The Barn Mixer

By Rick Mohr; August 1986

Mixer, Scattered 4's Caller's Box

Level: Easy

A1:

Circle left (8)

Right hand star (8)

A2:

Right and left through (8)

Dosido neighbor (8)

B1:

Balance and swing neighbor (16)

(This is your new partner)

B2:

Promenade anywhere with new partner (16)

(Find another couple to circle with)

Summer dances in New Haven Connecticut are held in the beautifully rough-hewn Eli Whitney Barn, which has a long narrow space next to (and about five inches below!) a shorter space. It's perfect for longways sets but dismal for circles, so in need of a mixer I wrote this "scatter promenade" dance. It has turned out to be a reliable crowd pleaser; the chaos factor from the scattering is great for loosening people up early in the evening.

Bill Olson (fine caller from Maine and all-around great guy) points out that doing a Maine-style right and left through (with hands) in the A2 makes for a nice transition out of the right hand star. Thanks, Bill!

Video: Tara Bolker & Open Band at a 2010 contra in Hamilton ON: