CONTRALAB
HOME ContraLab For Dancers For Callers Dance Choreo

Conventions Definitions Calendar Organizations Links

About ContraLab
ContraLab Purpose Board of Governors ContraLab History
Osgood Scholarship Membership Quarterly Index

Purpose

What is CONTRALAB?

Organized in 1986, in Indianapolis, Indiana, CONTRALAB was formed, by a group of Contra Dance Leaders with a stated purpose of furthering and promoting the contra dance activity.

CONTRALAB is governed by a nine member board of governors, with three members being elected to the board at each annual meeting. The board of governors then elect the officers for the organization.

The annual meeting for CONTRALAB is generally held on the Wednesday immediately preceding the National Square Dance Convention.

The CONTRALAB mentoring program conducted during the morning session of the annual meeting is designed to help contra dance callers/prompters or those who wish to become a contra dance caller/prompter.

In conjunction with the monitoring program, CONTRALAB is proud to sponsor the “Bob Osgood” scholarship program. The scholarship program helps to finance the winning applicant’s attendance at the annual meeting.

Also, CONTRALAB sponsors an Energizer Trail-In Dance on Tuesday evening prior to the CONTRALAB Convention and leading up to the National Square Dance Convention.

CONTRALAB is also proud to be a member of “The ARTS.”
The ARTS stands for the Alliance of Rounds, Traditional and Square Dance activities.

The purpose of the Association shall be to promote and perpetuate the dance form known as Contra-Dance.
To achieve this purpose the Association shall:

1. Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, teaching methods, dance choreography and similar activities of interest to the membership;

2. Conduct seminars, workshops or classes for the teaching of contra dancing and the techniques of teaching dancing;

3. Disseminate knowledge and information pertaining to contra dancing. Collect and issue, or publish, pamphlets, books and other publications of interest;

4. Publish, four times a year, a newsletter to all members. The newsletter may be published more frequently if desired or necessary;

5. Establish a library for the preservation of publications of interest; and

6. Provide scholarships and grants to deserving contra-dance callers, leaders or dancers.

The association shall also do whatever else is considered appropriate to the continued professional development of CONTRALAB members, and to the encouragement of potential members.

Home