Hi Jonathan, Thanks for taking a gig like this on! It can be challenging, but it's a great way to get the word out about dancing; which is vital to having dancers :-)
Are you in the middle of the day? Or late afternoon into the evening? I ask, because I think that'll influence how many kids you get. It's a lot easier to do non-mixers if there are a bunch of kids (especially if they don't know each other). Many circle mixers can be run as circle keepers; so adjust as the crowd warrants (if I'm running a mixer as a keeper, I usually won't run it as long). Setting up a pattern of "longways dance, circle dance, other; longways, circle, other" can be a good plan to give the feeling of variety even when the moves are similar. "Others" include squares, scatter mixers, small sets, waltzes, etc. For a deep collection of resources, I'd like to point you towards New England Dance Masters: https://dancingmasters.com/ their 5 books have a bunch of stuff that would be useful for this. In terms of dance cards, here's a plethora; organized by type. I use La Bastringue, Kings and Queens, Road to Boston, Charge and Drag, Animal Parade, Scatter Shot, The Wheel, Green Mountain Ski Wedding, and Galopede the most. Set List: 9/10/2019 at Shared ONS dances #1 ------------------------- La Bastringue by (Traditional) Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Circle: forward and back (8) Circle: forward and back A2 ----------- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right B1 ----------- (8) New Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 ----------- (16) Partner Promenade #2 ------------------------- Road to Boston (Heel Toe Polka) by (Traditional) Circle Mixer/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) take 2 hands with P, inside foot "heel, toe, heel toe," 4 sashays to the middle (8) same thing, starting with outside foot, 4 sashays back out A2 ----------- (8) take 2 hands with P, inside foot "heel, toe, heel toe," 4 sashays to the middle (8) same thing, starting with outside foot, 4 sashays back out B1 ----------- (mixer) walk straight past current partner (M CCW, W CW) Swing new Partner B2 ----------- (16) Promenade Partner #3 ------------------------- Cabot School Mixer by Ted Sannella Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Circle Right (8) all go forward and back A2 ----------- (8) Circle Left (6) Corner allemande Right 1x (6) Partner allemande Left 1x B1 ----------- (6) Corner Do-si-do (8) Corner swing (now new partner) B2 ----------- (16) Promenade with this new Partner #4 ------------------------- Went and Did by Luke Donforth Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right A2 ----------- (8) all the Larks forward and back (8) all the ravens forward, turn and back facing current partner B1 ----------- (16) partner balance and swing, end facing around the oval (cw), Ravens on the inside B2 ----------- (8) promenade around the oval Ravens turn back (8) swing the next, who is your now your new partner #5 ------------------------- Waiting in the Swings by Chris Page Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 ----------- (8) forward and back (4) circle left (4) Larks roll person left to right (p2) A2 ----------- (4) circle left (4) Larks roll person left to right (p3) (8) swing new p4 (on lark’s l, not the one you just rolled) B1 ----------- (16) promenade counterclockwise (Larks on inside) B2 ----------- (3) Ravens turn over right shoulder (4) pass partner p3 by left (9) partner p2 swing #6 ------------------------- Mash-Up Mixer by Chris Page Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 ----------- (8) Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More) (8) Balance and slide to the left (as in Rory O’More) A2 ----------- (16) Partner balance and swing B1 ----------- (16) Promenade around set ccw, lark’s inside B2 ----------- (8) ravens forward and back (8) Larks forward, turn alone, return to circular wave (left hand to old partner, right hand to new partner) #7 ------------------------- Grand Right & Left Mixer by Chris Page Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 ----------- (8) Forward and back (8) Corner See-Saw A2 ----------- (8) Corner allemande left 1 (Face away from corner, give right to current ptr to start the grand right and left.) (8) Grand right and left past four (P1R, P2L, P3R, P4L) B1 ----------- (4) New partner P5 right-hand balance (12) and swing B2 ----------- (16) promenade with partner ccw (Larks inside) [re-entry point if lost] #8 ------------------------- Sashay the Donut by unknown Sicilian Circle/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner allemande Right A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Left (8) Partner two hand turn B1 ----------- Everyone make space (16) One couple sashays around the central corridor of the circle -Freight train variant, next couple immediately follows; etc. Get back to place and jump apart B2 ----------- #9 ------------------------- The Wheel by Gene Hubert Circle Mixer/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (16) Promenade Partner A2 ----------- (8) 2 hand turn partner, leave Ravens on the inside (8) facing partner, in to the middle and back B1 ----------- Hands in Gender Rings (16) Circle to the Left B2 ----------- (16) New Partner swing #10 ------------------------- Coke the Floor by Marian Rose Circle Mixer/Other A1 ----------- (8) In the circle, into the middle and back (8) Do it again, but on the way back, larks turn to face ptr with their back to middle A2 ----------- (8) All individual sashay to right (8) All individual sashay to left B1 ----------- (16) Partner balance and swing B2 ----------- (8) Promenade around circle ravens turn back over their right shoulder as larks continue to walk forward (8) Promenade with next #11 ------------------------- Clouds of Incense by Maia McCormick Circle Mixer/Other A1 ----------- (8) Big circle go forward and back (8) Big circle go forward and back A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Right 1-1/2 (8) Neighbor allemande Left 1 B1 ----------- (16) Partner balance and swing (Or Do-Si-Do & swing) B2 ----------- (8) promenade ccw, Ravens outside (8) Ravens turn back and swing next #12 ------------------------- Franklin Revival by Luke Donforth Sicilian Circle/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- Both circles circle left until back to your partner two hand turn your partner A2 ----------- Both circles circle right until back to your partner do si do your partner B1 ----------- One couple leads a sashay around the donut, going through the alley between the two rings. When they pass, the next couple starts off. (Not 1st couple index) B2 ----------- #13 ------------------------- Bob Dalsemer’s Circle Mixer by Bob Dalsemer Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (16) Promenade around A2 ----------- (8) Larks continue single file, ravens turn back single file (8) All turn back, promenade back past partner B1 ----------- (8) New Partner allemande Left (8) Partner allemande Right B2 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing #14 ------------------------- Default circle mixer by unknown Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (8) Long lines, forward and back A2 ----------- (8) Circle Right 1X (8) Long lines, forward and back B1 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Left 1 (8) Partner allemande Right 1 B2 ----------- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing ->new partner #15 ------------------------- Lucky Seven by (Traditional) Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right A2 ----------- (8) All forward and back (8) Partner Do-si-do B1 ----------- (16) Grand Right and Left Count, 1 (right) 2 (left)... 6 (left), 7 (elbow) swing B2 ----------- (16) Promenade around #16 ------------------------- Welcome New Friends by Dale Rempert Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 ----------- (8) Circle Right (8) All forward and back A2 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (8) All forward, on way back; roll partner raven away with half sashay (W move L) B1 ----------- (16) NEW Partner balance and swing B2 ----------- (16) Promenade #17 ------------------------- January Mixer by Bob Dalsemer Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 ----------- (16) Promenade as couples A2 ----------- (8) Larks continue single file, ravens turn back single file (8) Everybody turn back, pass partner B1 ----------- (8) With Next (new P) allemande Left (8) Partner allemande Right B2 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing #18 ------------------------- Highland Gates by Peter Amadon Circle Mixer/Improper A1 ----------- Go all around the circle^3 till the highland gates are closed (Circle left, optional right) A2 ----------- Go up and down the ladder^3 till the highland gates are closed (in and out twice) B1 ----------- Go in and out the windows^3 till the the highland gates are closed (make arches, inner folks duck in and out) B2 ----------- kneel down and choose a partner^3, till the highland gates are closed (find a partner, and kneel down in front of them) C1 ----------- swing and turn your partner^3, till the highland gates are closed (two hand turn your partner, then separate and dance around on the inside) #19 ------------------------- Something (circle keeper) by (Traditional) Circle Mixer/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (8) Circle Right 1X A2 ----------- (8) in the the middle and back (8) ___________ go into the middle B1 ----------- (16) Partner swing B2 ----------- (16) Promenade the ring #20 ------------------------- Indexed by (Traditional) Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (16) Promenade with partner outsides turn around A2 ----------- (8) promenade single file all turn around (8) promenade back pass partner B1 ----------- (8) Neighbor allemande Left 1 (8) Neighbor allemande Right 1 B2 ----------- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing; this is your new partner #21 ------------------------- Grand Right and Vowel by unknown Circle Mixer/Improper A1 ----------- (8) In a big ring go forward and back (8) In a big ring go forward and back A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Right (8) Partner allemande Left B1 ----------- Grand right and left five times A - E - I - O - U! B2 ----------- (16) Promenade around the ring #22 ------------------------- Scatter Shot by (Traditional) Scatter Mixer/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (16) Promenade with Partner find neighbor couples A2 ----------- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right B1 ----------- (8) Left hand Star (8) Right hand Star B2 ----------- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (person near you who isn’t your partner) (8) Neighbor swing or (two hand turn) #23 ------------------------- Star Stuff by Chris Page Scatter Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 ----------- (8) Individually Promenade (8) Find someone and swing A2 ----------- (16) Promenade as couple (in star prom style, arms around backs) B1 ----------- (8) with some (1-4) other couples, larks star left, while still promenading partner [3] (8) counterclockwise butterfly whirl n+1/2 times (Larks backup, ravens forward) [4] B2 ----------- (8) ravens star promenade right with partner (~7) clockwise butterfly whirl (ravens backup, Larks forward) (1) Larks go forward, ravens turn over right shoulder #24 ------------------------- Basket Chase by Chris Page Scatter Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 ----------- (8) Promenade individually, then start picking up other people and [1] (8) Promenade in lines of 3 to 6 people A2 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (8) Basket swing [2] B1 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) B2 ----------- (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) 1.5, face out and scatter prom #25 ------------------------- Waltz Roll by (Traditional) Scatter Mixer/Other A1 ----------- In small circles* of couples - designate movers and posts Waltz in and out, then roll neighbor away Waltz in and out, then roll next neighbor away A2 ----------- Waltz in and out, then roll next neighbor away Waltz in and out, then roll next neighbor away B1 ----------- (Can interject other moves, stars, square throughs, etc) Waltz with partner B2 ----------- Waltz with partner to join in with other folks #26 ------------------------- Silly Star Mixer by unknown Scatter Mixer/Proper A1 ----------- (16) Promenade and find two other couple A2 ----------- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right B1 ----------- (8) Right Hands across star (8) Left Hands across star B2 ----------- (4~6)Starting with the bottom couple, pull your new partner through (12~10) Partner swing #27 ------------------------- Sasha by (Traditional) Scatter Mixer/Other A1 ----------- Sasha, Sasha raz - doz - tri right right right, left left left, both both both, knees knees knees right right right, left left left, both both both, knees knees knees A2 ----------- Right elbow turn (shout) Hey! Left elbow turn (shout) Hey! B1 ----------- Dosvedanya (goodbye) Prom single the B2 ----------- #28 ------------------------- Accretion Reel by Chris Page Scatter Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (4) Balance Ring (4) Turn alone to scatter prom alone (say goodbye) (8) Wander around the floor A2 ----------- (16) partner gyre and swing B1 ----------- (16) Scatter prom as couples Find a couple B2 ----------- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right #29 ------------------------- Bridge of Athlone (Cat and Mouse) by unknown Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- Top couple sashay down and back A2 ----------- Peel the banana, make an arch; rest come through B1 ----------- Top couple is cast and mouse, mouse runs between walls (middle of set), cat runs outside walls (outside of set) Switch at top, to couple down to bottom B2 ----------- Partner swing #30 ------------------------- Rural Felicity (Country drive through a coverd bridge) by unknown Longways/Other A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Top couple sashay to the bottom A2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) active couple sashay back up to the top B1 ----------- All make arches Top couple come through the covered bridge B2 ----------- #31 ------------------------- Galopede by (Traditional) Longways/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) All pass through and turn in place A2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) All pass through and turn in place (at home) B1 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner 2-hand turn B2 ----------- (16) Top Couple Sashay down to bottom (or down as far as they can go and then back up) Other couples move up #32 ------------------------- Animal Parade by Rachel Nevitt & Luke Donforth Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Partner allemande Left A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Right (8) Partner two hand swing or DSD B1 ----------- “top” couple walk to bottom, miming the animal of their choice Come back to top B2 ----------- Top couple peels off to outside, everyone follows Top couple makes an arch at bottom, rest come though with partner #33 ------------------------- Orcadia Strip the Willow by (Traditional) Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- Top couple: (8) Partner Right Elbow Turn 1.5 (8) Neighbor left elbow Turn A2 ----------- (8) Partner Right Elbow Turn 1.5 (8) New Neighbor left elbow Turn and so on to bottom B1 ----------- Start new top couple B2 ----------- #34 ------------------------- Kings & Queens by Peter Amadon Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Partner allemande Right A2 ----------- (8) partner allemande left (8) gyre partner B1 ----------- (8) Ones sashay the center (8) sashay back B2 ----------- (16) Top couple walk regally to the bottom while the rest wave #35 ------------------------- Lines of 3 by unknown Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Circle Left 1X (8) Circle Right 1X A2 ----------- (8) Outsides Do-si-do (8) Insides Do-si-do B1 ----------- (8) Outsides Two Hand Turn (8) Insides Two Hand Turn B2 ----------- (8) Lines of 3 Forward and Back (8) Lines of 3 forward and pass through (can shuffle if desired) #36 ------------------------- Cropduster by unknown Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Trade places with Partner (allemande R 1.5 or twirl) A2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Trade places with Partner (allemande L 1.5 or twirl) B1 ----------- (8) Peel Banana down outside (8) Top couple make an arch, others pass through B2 ----------- WITH HANDS STILL CONNECTED (8) Top couple sashays up ravens side (8) and Down Larks side to bottom #37 ------------------------- Allemande Gal by unknown Longways/Other A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Top couple sashay down and back A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Right (8) Partner allemande Left B1 ----------- (16) Peel Banana from top B2 ----------- (16) Top couple makes arch, others pass through #38 ------------------------- Low Backed Car by unknown Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back Lead Lark leads his line, skipping, down outside of ravens line and back to place Lead Raven repeats with her line A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Right (8) Partner allemande Left B1 ----------- Clap 3x Stomp 3x Shake 3x Clap 3x B2 ----------- Top Couple Sashay down to the bottom #39 ------------------------- Pousset scatter (mix or keeper) by Luke Donforth Scatter Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Right hand Star (8) Left hand Star A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Left 1x (8) Partner Do-si-do 1.5x end back to back B1 ----------- Dancers count out loud: un, du, two, and cry Pousset, butt-push your partner SCATTER: find a new partner and swing KEEPER: chase your partner around and swing B2 ----------- (16) Promenade around Find another couple #40 ------------------------- Charge and Drag by Luke Donforth Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Partner Do-si-do A2 ----------- (16) Partner balance and swing (or two hand turn), end facing up the set and separate B1 ----------- (16) Top & Bottom couple make arches Top couple go down over left line; Bottom couple go up over right line B2 ----------- (8) bottom & top couples charge (sashay) the middle of the set, meet in the middle (8) couple below drag couple above to bottom of the set #41 ------------------------- Revive the High Five by Luke Donforth Longways/Proper A1 ----------- (4) Long lines slide left (4) long lines slide right 8) Partner allemande Left 1x A2 ----------- (4) Long lines slide right (4) long lines slide left (8) Partner allemande Right 1x B1 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 ----------- (16) Shuffle the set (Promenade randomly around the room, then come back to a different place to reform the long set) #42 ------------------------- Circsplosion by Luke Donforth Other/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Two Hand Turn Partner (8) Two Hand Turn Partner other way A2 ----------- All Together (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right B1 ----------- (8) In to the middle and back With your partner, promenade through the middle B2 ----------- reach another spot on the opposite side of the circle #43 ------------------------- Green Mountain Ski Wedding by Luke Donforth Longways/Proper/Beginner A1 ----------- Whole Group Oval Left until across from partner again Partner Do-si-do A2 ----------- Bottom (was top) couple slalom (weave) back and forth up the set B1 ----------- Whole group oval right until across from partner again B2 ----------- Partner allemande Left Partner allemande Right #44 ------------------------- Skip the line by unknown Longways/Other/Beginner A1 ----------- One line skips around the other line and back to place The other line skips around and back to place A2 ----------- Top couple sashay down and back B1 ----------- Peel the banana B2 ----------- swing your partner #45 ------------------------- Ocean Sampler by unknown Longways/Improper/Beginner A1 ----------- (16) Seahorses lead line around starfitheys A2 ----------- (16) Starfitheys lead line around seahorses B1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Long lines, forward and back B2 ----------- (12) Partner swing (4) top couple sashay down (seahorse be ready to jump in going around #46 ------------------------- Un, du, twa, pousset by (Traditional) Longways/Proper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Partner allemande Right 1x A2 ----------- (8) Partner allemande Left 1x (8) Partner Do-si-do 1.5x end back to back B1 ----------- Dancers count out loud: un, du, two, and cry Pousset, butt-push your partner, then come back and swing B2 ----------- top couple sashay down to the bottom, everyone else scoot up #47 ------------------------- Felicitations by (Traditional) Longways/Proper/Beginner A1 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Top couple sashay down to the bottom A2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Top couple sashay back to the top B1 ----------- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing On Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 4:07 AM Jonathan Janzen via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I will be calling a dance at our local State Fair next month. It will be > open to the public, and we've also invited several Contra Communities > around the State to join us in helping to introduce people to Contra > Dancing, and other forms of Folk Dance. I suspect that most people of the > general public will stay and watch/join maybe 1 or 2 dances, and then they > will move onto the next exciting thing at the Fair. > We will have about 3.5 hours to fill, and I want a good variety of dances > to choose from. > So my question to you is, what simple, fun, beginner-friendly dances would > you recommend? Being able to "build up" to more advanced dances I don't > think will be very possible, simply because we expect a steady stream of > people joining and leaving at any given moment, so I need a variety of > simple and fun dances to share that don't require much prior experience. > I already have several ideas as to some dances to include, but I'd love to > hear your suggestions. > They don't have to be Contra-specific, as I'm planning to throw in a few > circle mixers, and a couple easy English Country Dances as well. > Maybe Hole in the Wall, or even the Virginia Reel... The genre of the > dances isn't that important. > Just any other fun, family dances that you can send my way. Many thanks in > advance. > I look forward to reading your suggestions. > > Excitedly, > JJ. > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
_______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
