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Round Dance Rhythms, Figure Lists—
Below are listed links to the dance rhythms that we use in Round Dancing. These are the same as are listed in the sidebar at left. Click on the rhythm name to go to that figure list. These descriptions are primarily based on Roundalab's Standards For Round Dancing and on cue sheets written by many choreographers (see links page).
Some of these figure lists are long, and I have tried to organize figures in related groups rather than in alphabetical lists. If you are interested in a specific figure, rather than in browsing, use the alphabetical index to figures and actions. You can also do a site search, or on a given rhythm page, use the "find" or "search" function in your browser. Let me mention that I try to capitalize the figure name only in column 1 of each figure list. So if you do a browser page search that matches case, you should get the main entry for that figure. If your search ignores case, you will get mentions of the figure in columns 2 and 3 as well.
Dance figure descriptions traditionally give the man's footwork first. My strategy is to describe what the man does and then immediately in parenthesis what the woman does. In this way, you can read in one sentence what each partner is doing during that beat of music, rather than read about the man in one place and maybe the woman in another paragraph. I don't want to encourage the man to read only about his part and the woman only about hers.
Readers have suggested that I link to the video snippets at ballroomdancers.com or videojug.com so that for each figure we would have the cue, a description, and a performance video. I might get to that, but in the meantime, you might want to visit these sites and see if the figure you want is there. A search on a rhythm or even a figure at youtube might turn up a clip, too.
If you can't find the answer you need, if a description is unclear, or if you have any comment or question, please let me know. I'll be glad to help.
| Smooth or Modern Rhythms
Click to go to the list of figures.
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Characteristic Timing Patterns
Each listing in this column represents one kind of timing pattern common in that rhythm (s=slow, 2 beats; q=quick, 1 beat; &=1/2 beat; a=1/4 beat).
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Example of a Basic Figure
In "cue sheet" descriptions, a comma separates two beats, a semi-colon marks the end of a measure, and a slash (/) indicates a split beat, two things occuring in a single beat of music.
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| American Tango
30-32 meas/min
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qqs;
sqq;
ss;
sqq;s
qqqq;
Firm frame, soft knees, deliberate steps, sharp steps and head movements, no rise and fall.
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Walk Two: fwd, -, fwd, -;
Tango Draw: fwd, fwd & sd, man draws L to R, -;
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| Argentine Tango
26-33 meas/min
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ss;
qqs;
qqqq;
ss;qqs;
sqq;s
Slower and smoother than International Tango; comfortable "embrace" hold; flowing steps on balls of feet, knees flexed, slight rise and fall.
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Right Foot Basic: In closed position, step back R (woman fwd L), -, side L turning LF to banjo, -; fwd R outside partner (woman bk L), fwd & sd L, close R to L (woman cross LIF of R), -; |
| Bolero
24-26 meas/min
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sqq;
sqq;s
qqqq;
Very slow first step with rise, then lower on beats 2 & 3. Smooth, regular tempo; a slow, sensual rumba.
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Basic: In closed position facing wall, step sd, -, slip bk, fwd; sd, -, slip fwd, bk; |
| Cha Cha
28-32 meas/min
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123&4;
-&23&4;
Looser hold in Latin, bodies 6" apart. On balls of feet, knees flexed; somewhat bouncy feel: one, two, cha-cha-cha; The second option above is called guapacha (waa-paa-cha) timing, or more often, simply "guapa" timing.
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Full Basic: In closed position facing wall, step fwd, rec, sd/cl, sd; bk, rec, sd/cl, sd; |
| Five Count
30-40 meas/min
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ss; qqs;
qqs; ss;
Smooth flow; no rise and fall.
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Forward Two and a Two-Step: In semi-closed position, step fwd, -, fwd, -; fwd, cl, fwd, -; |
| Foxtrot
28-34 meas/min
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sqq;
sq&q;
ss;
qqqq;
Lower slightly at the end of each measure, but rise soon and stay up — long gliding steps.
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Box: In closed position man steps forward, -, side, close; back, -, side, close; |
| Hustle
28-30 meas/min
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&123
123&
1234;
Smooth and flat disco/swing; a slot dance.
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Basic: In closed position (all quicks) point lead foot to side, small side step, point to trail side, small side step; close, step,
Push Break: In low butterfly position, man steps back on left/recover, check fwd on left, bk,
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| International Tango
30-33 meas/min
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qqs;
sqq;
ss;
sqq;s
qqqq;
&s&s;
qq&qq&;
Firm frame, soft knees, deliberate steps, sharp steps and head movements, no rise and fall.
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Walk: In closed position, man steps fwd, -, fwd to bjo, -; Promenade: In semi closed position step fwd on lead foot, -, fwd trail foot, side and fwd lead; close trail foot slightly back of lead still in semi closed position, -,
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| Jive
44-46 meas/min
American tempo for Swing: 34-36 meas/min
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123a4; 1a2
123a4; 123a4;
1234;
Soft knees; quite a bouncy feel. More free than cha; think jitterbug.
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Basic Rock: In facing position rk apt, rec, sd/cl, sd; sd/cl, sd, |
| Lindy
30-36 meas/min
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123&4;
1234;
A slow swing style.
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Swing Out: In left open facing position, lead feet free, rock back and recover; the woman swivels forward, forward. On the triple, turn right face 1/2 with a side/close, side to closed position. In second measure, hook right behind left, continuing right face 1/2, step side; woman steps fwd, fwd, turning 1/2. Then man does a back triple, and woman does a little side triple to left open facing again. |
| Mambo
47-51 meas/min
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qqs;
ss;
Sharp initial step, small steps; a fast, staccato rumba. Latin hip follows the step.
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Basic: In closed position facing wall, man steps forward, recover, side, -; back, recover, side, -; |
| Merengue
29-32 meas/min
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1234;
123&4;
1&2&34;
A flat, marching feel but with lots of Latin hip: place the foot early, take weight late, which moves the hip. Some conscious hip thrusts.
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Forward Basic: In closed fwd, fwd, fwd, fwd;
Side Basic: In closed sd, cl, sd, cl;
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| Mixed Rhythm |
Anything is possible. Some of these dances move from one recognizable rhythm to another. Others consist of steps that form no standard figures at all. |
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| One Step
30-40 meas/min
American tempo for Peabody: 60-62 meas/min
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ss;
qqqq;
Steady walking; no rise and fall.
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Walk Two: In closed position, step forward, -, forward, -;
Run Four: fwd, fwd, fwd, fwd;
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| Paso Doble
29-31 meas/min
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1234;
A flat, marching dance with proud, upright carriage.
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Appel: Right foot (woman left) is lowered firmly to the floor, This is the first step of many paso figures.
Basic : In closed position appel, fwd, fwd, fwd;
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| Polka
60-62 meas/min
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qqs;
Fast and bouncy; think of Tigger in Winnie the Pooh.
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Basic or Forward Two-Step: In semi-closed position, step fwd, close, fwd, -/hop; fwd, close, fwd, -/hop; |
| Quickstep
50-52 meas/min
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qqs;
sqq;
ss;s
sqq;s
qqqq;
ss;qqs;sqq;ss;
Light and skipping, stay up and "in flight."
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Quarter Turns and Progressive Chasse is a long figure, but it is found in almost every quickstep. In closed position facing line of dance, man steps fwd L, -, fwd turn right face (RF), -; side, close, sd & bk, -; bk trn LF, -, sd, cl; sd & fwd, -, fwd, -; end in banjo line of dance. |
| Rumba
26-36 meas/min
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qqs;
More regular tempo than cha, on balls of feet, knees flexed. Latin hip follows the step.
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Full Basic: In closed position facing wall, man steps fwd, rec, sd, -; bk, rec, sd, -; |
| Salsa
40-55 meas/min
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qqs;
qqqq;
ss;
Fast like mambo but more open, loose, and free
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Side Basic: Facing partner, step side, rec, cl, -; sd, rec, cl, -; Double Step: Facing partner, step sd, cl, sd, -; sd, cl, sd, -;
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| Samba
24-28 meas/min
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1a2; 3a4;
1a2a; 3a4;
With a soft "samba bounce."
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Basic Forward and Back: In closed position, man steps fwd/cl, step, bk/cl, step; |
| Single Swing
26-46 meas/min
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qqs; s
qqs; qqs;
This is jive (fast) or swing (slow) where each triple is replaced with a single, slow step.
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Basic Rock: In a facing position, rock apart L (W apart R), recover, step side, -; side, -, |
| Slow Two Step
20-32 meas/min
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sqq;
ss&;
Also called Nightclub Two Step. Slow and flat; no rise and fall.
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Basic: In closed position facing wall, man steps side, -, XIB, rec; sd, -, XIB, rec;
In 6/8 timing, a half basic would be sd, -, -, XIB, -, rec; |
| Two Step
30-40 meas/min
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qqs;
Smooth flow; no rise and fall.
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Forward Two-Step: In semi-closed position, step fwd, close, fwd, -; Turning Two-Step: In closed position, step sd, cl, fwd and sd turning 1/2, -;
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| Viennese Waltz
54-60 meas/min
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123;
Waltz rise and fall but not as much because of speed.
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Viennese Turns: in closed position facing DLW, man steps fwd turning left face, sd turning, cross in front; bk trn, sd trn, cl (woman XIF); (full turn) |
| Waltz
28-34 meas/min
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123;
12&3;
Lower at the end of each measure, stay down through beat 1 of next measure, and then rise during beats 2 & 3 — wave-like rise and fall.
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Forward Waltz: In closed position man steps fwd, fwd, close; |
| West Coast Swing
28-32 meas/min
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1234; 1&2
123&4; 1&2
123&4; 123&4;
1234;
Slow and smooth; a "slot" dance where woman dances as on a diving board; the man moves to the side to let her pass.
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Sugar Push: In facing position, man steps back, bk, tch, fwd; bk/rec, rec, |
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