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.

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About Dance—

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

Latest Additions To the Site—

"The Telemark Figures II" and other articles on round dancing — Round About, © by Roy & Phyllis Stier

Many enjoy round dancing but few pursue it into the highest phase levels—A Trend In Round Dancing by Frank Hamilton.

"Timing" — Round Dance Tips by Tim Eum

Slow Two Step is a smooth, flat, gliding, elastic style of dance.

In Bolero, the Cross Body is done in closed position, and the left pass incorporates a partial wrap and roll across.

English Country Dancing Before, During, and After Jane Austen by Veronica McClure

One Figure, a discussion of the Paso Doble Fregolina.

Differences In Rhythms—The music of our different dance rhythms differ significantly in what beats are accented, in the mood that is evoked, and in the way that you want to move, by Gert-Jan & Susie Rotscheid.

Character and Origin of Samba—It is a festive dance that deserves to be more widely enjoyed, by Dwain & Judy Sechrist.

That Pesky "Other" Cha-Cha Rhythm - 4&1— Four-and-one timing can be traced back to Cuba. We begin a figure on the 2-count and dance the "cha" on the 4&1, an article by Jim & Bonnie Bahr.

The Cuddle is a rumba figure whose name especially tells us to focus on our partner, to dance together.

The cue Switch is used in many ways in Round Dancing. In Slow Two Step, Switches are much like a progressive "man across; woman across;" or Open In and Out Runs (sqq; sqq;).

Bolero uses a dramatic rise and fall and a reaching recover step, an article by Annette Woodruff.

The cues, the figures, even the music are just the context within which you are "partnering" someone else, so it is important to attend to your partner. 

Our dancing becomes smooth only when we Dance In Response To Your Partner.

Flight the Sequence — Don't dance steps and figures individually — keep your body in continuous, smooth movement.

A Few Notes On Paso Doble, “The Other Two-Step” — a dance of the matador, depicting the drama of the Spanish bullfight, © by Dan and Sandi Finch.

Bolero — "The Other Rumba" — © by Jack & Judy DeChenne.

It's easy to be too casual about swing dancing and think "it's all rock and roll to me." But even with a fast tempo, careful footwork and compact chasses or single rhythm can tame the dance, give us clean and attractive form, and make the dance more comfortable, too.

We have so many dance rhythms to choose among today—from the tango and rumba to the hustle and slow two step. How and when did these new rhythms arise?

In slow two step, we have again run into a figure called The Square. It has also been called a Switch Box.

A look at the foxtrot Switching Grapevine.

Should we dance the figures or dance the dance?

Using Your Hands — © by Gert-Jan & Susie Rotscheid.

Compare the Waltz Maneuver and Left Maneuver

When leading an Underarm Turn, get your joined hands up and over her head, but don't forcefully twirl her.

The Wheel is a figure danced in a variety of ways in many different rhythms. In the Tornillo and Ballerina Wheels, it helps to relax your frame.