Children & Childcare
Kids of all ages are welcome and appreciated at the Fling, and we encourage them to participate at the level of their comfort. Our vision of Contra is intergenerational and dancers are usually able to accommodate for kids’ levels - see below for some tips if your family is new to dancing. As always at Brooklyn Contra, children 12 and under dance for free in the company of their adult(s) and will not require their own tickets to take part in dancing.
We are thrilled to this year be able to offer childcare for ages 0-12 on site at St. Paul and St. Andrew. We’ll be working through Smart Sitting NYC, which directly employs childcare professionals who are vetted, background checked, and insured. The room will be open on Saturday from 1:30 to 9:30pm and during the Sunday afternoon dancing from 3:00 to 6:00pm.
Please complete the interest & registration form whether you are ready to purchase tickets or not. Childcare tickets are available now; if you need to arrange other logistics before committing or want to get in touch for more info, please also complete the form to let us know you’re thinking of coming
Children must be supervised at all times, either by their adult or in the childcare room.
Parents and guardians must remain on site while child(ren) are in the childcare room.
If you have any questions about your particular circumstances, please reach out!
Tips For dancing with kids
Infants and toddlers can enjoy being in a sling or other carrier and may even nap while you dance! Younger children are still happiest to be involved with dancing when they are being carried, either in a backpack or in one’s arms - toddlers especially can have a hard time keeping up with their feet on the ground. While our music isn’t particularly loud it can be a lot for small ears, so consider hearing protection.
Children 4-8ish will enjoy dancing most if they are alongside you as one unit (ie, both being in the “lead” or “follow” spot together), and finding another partner to dance the other role. We really suggest this option rather than trying to dance as a pair and taking different roles. Contra involves lots of new terms and some guidance and direction from their buddy-adult is helpful.
Children are ready to dance on their own when they are able to follow verbal instructions and are comfortable encountering lots of strangers - just like adults! If you’re not sure, it’s worth doing one or two dances together as a unit to test the waters. To account for stature and comfort levels, in the swing kids will often extend both hands and walk in a circle with the partner, ring-around-the-rosy style rather than ballroom style.