“Dance caller/instructor Rich Kuras had a quick response to a question from a first-time contra dancer at the Silverdale Community Center. The hard part? There are no hard parts!” If you can count to eight and learn a couple of simple phrases, you can be contra dancing, the instructor explained. As Kuras pointed out to the gathered dancers, It takes two years to learn ballet … That’s why they do this on the farm.” They also do it once a month in halls in South and Central Kitsap. The Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Department hosts First Saturday” contra dances the first Saturday each month at alternating sites: the Silverdale Community Center, 9729 Silverdale Way, and the Givens Community Center, Sidney Ave., Port Orchard. The dancers feature an animated caller and live music. Dance lessons are conducted from 7-8 p.m., the dance hosted from 8-11 p.m. Admission is $5. The next dance is Feb. 3. Newcomers will learn the rudiments in a 20-minute session with the caller. It has all the fun and good music of square dancing, but not the (intricate) moves and professionalism of square dance,” said Bainbridge Island resident Bob Olson, who helps organize the gatherings and plays banjo at the dances. It’s not as vigorously structured as square dance,” said Hansville resident Clark Crawford, who attends with wife Mary. This is a mixer. You meet everyone.” The social aspect is a big draw, with the dancers ranging from children to seniors. At some point during the evening, each dancer will connect with each other. It gives you a sense of neighborliness,” Crawford said. Val Olson, Bob’s wife, greets the dancers at the door. People show up because it’s good exercise, inexpensive, a good family environment – and because unattached men and women seek each other. Obviously, it’s a singles thing too,” she said. The dances are propelled by different callers each month. Everything revolves around the callers, and how effective they are,” said Bob Olson. At the last dance, an animated Kuras during the lesson explained that all the dances are driven by the count of eight. Some participants were wearing dance shoes, others tennis shoes. A few brave souls were barefoot. Everyone was smiling as they swirled to the lilting fiddle. They laughed when they collided, as Kuras instructed them to Step right! Step left! Swing!” Half an hour into the dance, a door was opened to allow the January night air to enter the hall that was getting warmer. Kuras urged the dancers to use the breaks to gulp down some water and find a new partner. The Jan. 6 contra dance showcased the band Old Time Reunion, whose lineup included three fiddle players. When you have a good band, and it gets going, you have people actually yelling on the dance floor,” Bob Olson said. It’s just the fun aspect.” It beats TV,” Crawford said. If anyone’s bored with their TV, come out.” The Feb. 3 dance features caller Linelle Milatchkov, and the band Home Brew. “