contra dance
noun
con·tra dance ˈkän-trə-ˌdan(t)s 
variants or contredanse
ˈkän-trə-ˌdan(t)s
also kōⁿ-trə-ˈdäⁿs
1
: a folk dance in which couples face each other in two lines or a square
2
: a piece of music for a contra dance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Birmingham Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance (FOOTMAD) contra dance with Red Mountain Yellowhammers and caller Jef Hodge. 
Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, al, 27 Dec. 2021 Live music, inspired by traditional sea shanties and early-New England contra dance tunes, accompanies the story, as the cast and audience walk through the preserved landscapes. BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2021 Mud in Yer Eye, providing contra dance and folk music to Clevelanders since 1978, returns for another year of fun and frivolity. cleveland.com, 10 Sep. 2019 After a pre-ball dance lesson, Bangers & Mash waltzes, polkas, mixers, quadrilles, country & contra dances, and other popular 19th-century couple and set dances. Lisa Herendeen, The Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2019 DANCE Bridgewater Community Dance Series features folk, square, and contra dance. Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2018 Members of the contra dance group, known as FOOTMAD, will be on the floor tonight at the downtown YWCA, with music provided by the Red Mountain Yellowhammers. Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, AL.com, 31 Dec. 2017 See More
Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, al, 27 Dec. 2021 Live music, inspired by traditional sea shanties and early-New England contra dance tunes, accompanies the story, as the cast and audience walk through the preserved landscapes. BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2021 Mud in Yer Eye, providing contra dance and folk music to Clevelanders since 1978, returns for another year of fun and frivolity. cleveland.com, 10 Sep. 2019 After a pre-ball dance lesson, Bangers & Mash waltzes, polkas, mixers, quadrilles, country & contra dances, and other popular 19th-century couple and set dances. Lisa Herendeen, The Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2019 DANCE Bridgewater Community Dance Series features folk, square, and contra dance. Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2018 Members of the contra dance group, known as FOOTMAD, will be on the floor tonight at the downtown YWCA, with music provided by the Red Mountain Yellowhammers. Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, AL.com, 31 Dec. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
French contredanse, by folk etymology from English country-dance
First Known Use
1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1