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

Five-Count Rhythm Patterns

What are they? Are they NEW?

from Brian Bassett

Simply stated, a five-count rhythm pattern is a dance figure containing five changes of weight. In dancing, each change of weight is called a count; hence, the "five-count" term.

One type of five-count rhythm pattern is the Cha Cha Cha. Two slow steps are taken to the first measure of 4/4 music (slow, -, slow, -;) and two quick steps followed by a slow step are taken to the second measure (quick, quick, slow, -;).

The other two types of five-count rhythm patterns danced to music lacking the Latin feel are: five counts taken in two measures of 4/4 music, just like the Cha Cha - or in other five-count variations such as S, -, Q, Q; S, -, S, -; or Q, Q, S, -; S, -, S, -; or any other form where the two steps occur during one measure and the two quicks and one slow occur in the other.

OR

Five-counts taken in just one 4/4 music measure. (L, R, L/R, L; being that rhythm pattern enjoying the greatest attention of late although the first two counts and the last three counts of the figure could be reversed or all three of the slower counts - the ones using one full beat of music each - could be taken in a row.

All the above rhythm patterns qualify as five-count rhythm patterns.

The term five-count rhythm refers to music, when dancing we MUST talk in rhythm patterns. A rhythm pattern is the length of a dance figure. In the Waltz, a dance figure takes one measure. In the Cha Cha Cha, a dance figure takes two measures. In the Swing, whether the single, double or triple swing (in English-style ballroom dancing all types of swing are called "Jive"), a dance figure takes one and one-half measures.

Presently, the R/D community is experiencing the emergence of the five-count rhythm pattern that is danced in ONE music measure. This is being called FIVE-COUNT RHYTHM. Although the name is incomplete when referring to dance figures ... we wanted to pass on the information to our readers and further explain that the rhythm pattern is danced as L, R, L/R, L; R, L, R/L, R; and so on.

Another point of interest ... The five-count rhythm patterns came to be during the Big Band/Ballroom Dancing era. When a 4/4 piece of music was played too slowly for the dancers to dance a standard Two Step or Fox-trot or Single or Double Swing and two quickly for a Triple Swing ... the dancers improvised by creating the various five-count rhythm patterns. So this is nothing new ... When a dancer wants to dance to good music he or she will find a way!

Roundalab Journal, Winter, 1987