skip to main content

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

Suggestions for a Beginning Round Dance Teacher

First - learn to cue! There is no better way to learn than to do it! You need cue sheets for each dance, of course, and a good way to start is purchase simplified sheets from Technical Documentation Services (...). The "headline cues" on the cue sheets that come with the records are very difficult to cue from. Milt's sheets are good and easy to use.

Now for teaching, there are probably as many ways to teach Round Dancing as there teachers. All have some merit and every teacher needs to listen to another's ideas and use those which he/she can use effectively. So - here's our suggestion:

The two extremes of R.D. teaching styles are to teach only dances or teach only steps. A combination of these, we believe, is the best solution. Teaching only dances gets the new dancers on the dance floor faster but leaves them in tough shape to learn new dances readily - since he/she doesn't understand the steps. Teaching steps only causes frustrations in the student because they will not be able to join in the fun on the dance floor until they finish the course even though they may know the steps.

We suggest putting together a schedule of dances that will progressively add steps and dances to the dancer's repertoire. Steps are taught slowly and thoroughly and then, when the dancer's step repertoire has advanced far enough, a dance is taught.

It is very important that the principles of each step be thoroughly understood. We suggest using practice routines - better yet, random "hash" cueing - to different musical arrangements to cement the steps in the dancer's mind. This keeps him/her from associating a step or movement with a particular piece of music. Speed of teaching is not important; understanding and physical skill development through repetitive practice are.

Grenn Records has recently released a series of RD teaching records that are coordinated with the book "Step Close Step" by Frank Lehnert. These are similar to square dance teaching records - verbal instructions and practice sessions on each record. There are 21 of them covering two-step basics and a separate series will be issued soon covering waltz basics. This is a possible way to get started if you know little about RDing.

Graduation should not occur until all the commonly used two-step and waltz basics have been taught. This usually takes us about 35 hours (22-24 sessions of 1½ hours each). Of course, after graduation we continue to teach new steps, rhythms and dances but there will be less of a "class" atmosphere.

Attached are some additional thoughts on records and other materials to have available when teaching, a list of books on RDing - both reference and teaching guides ("Step by Step" by Palmquist, "Step Close Step" by Lehnert and "Cold Feet" by Anderson are particularly recommended for a teacher, although all are good), our current class outline, a list of the currently popular dances and the current "classic" dances.

Please feel free to contact or call us anytime we can help you. Good Luck!

Phil and Royna Thomas

Suggested Minimum Records for R.D. Teacher

  1. Teaching Music
  2. Class Level Round Dances
  3. Classic Dances
  4. Current Popular Dances

Minimum Equipment Needed by R.D. Teacher

  1. Variable Speed Record Player w/Amplifier & Speakers
  2. Variable Speed Tape Recorder
  3. Microphone & Cords