the moves are instructed before each dance. If you really want to learn some moves in advance we can set something up but encourage you to check out our what is contra page for more information. Hope to see you soon!
David Frantz davidjohnfrantz((AT))gmail((DOT))com http://www.davidjohnfrantz.zenfolio.com Oct 03 2015 2:21 AM
Here are photos of the dance August 10. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.978041732255309.1073741907.168574579868699&type=1&l=ea3fe96be4
David, thanks for sharing this. Sorry we didn't see it until now, the website mailer stopped working. Here's the link in clickable form: Facebook link
Joseph Carson jcwildgarden((AT))gmail((DOT))com Jan 22 2015 1:13 PM
Monday January 19th contradance:
I had lots of fun at Monday Contras at the Scout House in the past, but that night I was frustrated at feeling I was acting like a chicken with its head cut off trying to find a partner who wasn't alread partnered for the sets, especially when more women than men left at about 9 p.m. that night.
Please tell me if you think the M/F ratio may continue to be skewed like it was the evening of the 19th in the near future. (I had overheard this situation from another male to be ongoing). Thank you for reading this. I want to continue dancing at the Scout House.
Unfortunately, there is no way for us to predict who will come to the dance. We (and all the area dances) do have "imbalances" happen at dances from time to time, it can be in either direction (more ladies or more gents). It does seem more often that we are short ladies at the start of the dance, they seem to come later. I've not witnessed a common exodus of women after the break myself but we do generally have a group of folks that leave due to early AM commitments.

I encourage you to continue with us - thanks for writing!
Zachary Sep 20 2009 5:43 PM
I've never been dancing at the scout house before, but I have danced else where. If I don't own a pair of soft soled shoes, is dancing barefoot an option?
Hi Zachary, while we don't recommend dancing barefoot for safety reasons there are several folks that do. Please remember the hall is a renovated barn and the floor is old... and therefore has some "irregularities" you'll need to be aware of. A well brushed set of street shoes with a leather or rubber sole would be fine too.
Paul Lizotte plizotte((AT))rivier((DOT))edu Jan 08 2009 3:43 PM
Monday night was great, but the sound was not. Particularly with accordion, guitar, and violin, the sound needed monitoring and adjusting throughout the night. Sometimes the accordion overpowered the fiddle, sometimes the guitar . . .
I think Jack did the initial adjustment, but there probably needs to be someone responsible for the sound in the hall afterwards.
Thanks for the feedback. We will have members of the dance team listening and provide mix feedback to the stage. Please let us know if you hear issues with the sound and we'll address them as quickly as possible.
Don (Web Site Admin) mondaycontras_web((AT))veino((DOT))com http://MondayContras.com Jan 03 2009 2:48 PM
Your comments and suggestions regarding the Monday Contras dance series are welcomed. Please share your thoughts with us!