Ice Cream in the Sink..... Kathy Hirsh
Circle mixer
A1) Into the center and back
Into the center, gents turn to face partner, pousette back
A2) Do-si-do partner
Right Allemande partner
B1) Left shoulder do-si-do partner
Left Allemande partner
B2) Promenade the ring, gents turn back
Swing new partner
A few years ago a caller ended our annual weekend event with this. The great partner interaction gave us a wonderful 30 second interlude to wish all of our partners farewell.
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 3, 2012, at 3:41 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
>
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2012 12:51:03 -0500 (EST)
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Sharing Mixers
> Message-ID: <63b8b.b41e244.3c83b407(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> I enjoy mixers as well. But IMHO the majority of mixers don't appeal to
> the MUC dancers mostly because nearly 1/2 of the dance consist of into
> middle (repeat), circle R and L.
>
> I love "Love and Kisses" by Ted Sannella but I find that it doesn't get
> the dancers "mixed up" enough around the circle. Lucky Seven is better for
> moving folks around the circle quickly and meeting new dancers.
>
> I wonder if any of you would like to share your favorite mixers and perhaps
> we can build our repertoires?!
>
>
> Love and Kisses Ted Sannella Circle Mixer
> A1. 4,12 Partner balance, & swing
> A2. 8 Ladies to center and back
> 8 Gents to center and return to form wavy ring
> (L hands with partner and R with corner)
> B1. 4,4 Balance, partner allem L
> 8 Corner do-si-do ? give R to corner (#1)
> B2. 16 #1 pull by R, #2 pull by L, #3 pull by R, #4 allemL,
> #3 pull by R, #2 pull by L
> Lucky 7 Greg Frock Circle Mixer
>
> A1. 4,12 Partner balance, & swing
> A2. 16 Partner promenade
> B1. 8 All forward and back
> 8 Partner do-si-do ? give R to partner (#1)
> B2. 16 Grand Right & left passing six people and stopping at 7
>
> Donna Hunt
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
> dance." -unknown
> _______________________________________________
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> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 91, Issue 8
> **************************************
Donna, your "Ice Cream in the Sink" (at the bottom of my post) varies
quite substantially from what's published in Zesty Contras (1983). Who
did your version come from?
See http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/327-ice-cream-in-the…
I like to include a circle mixer and usually put it as the second
dance of the evening, rather than the third. I have no problem with
using them for social engineering. I use simple mixers, so I figure
this is something appropriate for quite early in the evening. I just
don't run them very long.
As a dancer, I personally really enjoy the whole-hall feeling of a
circle that especially comes from those simple circles and into the
middle. I find there's special challenge and enjoyment to dancing a
simple dance zestily. Some halls and crowds are not so conducive to
them. I do like them at the end of dance weekend for that same feeling
that Donna mentions.
I like:
- Ted Sanella's "Cabot School Mixer" (already mentioned here)
- traditional "La Bastringue" (though this is simple, it's got a long
swing, so pros & cons for beginners)
- traditional "Circassian Circle" (I use this more when there is a
high proportion of beginners)
- a dance I got from "Lars" in Fairbanks in 1983:
I call it "Fairbanks No-name Mixer"
starting formation: gents face out, ladies face in
A1: In your inner or outer group: Circle left (away from partner), Circle right
A2: Partner dosido, Corner ("somebody new") see saw (left shoulder dosido)
B1: Corner balance & swing
B2: Same one promenade
(Ladies continue in this direction to circle, Gents reverse direction)
Note: this formation needs a good number of dancers, and may be useful
if your hall is more full, however, encourage the men to step right
out to the dosidos, and to step back in for the circles. Typically the
ladies struggle a bit to form their circle; encourage them not to stop
moving at the end of the promenade.
These (above) are the four circle mixers I use the most (I don't call
often enough in one place for them to become boring -- I think!).
- a dance I got from Susan Michaels of L.A. that I don't have a name
for, either. It's initially slightly more challenging for beginners
who don't have their left and rights sorted out.
A1: partner (right shoulder) dosido, allemande left the one on the left
A2: partner (left shoulder) seesaw, allemande right the one on the right
B1: partner balance & swing
B2: partner promenade (8 counts); [ladies turn back &] gents move up
to next partner
An interesting mixer that I collected when Susan Michaels called it in
the second half of a dance once was this (and I don't have a name or
author for this, too...?):
Starting formation: Varsouvienne hold, facing LOD
A1: Promenade forward, turn to reverse
Promenade back and form a wavy ring (keep R hands with ptnr,
ladies face in)
A2: Balance R&L, slide Right; Balance L&R, slide Left
B1: Partner turn by Right 1-1/2
previous partner gypsy by LEFT shoulder
Partner pass by Right
B2: Next person balance & swing
I have a whole 'nother set of stuff for one night stands & family dances.
~ Becky Nankivell
Tucson, Arizona & Long Beach, California
Donna Calhoun wrote ( Sun, 4 Mar 2012 09:22)
Ice Cream in the Sink..... Kathy Hirsh
Circle mixer
A1) Into the center and back
Into the center, gents turn to face partner, pousette back
A2) Do-si-do partner
Right Allemande partner
B1) Left shoulder do-si-do partner
Left Allemande partner
B2) Promenade the ring, gents turn back
Swing new partner
A few years ago a caller ended our annual weekend event with this. The
great partner interaction gave us a wonderful 30 second interlude to
wish all of our partners farewell.
Ice cream in the sink. I have had this in my collection for many years. I am not sure where or when i collected it. When I first began collecting dances I was less diligent about getting dance names and authors.
>
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2012 13:37:48 -0700
> From: Becky Nankivell <becky4dance(a)gmail.com>
> To: Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Sharing Mixers
> Message-ID:
> <CA+vO6xbCwyZmt3dPdjFedUOm+kpAbikT1ipZYW72HTic1JOh-w(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Donna, your "Ice Cream in the Sink" (at the bottom of my post) varies
> quite substantially from what's published in Zesty Contras (1983). Who
> did your version come from?
>
> See http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/327-ice-cream-in-the…
>
> I like to include a circle mixer and usually put it as the second
> dance of the evening, rather than the third. I have no problem with
> using them for social engineering. I use simple mixers, so I figure
> this is something appropriate for quite early in the evening. I just
> don't run them very long.
>
> As a dancer, I personally really enjoy the whole-hall feeling of a
> circle that especially comes from those simple circles and into the
> middle. I find there's special challenge and enjoyment to dancing a
> simple dance zestily. Some halls and crowds are not so conducive to
> them. I do like them at the end of dance weekend for that same feeling
> that Donna mentions.
>
> I like:
> - Ted Sanella's "Cabot School Mixer" (already mentioned here)
> - traditional "La Bastringue" (though this is simple, it's got a long
> swing, so pros & cons for beginners)
> - traditional "Circassian Circle" (I use this more when there is a
> high proportion of beginners)
>
> - a dance I got from "Lars" in Fairbanks in 1983:
>
> I call it "Fairbanks No-name Mixer"
> starting formation: gents face out, ladies face in
>
> A1: In your inner or outer group: Circle left (away from partner), Circle right
> A2: Partner dosido, Corner ("somebody new") see saw (left shoulder dosido)
> B1: Corner balance & swing
> B2: Same one promenade
> (Ladies continue in this direction to circle, Gents reverse direction)
>
> Note: this formation needs a good number of dancers, and may be useful
> if your hall is more full, however, encourage the men to step right
> out to the dosidos, and to step back in for the circles. Typically the
> ladies struggle a bit to form their circle; encourage them not to stop
> moving at the end of the promenade.
>
> These (above) are the four circle mixers I use the most (I don't call
> often enough in one place for them to become boring -- I think!).
>
> - a dance I got from Susan Michaels of L.A. that I don't have a name
> for, either. It's initially slightly more challenging for beginners
> who don't have their left and rights sorted out.
>
> A1: partner (right shoulder) dosido, allemande left the one on the left
> A2: partner (left shoulder) seesaw, allemande right the one on the right
> B1: partner balance & swing
> B2: partner promenade (8 counts); [ladies turn back &] gents move up
> to next partner
>
> An interesting mixer that I collected when Susan Michaels called it in
> the second half of a dance once was this (and I don't have a name or
> author for this, too...?):
>
> Starting formation: Varsouvienne hold, facing LOD
> A1: Promenade forward, turn to reverse
> Promenade back and form a wavy ring (keep R hands with ptnr,
> ladies face in)
> A2: Balance R&L, slide Right; Balance L&R, slide Left
> B1: Partner turn by Right 1-1/2
> previous partner gypsy by LEFT shoulder
> Partner pass by Right
> B2: Next person balance & swing
>
> I have a whole 'nother set of stuff for one night stands & family dances.
>
> ~ Becky Nankivell
> Tucson, Arizona & Long Beach, California
>
> Donna Calhoun wrote ( Sun, 4 Mar 2012 09:22)
>
> Ice Cream in the Sink..... Kathy Hirsh
> Circle mixer
>
> A1) Into the center and back
> Into the center, gents turn to face partner, pousette back
> A2) Do-si-do partner
> Right Allemande partner
> B1) Left shoulder do-si-do partner
> Left Allemande partner
> B2) Promenade the ring, gents turn back
> Swing new partner
>
> A few years ago a caller ended our annual weekend event with this. The
> great partner interaction gave us a wonderful 30 second interlude to
> wish all of our partners farewell.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
One comment was that some mixers don't allow you to meet enough new
people.
This is a traditional English dance (I am told) that has been claimed by
various other countries. It is easy, fun and only 16 bars, so you dance
with twice as many people:
La Chappeloise
http://www.webfeet.org/eceilidh/dances/la-chapelloise.html
And this one has you dancing with FIVE people for each 32 bars:
Moving Along by Ray Dawson
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greenery/BarnDances/BigCircles.html
I wrote this one where you get to dance with the 2nd and 4th people as
you move around the circle. It is for more experienced dancers.
Two & Four (by John Sweeney)
Circle Mixer
A1: Circle Left
Into the middle and back with a Neighbour Roll Away with a Half
Sashay (Man rolls Lady from Left to Right)
A2: Into the middle and back with a Neighbour Roll Away with a Half
Sashay (Man rolls next Lady from Left to Right) - face this one:
New Partner Allemande Right 1 & 1/2 to Alamo Wave (Men facing out)
B1: Balance the Wave (R/L); Rory O'More
Balance the Wave (L/R); Rory O'More
B1: Swing Through (1/2 Allemande R; 1/2 Allemande L)
Swing the Next
Or if you want something different, get the band to play something with
a Latin feel and try this:
Pa' Bailar III (by John Sweeney)
Circle Mixer
Start in Wide Hold - face to face, both arms stretched out horizontally
facing around the circle - men on the inside
A1: Tango counter clockwise and back - wide hold: Feet go: Side,
Through, Side, Behind, Side, Through, Side, Tap - repeat to return
A2: Partner Two-Hand Turn; Partner Dosido
B1: Partner Allemande Right 1 & 1/4 to an Alamo Wave - Men facing out,
Ladies facing in
Balance the Wave L/R/L/R (Left is your New Partner)
B2: New Partner: Slide past into a Gyspy Meltown - finish facing around
in Wide Hold
You may know the move in A1 as a Grapevine or a Columbian or a Zigzag.
I encourage improvisation, for example shimmy down and up instead of
swinging!
This one mentioned earlier I have as Cincinnati Reel:
A1: partner (right shoulder) dosido, allemande left the one on the left
A2: partner (left shoulder) seesaw, allemande right the one on the right
B1: partner balance & swing
B2: partner promenade (8 counts); [ladies turn back &] gents move up to
next partner
See http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greenery/BarnDances/BigCircles.html
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
I'm curious -- how do you handle requests?
That is, at an event when a dancer or an organizer comes up to the
stage and asks you to do a particular dance or type of dance?
-Chris Page
San Diego
At a small but very fun/energetic dance this weekend, a dancer dashed up to the stage and asked if I could call "a dance with petronellas" for the next one. I was surprised how easy it was for me to grant that request, and also surprised at how I actually enjoyed the fact that she made the request. (Didn't expect either thing - the ease or the pleasure.) Also, she was incredibly pleased & appreciative, and the other dancers apparently enjoyed it too.
Just another data point for the collective knowledge base.
:)
Chrissy Fowler
Belfast, ME
Thanks for that, John!
I see that your source has different progression:
B1: Staying with the person you just turned, balance twice and swing.
(Progression.)
B2: Promenade
~ Becky Nankivell
John Sweeney (Mon, 5 Mar 2012 14:53) wrote:
This one mentioned earlier I have as Cincinnati Reel:
A1: partner (right shoulder) dosido, allemande left the one on the left
A2: partner (left shoulder) seesaw, allemande right the one on the right
B1: partner balance & swing
B2: partner promenade (8 counts); [ladies turn back &] gents move up to
next partner
See http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greenery/BarnDances/BigCircles.html
In regular dance groups often the dancers have their favorite group of
partners,
(hopefully at least three!) among whom they choose. Sure, there are always the
neighbors whom they meet along the line - but there are also the folks who are
new and/or shy and/or never chosen for partners and/or - you name it. Mixers
tend to give a sequence of 32 bars - and one's attention to someone hitherto
undiscovered. They are good community builders. And there is a great variety of
them...
Hanny,
who uses mixers in all her programs, but usually only one, and early in the even
ing
There are some longways mixers. I called Al Olson's Left-Diagonal Mixer (Zesty Contras p. 53) once, but it's not for a crowd with lots of newer dancers. On the other hand, it doesn't require lots of empty space in the middle of the hall.
Hilton Baxter
Mac, Thanks for your great response.
I'm afraid that most of those replying on this list have missed the point
entirely. This is not about callers who "dislike mixers." It's about
empowering regular dancers to partner with newcomers.
At open, public contra dances, I put considerable energy into integrating
the hall during the first half of the evening. My unspoken contract with
the regulars is that I will make it fun and easy to partner with
first-timers. This, consequently, often makes regulars partnered together
feel "left out" of the fun.
I also make it clear that all of the first-timers should be partnered with
regular dancers. (I do this without words by "leading through
assumption." This saves much time and many words while making it crystal
clear that the regulars have a vital role to play in partnering with, and
helping to integrate, all of the newcomers into the hall.)
Using this approach, it would be a violation of my contract with the
regulars if I were to "spring" an unannounced mixer on them after they have
put out the effort to partner with a first-timer. This would send mixed
signals and I would risk losing the support of some of the most helpful and
cooperative regular dancers.
The point is to empower the regulars with information so that they can help
you to integrate the first-timers.
- Greg McKenzie
On Sat, Mar 3, 2012 at 2:20 AM, Richard Mckeever <macmck(a)ymail.com> wrote:
> Greg -
>
> I think you have hit on an important point. My experience has been that
> much of the objection to a mixer is you ask someone to dance and the don't
> get to keep them as a partner. Announcing the mixer in advance (the dance
> after this one will be a mixer) would address this and, perhaps, make it
> more acceptable. This would then slot the mixer around the 2nd or 3rd
> dance of the evening - which I think is fine. I don't want to start the
> evening with a mixer when we have so many experienced dancers eager to help
> the new ones during the first dance.
>
> Mac McKeever
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com>
> To: Brian Hamshar <bhamshar(a)yahoo.com>; Caller's discussion list <
> callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2012 2:19 AM
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Request about requests
>
> There are two points I'd like to make here:
>
> 1. A lot of callers will get "rubbed the wrong way" if you give them any
> guidelines or requirements whatsoever. Callers getting "rubbed the wrong
> way" is probably the only way to make sure that they are paying attention.
> Look at the issue of squares at open, public, contra dances. I have had
> one caller who bristled when I informed him that our Board has an on-time
> start policy. It's good for callers to get "rubbed the wrong way." It
> builds character.
>
> 2. A policy of one mixer is not going to drive people to arrive late. The
> point is to make the first dances lively and fun with little or no
> walk-through. That can work with mixers or without. It is up to the
> caller to make it fun. If folks are arriving late it's probably because
> the callers are not starting on time. That would be the best policy to
> address that problem--with or without a mixer.
>
> As some of you know I don't see the point of using mixers at open public
> contra dances. The way I do it most of the evening is structured as a
> "mixer," even though it's all contras. I would call a mixer if that's how
> they want to do it, but I would be sure to announce it in advance to alert
> the regulars. I would also try to keep it short, lively, and lots of fun.
> I don't think it would cramp my style much.
>
> Just a thought,
>
> - Greg McKenzie
>
> ***********
>
> On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 9:44 PM, Brian Hamshar <bhamshar(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Reportedly it was the feeling of the board that mixers are the best way
> to
> > integrate beginners and thereby improve retention. Thus they feel it's a
> > good enough tool for potentially increasing attendance over time that
> they
> > felt they should codify it. I've never heard of a requirement like this
> > being enacted, although I understand that certain New England communities
> > tend to have one or more mixers at every dance. I'm afraid it'll rub a
> lot
> > of callers the wrong way. I'm rather certain it'll exacerbate the ongoing
> > problem here of experienced dancers showing up a half hour or more after
> > the dance begins (they're not popular with the regular dancers). What do
> > others think?
> >
> > Brian Hamshar
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Michael Fuerst <mjerryfuerst(a)yahoo.com>
> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> > Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 7:16 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Request about requests
> >
> > "...
> > new policy requiring callers to program a mixer " What was the
> > reasoning for this ?
> >
> > Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801
> 217-239-5844
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
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