In American they describe Playford as English and I think they clubs that do that don't do Contra.
Here the dance clubs do a mixture, Playford, Contra, Squares, Ceilidh, and Contra is danced at some of the clubs without all the twirls that the 'zesty' experts put into it.
If it is hurting you are dancing with the wrong people, especially if the force/expect you to put in more frills than you are comfortable with.