You can do Circassian Circle as a keeper or a mixer. I always start with a keeper dance and then move on.
I echo shorter is better than longer - I have often run a dance only 6-8 times. Patricia Patricia Campbell Dance Caller Pronouns: she/her P 203-354-4554 <203-354-4554> | W https://countrydancecaller.com <https://countrydancecaller.com/> <http://facebook.com/countrydancecaller> <http://facebook.com/dancetogetherapart> <http://instagram.com/countrydancecaller> <http://youtube.com/countrydancecaller> <http://pinterest.com/dancecaller> *Celebrating Community Through Traditional Dance and Music* On Thu, Jul 24, 2025 at 10:13 AM Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > 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 >>> >>> >>> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone >>> <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=Global_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100000604&af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=9d3a686e-218d-4849-8298-b480188dc8ac&af_android_url=https%3A%2F%2Fplay.google.com%2Fstore%2Fapps%2Fdetails%3Fid%3Dcom.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail%26listing%3Demail_signature> >>> >>> 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 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>> [email protected] >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>> [email protected] >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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