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

The Hidden Maneuver

from Brian Bassett

Ever wonder how some dancers seem to begin pivoting or turning with ease when you are experiencing difficulty? It's no secret - although the trick to this seemingly effortless dancing is seldom taught by those who teach round dance routines.

Rather than place blame on either the choreographer or the teacher of a round dance routine, we will just let you in on the "trick" so you will be able to dance more effortlessly and look your best.

If you are in Semi-closed position, traveling down line of dance, and the cues are "2 forward 2 steps;;" followed by "Pivot 2; Walk 2;" that is usually all the cuer will tell you. Some cuers may tell you to do "2 forward 2 steps to face" before the cue to pivot, but seldom will you hear "2 forward 2 steps maneuvering to closed position reverse line of dance." Yet, that is what you should try to do before beginning your pivot. Why? Because a pivot is a progressive figure, and in this case the first pivot step should be taken backward (forward for the Woman) down LOD. Although the second step of this pivot, if done in CP is merely a forward step for the M and a backward step for the W, it is commonly called a PIVOT 2. If this PIVOT 2 were to end in Semi-closed position facing LOD, the Woman would have truly executed a Pivot 2, pivoting ½ on each of her 2 steps to end up in SCP LOD.

True, some dances are written so that a pivot begins in CP Wall, and nowhere is a 180° revolution taken on one single step. In these cases, the PIVOT cue term was incorrectly used ... but this is not the subject of this article. We just want to help you BLEND properly from one couple facing position to another.

This blending action in the above described sequence is known as a 2 step maneuver. The maneuver occurring on the last forward step of the 2 step figure. It can be accomplished a little bit easier if you do this: "forward LOD R, cl L trng ⅛ RF, fwd R cont RF trn blending to CP RLOD, -;" This blending action also works to prepare you for turns as well as pivots.

In this 2 step rhythm pattern, if you were to execute, "2 forward 2 steps;;" followed by "w RF trng 2 steps;;" the maneuver isn't used; but, the blend is still there. Make your RF trng 2 steps BEGIN in CP Wall by doing the following during your second forward 2 step: "fwd LOD R, cl L, fwd R trng ¼ RF to CP Wall, -;" OR "fwd LOD R, cl L trng ⅛ RF twd ptr, fwd R trn ⅛ RF ending CP Wall.

That's all there is to it! Try it for yourself ... and happy, comfortable, good looking dancing.

Roundalab Journal, Winter, 1987