On those occasions, the doctoral student in health education dons comfortable clothes and heads straight for the nearest local Contra dance. Upon arriving, he usually becomes the ringmaster of an unconventional circus of whirling, clapping, stepping and kicking.

These people move at Simon’s command to the beat of a live band, sporting grins from ear to ear as they move about the dance floor. He often smiles along with them. As a one of the callers at local Contra dances, Simon likes helping to create the enjoyable social atmosphere afforded by this traditional genre of dance.

Contra dancing is a North American folk dance that became common in the 1800s. The history of how the dance earned its name is sketchy as Contra dance is thought to be a derivation of the French word contredans, which translates as country dance. The name also may have evolved from the French word contraire, or contrary, as Contra dancers begin to dance by facing each other in two sets of Contra lines.

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Simon has enjoyed Contra dancing since 1986. And he says he did not have to be a John Travolta to learn the dance.

The moves are so easy it doesn’t take long to learn, he said. I loved it. I began calling about two or three years after that.

Simon has been a member of the Friends of Traditional Music and Dance since that first Contra dance he attended as a graduate student. The local group of dance enthusiasts, formed in the early 1980s, revels in teaching old-time Contra, square and other folk dances. The dances attract a number of people from the Carbondale region.

We concentrate mainly on the popular Contra dancing, said group member Barbara Sibert. It’s really easy to learn. People come to the dances early, and then they have the chance to learn the really basic dance steps. But all of the dances are taught first without the music.

The responsibility of teaching the dances usually falls on the caller, who lines dancers up in two sets of parallel lines running the length of the dance floor. From that point, each dance consists of a series of moves that end with couples progressing one position up or down the line. As these series are completed, a couple eventually will dance with every other couple in the set. A Contra dance can go for hours non-stop.

Dancers are encouraged to dance with different partners, so being without a partner is no excuse to stay away.

You absolutely do not need a partner, Sibert, a Carbondale resident, said. And while dancing, women can ask men to dance, and men can ask women to dance. Whatever. Anyone can dance with anyone else.

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That also is one of the reasons Simon has been addicted to Contra dancing for so long.

It’s just a great social activity, he said. It’s very interactive, unlike ballroom dancing or waltzing where you specifically need a partner.

And although women often wear long, flowing skirts to Contra dances making a picturesque scene as the skirts swirl about at every turn special costumes are not needed either.

Children even can participate in Contra dances with their parents or other adults. So when the Friends of Traditional Music and Dance schedule a Contra dance every second Saturday of each month, dancers can look forward to a fun and festive family atmosphere.

It’s not a bar atmosphere, as there’s very little drinking at Contra dances because they’re often family-oriented events, Sibert said. Besides, you can’t really drink and learn the dance steps.

Those looking for alternative entertainment may find it at a Contra dance.

The people at Contra dances are so friendly they tend not to be the people who go out to the bars, Simon said. And as a lot of students come from different parts of the state, no matter where you are you can find a Contra dance. Students can learn the dance here and take it back with them.

Factoid- The next local Contra dance, sponsored by the Friends of Traditional Music and Dance, will be 7:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day at Susan Barnes’ Dance Studio, 2013 S. Illinois Ave. Admission is $3, and children must be supervised. For more information, call 457-2166 or 549-1595.