In search of creative mixers and icebreakers

[etchuck]

Most of here tend to agree, we like to dance because of the social aspects. At a few dances, there are specific "mixer/icebreaker" dances that are scheduled, but usually with my one favorite ballroom dance, it consists of a foxtrot or a waltz mixer. There is also the random snowballing that occurs at swing dances, and at one of the salsa dances I go to, it's basically a "women pick the men you want to dance with" social.

I want some better ideas than this if there are any out there. At least in the context of a ballroom dance... specifically rumba. How would you set up the "random" pairing? I'll probably ask to switch partners after every minute. But I want to know what your thoughts were on how to do this.

P.S. Covered to an extent in the Swing discussion boards at :
http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?p=35583 .

[twodance]

Boy this goes back years !! We don't do this at our studio anymore because everyone dances with everyone so we don't have to. But there is always dance cards, people sign up to dance with other people at the party. The DJ simply calls out a number on the ladies card and she has to find that partner. A Paul Jones mixer, each time the music stops you change partners with the closest person next to you and when the music starts again it is a different dance each time. The songs are only about one minute or so long. They used to do all of the dances and called it 'Around the world in ten dances' You already mentioned the snowball mixer. If you use name tags have different color tags and people have to find a like color. A foxtrot line. Ladies on one side of the room men on the other side (kind of like the stroll). The first couple comes together and dances down the floor between the two lines, then they get back in line and repeat the process. The franchisse that I worked for had a copmplete book on mixers. The trick is to only use them to get the party started or if the party is dying.

[twodance]

A really fun reverse mixer is musical chairs. Just like grade school but when the music stops the man sits down and the lady sits on his lap. The winners start a snowball mixer.

[SDsalsaguy]

...when the music stops the man sits down and the lady sits on his lap...
:shock: What type of dancing are you teaching at your studio??? :shock: :wink: :lol:

[D-spot]

Form a circle of partners. Pick a dance, any dance (preferably one of the slower ones), teach a short routine (few bars) that involves a partner change to the next person in line. Then play appropriate music, every so often shout out that the person you are dancing with is partner number one, two, whatever. Through the rest of the evening you occasionally call out one of the numbers and people have to find and dance with that partner. A good mixer early in the evening and a good mixer throughout the rest of the night without spending much time later organising as it has already been done (doesn't stop the atmosphere).
D-spot.

I like to use bachatta, nice 'n slow.

[pygmalion]

That sounds like a good one, D-spot. Thanks. :D

[KevinL]

There is a list of mixers somewhere on the USABDA website, but I can't find it again. The file is: Dance_Mixer_Booklet.pdf.

I downloaded it last week, but now can't find my way back to that location. Perhaps you will have better luck...

Kevin

[twodance]

We teach Ballroom, Latin, C&W, Swing & if I don't say Salsa I'll be yelled at by everyone here. :lol: But sorry our zoning board won't let us teach lap dancing :roll:

[SDsalsaguy]

....& if I don't say Salsa I'll be yelled at by everyone here. :lol:
I can't speak for anyone else here, but my feelings are quite to the contrary. I don't know you so, perhaps you do, indeed, teach salsa. From my experiences though, most ballroom studios have *no* business saying that they teach salsa!!! :x

Seriosuly, if you can take half a year of classes, do well at the ballroom parties, but be absoultely lost in a salsa club? I'm not saying you didn't learn something, but it wasn't salsa! *

...our zoning board won't let us teach lap dancing :roll:
Really? I thought zoning boards got all huffy about costuming, not the actual "dancing"! :wink:


* Just to reiterate, I am NOT saying this is the case with you or your studio!