Don Veino,
Would you share some of those dances where there is a dancer option to keep
or mix partners.
I can think of Sasha, and Kid's Chaos, but no others.
Thanks,
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT

On Thu, Jul 24, 2025 at 10:07 AM Don Veino via Contra Callers <
[email protected]> wrote:

> I often start such events with a mixer but pick one that also works as a
> keeper and say something to the effect of "this dance is intended to be a
> mixer but if you want to just happen to find you're with the same person
> each time, that works too."
>
> On Thu, Jul 24, 2025, 9:58 AM Vicki Morrison via Contra Callers <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> My only two-cents worth is that there are too many mixers. Someone
>> complained at a wedding I called a while back that they came with a partner
>> and wanted to dance with that partner. It hadn’t occurred to me that anyone
>> would feel that way but I understand, so now I always keep mixers at a
>> minimum, or call them several dances into the evening. I hope the event
>> goes well!
>>
>> Vicki
>>
>>
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>>
>> On Thursday, July 24, 2025, 7:43 AM, Katherine Kitching via Contra
>> Callers <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Hi folks, I'd love your 2 cents for a "barn dance" I'm leading tonight.
>>
>> I'll get (just a little) more complex towards the end, but the first 5-6
>> dances will be very simple and high energy.  This will be a mixed group of
>> people (many new to dancing, some may have done contras or related things
>> before),  at a large, open, community event (where there may be some
>> drinking, sigh).
>>
>> My question is: *how many times would you run through each dance?*
>>
>> I'm thinking 8-10 times, but would love to hear others' instincts.
>>
>> I've included 3 examples of the dances I'll be calling below.
>>
>> 1. *Simple circle mixer*
>> *A part*
>> Circle left
>> Circle right
>> Balance the big circle x2
>> Into the centre all say "Hey"
>>
>> *B part*
>> All "explode" - break hands and wander around the hall
>> When you meet someone, take right hands, balance once and pull by them
>> (Do this at least once, but if you are coordinated you may manage 2-3
>> different times!)
>> Reform the circle in no particular order, start again.
>>
>> 2. *Simple line mixer* - dancers start in long lines facing their
>> (temporary) partner - I will divide the lines into shorter sets based on
>> how many times the dance will run through (TBC!)
>>
>> (Designate each side of the line with a name e.g. Porpoise line and
>> Ostrich line.
>> Remind them that they must always come back to their home side and never
>> join the other line)
>>
>> *A part*
>> LLFB
>> With partner left hand allemande
>> LLFB
>> With partner right hand allemande
>>
>> *B part* (I demo this part with a small group to show people how it
>> goes, prior to the walk through!)
>>
>> All in the set join hands to make an oval - "oval left"
>> Oval right
>> Top Porpoise and bottom Ostrich dance up the middle (i.e. the Porpoise
>> dances down the line, while the Ostrich dances up the line) - Porpoise
>> rejoins their own line at the bottom, Ostrich rejoins their own line at the
>> top.
>> Lines readjust themselves so that everyone is facing a new partner (I
>> tell everyone to point to their new partner and wave to them, so everyone
>> is clear on who their new partner is-  have done this dance many times
>> before and people have no problem figuring it out) - if additional time,
>> clap along to the music.
>>
>> *Scatter Dance in "floating **duples**" *
>> Circle left
>> Bal ring x 2
>> Circle right
>> Bal ring x 2
>>
>> Do si do P
>> Left allemande neighbour
>> All bow to each other then skip off with partner to form a new duple
>>
>> Thank you!
>>
>> Kat Kitching
>> Halifax NS
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