Are you taking small steps? I used to folk dance, and your teacher said many times that folk dancing uses small steps. They are easier on the body and not as tiring.

I've been playing for country dancers, and we finish each session with a couples waltz. Usually a boy grabs a girl and drives her over the floor with yard-long strides. This is a lot more athletic than romantic and has to be hard for the girl that's wearing heels.

It's true that in the movies, waltzers set across the dance floor with great swirling strides, but those are trained professionals selected for talent and long legs. They aren't the norm; they're a special case. I suspect that that kind of dancing is more fun for the onlooker than for the dancer.

If I were you, I would try using small steps for waltzing, then try it for contra, too. I bet the other dancers will learn to accommodate you.