Frequently Asked Questions
What is Round Dance?
Round Dance is choreographed Ballroom Dance, with all couples dancing the same figures around the floor at the same time. Routines have been choreographed to match specific music in almost every dance style imaginable.
What are the benefits of Round Dancing?
This type of dancing eliminates the "traffic-jam" feeling that you sometimes get while free-form (social) ballroom dancing. Dancers are able to concentrate more on how they are executing the figures and dancing, as opposed to trying to figure out which figure or pattern to do next.
Do I have to memorize the choreographed dances?
No. Dancers rely on a Cuer to guide them through the figures in each routine, thereby eliminating the need to memorize the dance patterns. The cuer calls out the name of each figure in the routine just before it is to be executed.
How do I know what the cuer wants me to do?
Round Dancers learn to associate each foot pattern with the figure name. This makes it easier to teach future routines since the dancer has a repertoire of figures at their disposal.
Is Round Dancing better than social Ballroom Dancing?
No, the two complement each other. Round Dancing helps you strengthen your basic knowledge of Ballroom figures and permits you to do some figures that you would not dare to try at a conventional ballroom dance.
Round Dance
Round Dance is so named because the couples form a circle and move counter-clockwise around the floor as they are dancing.
Roundalab has developed a system to rate the complexity of the dances. As dancers become comfortable with the lower-level dances, they may choose to progress to higher levels.
Round Dancing often takes place at square dances. While the square dancers take a break between "tips"the Round Dancers enjoy a set. Many people like to both Round and Square Dance. Some clubs hold dances strictly devoted to Round Dancing.
Round Dancers and Cuers are friendly and sociable. They are always ready to offer encouragement to new dancers and help them succeed. If a dancer does not have a partner, other dancers will partner with them, so no one is left out.
