The most common dance in the big cities goes by the name "Contra Dance", This is a hold over from the French "Contradanse", which is one of the more common forms of dances done.

The things in common amongst most dances today are:

• These are done by a group of people acting in unison. People form either a big circle, or long facing lines, or squares of eight, or a circle of smaller circles.
• Men don't have to lead; women don't have to follow; everyone follows the lead of a caller.
• Each dance is repetitive, and is composed of perhaps 6 to 10 moves. There is a walkthrough before each dance, and the caller prompts the dance until everyone "gets it". Dances are usually simple enough that someone of average intelligence and coordination can "get it".
• People are usually in immediate hand and eye contact with their partner and adjacent dancers. People "progress" to dance with different people as the dance progresses. In "mixers" people progress to new partners; in other dances, couples progress to dance with a new couple.
• Music is always provided by a live band, usually composed of fiddles, banjo, guitar, piano, flute, accordion, whatever.
• Nobody gets hung up over exact historic accuracy in dance, music, or dress.