Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers (Was "Calling debut")

As a dancer, I much prefer mixers to no-partner-swing dances. I haven't called either much, but in my experience as a dancer in various communities I have often seen mixers favorably received. In fact, I've been to a number of smaller dance weekends where mixers were welcomed as a way to see who was there, "scout" for partners, add variety to the evening, etc. In those situations, the idea of "forcing" beginners to integrate wasn't relevant. I think mixers at regularly scheduled dances can serve the same purpose. Maybe in communities with a lot of booking ahead for partners mixers might cause more of a stir. Another point: I (like many people) only dance with any particular partner once during the course of a normal length dance evening. If a no-partner-swing dance means I don't get to swing with a good/favorite partner, I feel gypped. However, I don't count a mixer as a dance with any particular partner so I get the benefit of lots of interaction with many dancers without feeling like I'm ignoring or missing out on dancing with my partner. That being said, I wouldn't totally discount dances without a partner swing. If the dance were unique or particularly interesting in some way I would consider it. But if there were a similar dance with a partner swing I would chose that one instead. -Bronwyn