WSLR brought contra dance to Sarasota this past weekend with the launch of a new monthly dance series at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center. The band Shwadevee performed for the debut show, setting the rhythm for caller Joey Norton. Fogartyville’s newly refurbished dance floor played host to over 60 of Sarasota’s residents, young and old, clapping hands and twirling partners long into the night.

Contra dancing is a paired folk-style dance, highly rhythmic and communal in nature. Similar to square-dancing, participants organize in boxes or lines and follow a series of loosely prescribed steps and direction from the caller.

Contra dance groups have long organized in Venice and St. Petersburg, but flagging numbers led to a search for greener pastures and Sarasota looked just the right hue. WSLR station manager David Beaton thinks last weekend’s turnout is a good sign and hopes to see the audience grow as word spreads through the community.

“We have more people than they had in Venice and we have a lot of new people,” said Beaton, who also reported at least a third of the audience to be newcomers, signifying interest for contra dance in Sarasota.

But while he’s more than supportive of just having a fun time, Beaton believes that contra dances can do much more. Regularly held open events such as these can act as catalysts to building community, they can transform a collection of houses into a neighborhood.

“In today’s society, it’s very important to break the barriers that we set up. Not many people even know the names of their neighbors,” said Beaton. “When I shake your hand, I break a barrier, and with contra dancing, everybody dances with everybody.”

And there’s no need to worry about not knowing the steps. Experienced dancers are eager to show beginners the ropes and there’s even a beginner’s session held at 7:30pm, just prior to the dance proper, getting everybody up to speed and ready for a good time.

"People are free and more open to talk to each other and have a communal experience together dancing," said Beaton, who looks forward to seeing the series grow and bring even more people out of their shells. And at a dance where you switch partners not just every song, but multiple times during a song, it's pretty hard to keep to yourself.

"If you're shy, someone's eventually going to ask you to dance."

The next contra dance will be held on Sat., Nov. 15, with the band Terns at Tide. Tickets are $8 and go to support the publication of WSLR’s Eat Local Guide, filled with tips on local sourcing for those concerned with their food’s journey from nature to plate.