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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. The figure
descriptions in each list 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 among the definitions and examples, 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.
If you would like some visual instruction, along with my verbiage, look at some of my video suggestions on the links page.
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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