The following information is published with ROUNDALAB's permission from the ROUNDALAB Reference Manual compiled by Richard & Jo Ann Lawson, 1987.

A Different Approach to Teaching the Turning Two Step

by Betty & Clancy Mueller for Roundalab

Roundalab Definition - Two Turning Two Steps

A right face turning figure consisting of six steps and generally using two measure of music. In Closed Position using a blending action step side left, close right to left, side and diagonally across line of progression left and pivoting one-half right face on left, hold; step side right, close left to right, side right pivoting one-half right face on right, hold (sd, cl, trn, -; sd, cl, trn, -;). (Woman) Step side right, close left to right, side right pivoting one-half right face on right, hold; step side left, close right to left, side and diagonally across left and pivoting one-half right face on left, hold; Ending position and facing direction may change with choreography - i.e. SCP, SCAR, etc.

Since we are working on our 30th year of teaching Round Dance Basics (sometimes 2 and 3 classes a year) we have changed our teaching methods many times to suit the situation at the time.

In our classes, we teach the One Step first and then the Two Step. On the two step, we do circle work and remind that many of our first two step basics are started with a side close: side two step - side close and one more side; box - side close and forward; reverse box - side close and back; scissors through - side close and cross through - 2 side closes and step through - side close and add another side close and step through. After drilling with hash cueing, they are so used to side close plus something else that a side close and turn one-half is almost a natural to them.

We use to teach the turning two step about the fifth lesson and attack it in about five different ways. Finally, we would show that finished product and the class would say "Oh that's what you want - we can do that!"

NOW we take the bull by the horns and say we want you to do this after we show it. Put the drill music on and with our wireless mike cadence cue the two forward two steps and two turning two steps (std, cl, stp, and; stp, cl, st, and; sd, cl, trn ½, and; sd, cl, trn ½, and;). The old "Monkey See Monkey Do" does work nine out of ten times. Usually we'll need to smooth out one or two couples, but we have saved hours and weeks of trying to perfect two turning two steps from scratch.

We really don't give our students enough credit. Sometimes we have students who don't Square Dance, but they usually are Ball Room Dancers and we forget how many nights the Square Dancers have watched the Round Dancers execute these steps to the same cue words over and over. Another thought along the same line — remember how much easier it is to teach a Classic your club has seen and heard a "Jillion" times versus a new dance they have only seen you just "Demo" for them? This article for ROUNDALAB was due by February, and this was not our subject matter that was suggested, but felt it to be more timely than the other topic. Being in bed with the Flu gave me time to think so I again experimented with our current class. Last night we had 12 couples executing the turning two step with comfort and pride after just a little help. We had the usual problems of the first one being good and the second one poor.

Then we used some of our previously tried and true remedies. If they don't get turned one-half way around they tend to go side to the center on an angle and then "waddle" around in place. Some cues that help are sd cl turn ½ or sd cl look in or out, sd cl look Center, sd cl look wall, sd cl Momma steps in, sd cl Poppa steps in. Another way is to start with the Man facing the center and do the usual second Turning Two Step first. They fail to turn far enough on the first and tend to take too short of a side step to be able to close and turn comfortably so as a result they "waddle" in place. Say sd, cl, turn ½, and; reach, close, turn ½, and; then slide them to CP and try it together. Take just the men or just the women in the circle and give them one of the directional cues listed above to give the idea of where to turn or where to end.

Usually we have taught the pivot previously and they know that the person going forward is stepping between the partner's feet with the right foot so this brings up another cue word sd, cl, bk to turn, and; sd, cl, fwd to turn, and; but you must designate whether you are talking to the man or the woman when you use bk and fwd. One more hint is to put the men on one side with Clancy in front and then later with Betty in front of the women and move down the floor in a line in order to orient them to the amount of turn, to the facing direction and which way to turn. Just once for me: be really brave and follow the "Monkey see" method and let me know what happens. Use some psychology and be firm as if you really knew it would work and don't let them doubt for a minute that it won't. You'll really be surprised how much time it saves and we use to think this was the hardest basic of all. Be sure they have had sufficient drill on the other sd cls of all kinds and are comfortable with them.

One week later, our report is still good! We drilled the Turning Two Step along with several familiar basics, gave them a 5-minute break (this is only an hour class every week) and without showing the easy dance that is new in our area, cued them successfully through it except for the ending and they looked really good. Talk about happy smiles and awed looks — you could almost hear them say "Look Ma I'm Dancing"! Our Intermediate Club that had arrived and were waiting to start their dancing applauded with them and that was the icing on the cake for them. A new world has opened up for them and we as teachers have again felt that "Glow" that urges us on to keep teaching.

It is too bad that we have to wait a week for that one hour of class to open some more doors for them, but we announced where we would be cueing at the Square Dances in the meantime and told them we would be sure and include this dance in the program so they can practice and dance in that circle with others.

Be brave and don't procrastinate on the harder steps in any level and you will have that proud, glowing feeling too!

Roundalab Journal, May, 1983