A1: First couple join both hands, chasse down center (4) , heel, toe, heel toe with man's left foot, ladies right (4), chasse back up (4) and cast off unassisted into second place, second couple moving up
A2: First couple turn contra corners
B1: All balance and swing partners, end swing facing up
B2: All chasse four steps, men to their right, ladies to their left, men passing behind partners (4), turn to face partner, move towards each other, joining hands in a circle of 6 (4), circle left halfway (8)

Composed in February, 1988 as a teaching tool for the figure contra corners. As in the Ted Sannella tradition of numbered triplets, I encourage dancers to cheer wildly when #1 (and only, so far) is announced.

A1: Ladies chain over and back (courtesy turns encouraged!), rollaway with a half sashay
A2: Lines go forward and back; do-si-do opposite dancer
B1: Ends balance and swing opposites while the center four right and left hand star. Swingers end facing the star, woman on man's right. All give right hands to partners
B2: Wrong way right and left grand around the group of eight, short swing with partners, end facing original direction (couples will have swapped places in the line).

While this may be danced as a double sicilian circle (mescolanza), it works better in lines, even though there is some waiting out at the ends. One way to set up the formation is to create two improper contra lines of even length and slide them together to make lines of four facing four. My inspirations for the dance came from an English folk version of a 19th century ballroom dance (Tom Pate/La Tempete) and a modern square dance figure (eight chain thru). Composed to celebrate the wedding of Bruce & Susan Edwards at Lovely Lane Church in April, 1983. My favorite tune for the dance is Peacock Rag. This dance is included in the 7th edition of Dance A While: Handbook for Folk, Square, Contra, and Social Dance published by Macmillan (New York,1994).

A1: Balance and swing partners, end facing promenade direction
A2: In Varsouvianne promenade position, walk forward (4) turn alone, back up (4) walk forward (4) (as in Gay Gordons) Holding on to partners right hand, men twirl women counterclockwise to make alamo ring, ladies facing in, right shoulder to partner
B1: Balance right and left in alamo ring (4) slide to right (as in Rory O'More) give left to partner, right to the next (4), balance left and right (4), slide to left give right to partner (4)
B2: Allemande right partner once and a half, left shoulder gypsy the next, returning to partner, pass partner by the right shoulder, on to the nexr.

For Bob and Laura Stein's 35th Anniversary Party in Lansing, Michigan, December 1993. In November 1999, I created an easier, alternate version I originally called "Bob's New Mixer" but it has been around for so long now, one local dancer suggested I rename it:

A1: Balance and swing partner, end facing center, joining hands in a big circle
A2: All dance into the center and back (8); ladies dance into the center, turn around and come back facing out to form a wavy or "Alamo" ring (ladies facing out, gents facing in, right hand to partner, left hand to corner).
B1: Balance right and left in alamo ring (4) slide to right (as in Rory O'More) give left to partner, right to the next (4), balance left and right (4), slide to left give right to partner (4)
B2: Allemande right partner once and a half, left shoulder gypsy the next, returning to partner, pass partner by the right shoulder, to original corner (who will be your partner for the next round).

A1: Promenade as couples
A2: Gents continue single file, ladies turn back single file (8) Everybody turn back (8), pass partner
B1: Allemande left the next (8) allemande right the same (8)
B2: Do-si-do the same (8) swing the same

Composed January 8, 1998 in preparation for a dance with a lot of newcomers. I needed a sure fire mixer like Atlantic Mixer, but with a more certain progression to a new partner.