Re: [Callers] Re Sharing Mixers

This has really been a fun thread. I enjoy dancing mixers and program one at almost every dance. Some of my favorites (Ted Sannella's Love and Kisses, Bob Dalsemer's January Mixer) have been suggested, but many of the ones that have been posted are new to me, and much appreciated. A couple of mine are below: 1. John Sweeney's "Two & Four" reminded me of one I put together last year and have used a number of times: Equality Mixer, Mike Clark 2011. Circle of couples, all facing the center. A1 Ladies to the middle (optional clap on beat 4) and back (8); Side-to-side balance and roll away with half sashay (8) ----[Lady rolls from partner's R hand to his L hand, he sashays to the R.] A2 Gents to the middle (optional clap on beat 4) and back (8); Side-to-side balance and roll away with half sashay (8) ----[Gent rolls from partner's R hand to her L hand, she sashays to the R.] B1 Gypsy same partner once and a half around, on to the next (=new partner) and swing. B2 Promenade (end facing center). Alternate B1 for longer swing: Pass current partner, on to the next (=new partner) and swing. I ask the band for a tune that is punctuated in the A and smooth in the B. This mixer was inspired by a fun one composed by John Wheeler of Charlottesville VA, the Fraternity Mixer, which has multiple side-to-side balances and roll aways, but always with the ladies rolling and the gents sashaying. 2. My old faithful: Oshtemo Promenade, Mike Clark 1995. Circle of couples, partners facing each other. A1 Partner allemande R; same allemande L (end giving partner R hand). A2 Same partner balance and box the gnat; reset hand hold and balance and box gnat again. B1 Same dosados and swing. B2 Promenade (end with ladies rolling back over right shoulder to begin again with new partner). This dance is fairly accessible to inexperienced dancers because all the moves are with one person, and, except in the promenade, orientation doesn't matter. The allemandes don't go any specific distance, you don't have to be facing any particular direction in the balance-and-box move or dos-a-dos, etc. I've used it successfully at wedding receptions and church suppers, sometimes without the partner change at the end of B2 (so in that case not a mixer). For added complexity, you can have the allemandes in A1 be once and a half around, so that the dancers interact with three others during one round of the dance--allemande R with #1, allemande L with #2, and the rest with #3. But experienced dancers seem to enjoy the dance in its simple basic version, as well--maybe because of the continuous interaction with any given partner?--and that's how I usually do it. I usually ask for a jig for this. It can be really nice if the tune has a bluesy or "slinky" feel (think Joel Mabus's Blue Jig), but it works fine with other tune esthetics also. Some time ago Bob Dalsemer suggested a variation (Oshtemo Grand Right and Left) for when you want to introduce the grand R&L figure, which I've used quite a few times: A1 Into the middle and back; partner dosados. A2 (as above) B1 Grand R and L, start with current partner (#1) with R hand, swing #5 (=new partner). B2 Promenade. 3. A couple of years ago there was a thread on waltz mixers, and I posted one of mine (The Wood Phoenix) then. See the archives for October 12, 2010 if you're interested. Thanks everyone for all the interesting comments and questions on this thread. Mike At 09:53 AM 3/5/2012, John Sweeney wrote: