ROUND DANCING — CHOREOGRAPHED BALLROOM

FIGURE & STYLING MANUAL

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You'll find hundreds of detailed figure descriptions plus articles on how to dance smoothly and comfortably.

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What Is Round Dancing?

Round Dancing is a form of social ballroom dancing in which the steps are choreographed precisely to the music, and those steps are announced by a "cuer," as we dance. The presence of the cuer makes a round dance look different than the usual ballroom dance — all the couples are dancing in unison and the choreography can be relatively complex and interesting (since the man doesn't have to think it up as he goes) — but otherwise round dancers are ballroom dancing. We hold our partners in the normal way. We take the same kinds of steps. The rhythms are the familiar rhythms — waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, rumba, and others listed in the navigation bar to the left. more

This manual describes how to round dance. The steps, figures, and techniques also work well at weddings, dinner dances, and other social ballroom functions.

Take a quick Site Tour

About Dance—



Or, for a list of all educational articles on how to dance more smoothly and comfortably, see this TOC.

Latest Additions To Dance Site—


How's Your Blend? by Helmut Licht -- Adjust to your dance partner so that you look good together.

Shall We Take A Walk? -- In round dancing, we walk, but it's not just walking.

"Phase VI Figures continued" and other articles on round dancing — Round About, © by Roy & Phyllis Stier

Round Dancers vs. "Good" Round Dancers by Frank & Carol Valenta. Good dancing comes from study, commitment, and lots of practice.

The Three A's + 1 by Bill & Martha Buck. Good dancing comes from Acceptance, Attitude, Ability, and Appreciation.

Jive and Swing Deserve A Little Care and Precision, Too by Harold & Meredith Sears

Dancing Posture is good posture, balance, and couple connection -- by Richard Lamberty.

Yes, You May Video, But . . . by Sandi & Dan Finch. Should we liberalize festival video recording policy?

One Figure, a discussion of the Jive Tunnel by Harold & Meredith Sears.

"Foxtrot II" — Round Dance Tips by Tim Eum

West Coast Swing Figure Groups by Susie & Gert-Jan Rotscheid

Four Problem Figures in West Coast Swing by Brent & Judy Moore

Smile! by Annette Woodruff. If we aren't smiling, are we not having fun?

Body Types by Richard Lamberty. A good frame is a compromise between power and lightness.

Round Dancing Is A Partnership by Harold & Meredith Sears.

Posture and Balance by Kaye West

One Figure, Three Rhythms by Sandi & Dan Finch

Make It Look Easy by Harold & Meredith Sears. The comfort and ease in dance are in the details.

Picture Figures, an article by Gert-Jan & Susie Rotscheid

Some Basics—Suggestions for Learning to Round Dance -- Maintain A Positive Attitude -- by Kaye West

Rumba and the Latin Hip, by Harold & Meredith Sears. For "latin" action, step ball-flat, step to a straight leg, and allow your hips to roll through a smooth figure-8 over each pair of steps.

Latin Motion by Chris & Terri Cantrell

Let's Dance the Mambo! More on the Latin Hip by Irv & Betty Easterday

Tango Timing by Richard Lamberty

Talking Tango by Wayne & Barbara Blackford

Teaching (and Learning) Waltz Magic -- Rise & Fall by Dick & Karen Fisher

Why the Tango Is Not a Latin Dance by Veronica McClure

Dancing Is Not Walking by Harold & Meredith Sears.Two strategies to make your movements feel more like dancing are anticipation/preparation and rise/fall.

Making Your Figures Flow by Brent & Judy Moore

A Waltz Whirl by Harold & Meredith Sears.a thrilling left-turning sequence in Radka Sandeman's Evening Star.

The Dixie Round Dance Council has published one or more educational articles per month for over ten years. Check out my archive (and if you have a newsletter collection and know what was printed in a month that I don't list, please let me know).

Development of Dance Through the Centuries by Harold & Meredith Sears. An abbreviated history -- from the beginning :-)







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