This is a circle dance used to teach moves to new dancers, or to have fun in a crowd that includes kids.

A mixer is a dance where you get a new partner each time through the dance, so there are directions for modifying these two dances for small kids that aren’t comfortable moving away from their adult partners.

Each person needs a partner, then all the couples should get in a big circle.

There are two versions of this dance, one more basic and one slightly harder.  The basic dance teaches these skills:  allemande, do si do, promenade.

The second dance teaches grand right and left and swing in addition.

Both start with:

In one hand you have your partner. (Everybody raise your partner’s hand).

In your other hand you should have another person. That person is your corner. (Everybody raise your corner’s hand)

Circle Mixer for Beginners

All join hands and circle left

Circle back right

Allemande right your partner

Allemande left your corner

Do si do your partner

Do si do your corner

Promenade that corner girl (join hands with your corner and walk counterclockwise around the circle; this step may be left off if you have small children in the crowd that don’t want to be separated from their adult partner)

Dance starts over.

Circle Mixer for Advanced Beginners

All join hands and circle left

Circle back right

Do si do your partner

Do si do your corner

Swing your partner

Allemande left your corner

Give a right to your partner, right and left grand

Hand over hand around that ring, till you meet your partner, give her a swing. (if there’s a great height difference, as between kids and adults, you may be most comfortable doing two-hand turn instead of an elbow or ballroom swing).

All join hands and the dance starts over.