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

(As presented by Glen & Beth McLeon at the 24th National Square Dance Convention - Round Dance Teaching Methods Panel)

Teaching Methods

Introduction & Briefing

  1. All start as beginner. (May seem too slow to some and too fast to others but will try to hit a happy medium. CHANGE PARTNERS FREQUENTLY.)
  2. Start with two-steps and learn basic steps with drills rather than in dance routines.
  3. LOD and RLOD and COH and WALL.
  4. Directions always given to M with W told whether to use same or opposite footwork.
  5. Outside foot or Inside foot.
  6. Keep place in dancing line.
  7. Keep trying - the next time you do it and each succeeding time, it will be easier.
  8. Don't be self-conscious; others are far too busy with their own problems to notice your dancing.
  9. If you don't understand something, ask questions and ask for repeats. Probably someone else hasn't understood either and you'll be doing them a favor too.
  10. Dance for FUN. You are your own worst enemy when you criticize your partner.
  11. Practice other than at lessons to really make progress. Will be given cue sheets to each new basic and drills as the lessons progress.
  12. Explain rhythm - strong beat. Two counts to each heavy beat - a step on each count or each 2 counts.
  13. If impossible for both partners to come to some lessons, encourage one to come.

Posture, Poise, and Balance

  1. Dance tall with tummy in but without appearance of stiffness.
  2. Do not bob up and down when dancing.
  3. Keep head level - do not watch your feet or anyone else's while dancing.
  4. Hand holds: where joined, M palm up and W palm down - gentle but firm hold; M don't crush W hand w/thumb; W don't have a limp hand; free hand and arm curved comfortable away from body; hold joined hands approximately shoulder high for W.
  5. Starting position - feet together.
  6. Weight is never on both feet at same time. Weight should always be on only one foot.
  7. M always starts with L foot except in rare instances.
  8. SMALL STEPS - feet under body. After experience, dancers may take longer steps on slow counts and small steps on quick counts.
  9. Dance on ball of foot. Keep weight slightly forward without leaning forward. Have weight centered on ball of foot. Rock slowly from heel to toe as weight leaves heel and passes to ball of foot; have correct balance.
  10. Lead with toe and glide ball of foot lightly over floor. When backing up, lead with toe which allows a longer step.
  11. Avoid tendency to dance with feet wide apart sideways (in a straddle). They should brush close by each other as they move past.
  12. Don't rush or push the beat of the rhythm. Jerky steps cause bouncy dancing.
  13. Dancing is not just footwork but also body movement.
  14. M's responsibility is to lead.
  15. Smile and enjoy yourself.

Basics

(We teach basics in groups)

Group I:

  1. Walk
  2. Run
  3. Close
  4. Touch
  5. Point

Give them a cue sheet of how these basics may appear in a round dance cue sheet and explain that in two-step rhythm there are four counts to each measure and that there is a comma (,) after each count and a semi-colon (;) after each measure. The heavy beat of the music will be on the first and third counts.

Group II:

(All of the same rhythm pattern - changing weight on each of the first three counts and a hold on the fourth count.)

  1. Forward two-step
  2. Backward two-step
  3. Side two-step
  4. Face-to-Face; Back-to-Back two-step
  5. Solo turning two-step
  6. Couple RF turning two-step
  7. Full box two-step (fwd)
  8. Full Box two-step (bwd)
  9. Turning box two-step
  10. Scissors thru
  11. Scissors to Sidecar
  12. Scissors to Banjo
  13. Hitch fwd
  14. Hitch back
  15. Half box; Scissors thru;
  16. Vine and touch (LOD & RLOD)
  17. Twirl/Vine and touch
  18. Reverse Twirl/Vine and touch
  19. Fwd, Lock, Fwd, -;
  20. Bk, Lock, Bk, -;

We use only basic exercises of a four measure length so all concentration can be made on the basic steps only and not a lengthy routine. Use of a number of different records adds interest to simple exercises. Also the constant changing of partners. Start by playing music with a speed of 56 to 58 counts per minute. Later, speeds up to 64 counts per minute can be used.

Group III:

(Here the rhythm pattern is 4 quick steps and 2 slow steps)

  1. Vine 4; Walk 2 (also Twisty Vine)
  2. Vine 4; Pivot half
  3. Vine 4; Full Pivot
  4. Limp 4; Walk 2
  5. Scoot 4 (Fwd, cl, fwd, cl); Walk 2
  6. Side, close, side, close; Side, -, thru, -;
  7. Cut 4; Dip and Recover
  8. Hitch 4; Walk 2

After we complete Group III, we then mix the basics from all 3 groups. It is also well then to make your basic combinations relate to the current rounds.

Waltz

We approach our Waltz basics in the same manner as the two-step - limiting exercises to four measures. They are given cue sheets of how waltz basics may appear in a round dance cue sheet explaining that in waltz rhythm there are three counts to each measure with the heavy beat being the first count of the measure.

We start in a circle balancing fwd, tch, hold; and Bk, tch, hold; emphasizing the heavy beat of the music on the first count. Proceed then to the running waltz emphasizing a longer step on the heavy beat and shorter steps on 2 and 3 - then combine the running waltz and balances.

In teaching the basic waltz step, we start by dancing a Back-to-Back and Face-to-Face movement which serves two purposes. It teaches them to turn the toe out on the first step and makes it a natural movement to close on the third step. We explain that this is an exaggerated movement to get them to close on count three. The exaggerated turn on the first count is reduced until they are progressing LOD in a regular waltz basic.

Basic rule on all turning waltzes: on the first count if stepping forward turn toe out and if stepping backward turn heal out.

Cueing

(We always use the preparatory command of "READY, -, AND, -;")

For the beginner dancers it will be necessary to cue on the beat "STEP, CLOSE, STEP, AND;." We use the word "AND" rather than "HOLD" since hold seems to indicate for all movement to stop rather than the trailing foot to continue moving fwd to take weight on the first count of the next two-step. Cueing on the beat shouldn't keep a cuer from giving advance notice of a change of simple basics. On the hold count, cue the next basic when there is a change of basics. Encourage beginner dancers to also say the steps as they dance them.

Roundalab Journal, November, 1982