Changes Over the Years
by
Sandi
& Dan Finch
Round
dancing has traditionally started with two-step and waltz, the two
rhythms standardized at phase I and II of the RAL Manual of
Standards. But, times change. We believe people want something they
can take out to a wedding reception or night club. The Latin rhythms
with waltz seem like a better place to start.
Round
dancing is continually undergoing change. Originally, all round
dancing was part of square dancing, then in 1948, the first round
dance clubs were being formed. In 1950, the first round dance
syllabus of basic steps was written. In the 1970s, English techniques
and cue terms (called “international”) were introduced, and drew
much criticism in the beginning. Instructors were even blackballed in
the 1970s for introducing rumba and cha cha. Round Dancer Magazine
40 years ago (March 1975 edition) carried an editorial that noted
that 1700 new gimmicks had been added to square dancing in the
previous 10 years and no one complained. That’s how an activity
grows, it noted. Round dancing should also be allowed to grow, it
said. “Ballroom” was a term used derogatorily by many in round
dancing, but the editor wrote “I would wager if all ballroom steps
were eradicated from our round dancing, only about 30% of the
presently used basics would remain.”
In
the March 1975 edition, the #1 most popular dance was Eddie &
Audrey Palmquist’s Tips of My Fingers. Dream Awhile,
Spaghetti Rag, and Let’s Dance, one of the first
advanced quicksteps in round dancing, led the classics list in the
magazine. We’ve come a long way since those days, but those dances
are still perennial favorites.
Some
sense a new shift in round dancing today. More and more teachers are
commenting that their clubs don’t want so many “killer” dances,
even at the advanced level, but want to enjoy smooth choreography to
great music. The December 2014 Carousel Club list of most taught
dances by member clubs featured four phase IV dances among the Top
Nine. Where do you stand on that idea?
From a club
newsletter prepared by Dan
and Sandi Finch , March
2015, and
reprinted
in the Dixie Round Dance Council (DRDC)
Newsletter, May/June/July 2015.
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