The dance you posted to Maries Wedding is popular all over the place, with different names (dances cross boundaries). Known as the English Gay Gordons, the American Promenade, or (by people who enjoy French dancing) Chapellois (sp?). I've heard it claimed that it is Scandinavian.

In UK the dance scene is split between Ceilidh (enegetic, sometimes danced to loud bands) and Social. 'Social dance' being danced in clubs usually members of EFDSS, which dance a mix of the Historic reconstructions from Playford and other publications, new dances writen in the same style, and Squares dances and Contra dances. We would term the squares and contras 'American' and the historic and same style dances as 'Playford'. Some clubs are aging fast but the ceilidh scene is younger (and young at heart)

I believe in US the split is different. Contra (line of men facing line of ladies, dance a figure with one couple, end facing the next couple, dance the same figure with them till you reach the end of the line, then work your way back again) is danced in clubs that do nothing else. Recently composed contras are very active, and the dancers enjoy spinning and twirling. What we call Playford you call ECD and dance at clubs which have little to do with the Zesty Contra scene.

American contra dancers are encouraged to use a lot of 'eye contact' which can be disconcerting to a Brit, though it is not meant as anything other than part of the dance. From the discussion on this list
organisers are aware of the need to eliminate behaviour that would make young women uncomfortable.

There are a lot of links about ECD here and a discussion group which will give you all the information (and opinions) you could need.