At the end of each dance, people thank their partner and show their appreciation for the caller, the band and the other dancers in their set with a round of applause. At this point, everyone mills around the hall and finds someone else to dance with. If you're just starting to dance contras, don't fall into the trap of dancing only with other beginners. This is tempting, especially if you came to the dance with a friend who is also a beginner. You will learn much more quickly, and the dance will run more smoothly, if you find someone who knows what they are doing.
Most experienced dancers are happy to dance with newcomers.
And Giving Weight Giving weight is a technique that will make your dancing, and your partners', a lot easier and more enjoyable. The idea is to provide a bit of resistance to the person or people you're dancing with, each pulling against the other in a balanced fashion. Think of how as a kid you might have run around a metal pole stuck upright in the ground. It would take far more energy to run around it without touching it than it would if you stretched out your arm and grabbed hold of it. Same principle applies.