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

Instruction in the Two-Step Turn

by Manning Smith

(As presented at Conference on American Round dancing, Stillwater, Oklahoma

The two-step turn is a definite sequence, or basic, in round dancing, and it must be taught. Once the dancer has mastered it, he can go into many routines.

This is the most successful way we have found to present it, including rhythm practice drill with it, making it a fun session, teaching the man to step out on his right foot easily, and practicing turning without becoming dizzy.

Remember again, we define each term as we present it, never assuming that the dancers are all familiar with the exact meaning. It is your responsibility to teach the meaning of the terms to those who may have only received instruction in routines, never having taken a course in basic round dancing. When you start by using the term "close" you stress that it indicates to "take weight on the foot that is doing the close".

Have the dancers make a large circle, facing into the center. (For convenience as they progress with the drill, you might suggest that they put the lady on their right.)

You are going to start out by steeping to the left, and here some will encounter their first difficulty. Even experienced dancers, particularly those across the circle from you, will have a tendency to step in the direction they see you stepping, instead the spoken instruction, because it will be the opposite for them on the other side of the circle. So, start with a simple gimmick; have them look to the left, or touch their toe to the left, to overcome this problem.

First, have the dancers do a series of "side, close, side, close," etc. to the left. Repeat the same action to the right, "for the ladies' benefit". This has the group doing something immediately.

It is now time to determine whether or not everyone can do a right face turn. For the men with military or Boy Scout training, this should not be as difficult. They know what you mean when you say "pivot on the ball of the left foot".

Tell the dancers that they will do a "left, close; side, close; side, close; and pivot". Have them start by going to the left and point out that all their turns will be right face turns. Have the group do this as you cue, "side, close, side, close; side, close, pivot".

Now explain that they will do the same thing, but getting the "countdown" as it is done in dancing, "one and, two and, three and, four and ..." Emphasize that they will do their close on the word "and" each time, except that they will pivot on the fourth one.

Next they will go to the right, "right, close, right, close; right, close, pivot". Remind them again that all turns will be right face. Demonstrate that they will step to the right on the right foot, and that will be the foot on which they will pivot. They will then put weight on that foot. THIS IS THE FOOTWORK THAT MUST BE DRILLED.

Have the dancers try this drill in a box formation. They will go left first and pivot, they will go right next and pivot, they will go left next and pivot, and right and pivot, ... ending up where they started. Remind them that it will be left, then right, left, then right, and all turns will be right faced turns. Make your circle smaller, if necessary for sufficient room, then cue the box drill. "Going to the left first... one and, two and, three and, pivot; right and, two and, three and, pivot". Wow!

Have the ladies step around in front of their partners, and put their hands on the men's shoulders, while the men place theirs on the ladies' waist. Lighten the mood of some of the discouraged masculine dancers by quipping, "This puts the ladies where you can lift them around if they don't go where you want them".

If this position, have the dancers go through the box drill as you cue it. Encourage them, have them do it once more so they can do it more easily when they change partners. Suggest short steps, then have the men move to the left and get a new partner, and do the same thing with this new partner. Tell them that this drill was named "Fun Dance #1" by the Smiths at the 1962 MSC when they were asked "What's the name of this routine?"

By now you become conscious of the main problems confronting the dancer in this turn. The man does not like to step out on his right foot, and he does not like to hold the one beat that is required to pivot. You must emphasize that each sequence of steps begins on the count of "one".

Have them try it again with a new partner, then get their own partner back. Run through it with her.

Here your judgment and knowledge of your group's interest, goal, and abilities must be exercised. This may be more than enough for one session. Each leader must determine in his individual circumstances how much he can teach at each session.

After the majority of the group has become facile and able to accomplish the above drill without undue difficulty, the next step is to practice doing a half turn instead of a quarter turn. Demonstrate that to do a half turn, they will practice the same "side, close, side, close, side, close, side, pivot," but will push a little harder and get all the way around to face the opposite direction.

Return to working individually in a circle for the initial practice in this. Have them start by going to the left again, using dance counting, with the only difference being that they will pivot half way, to face the opposite direction. Take them on a talk-through, then cue it. "We are going to the left four times, pivoting to face the outside on four." Have them hold after the pivot, then have them go to the right. Do this a few times, then have them work as partners, not in semi-closed, but with the woman's hands on the men's shoulders, and the man's near her waist.

It is very vital to point out several things at this stage which only a few of the group will know, or be able to execute. Take time to tell, then demonstrate, the footwork of the pivot. Many of the group may know it, but all should learn it. Show the men that they will find it simpler to start the pivot turn by stepping around in front of the girl. The ladies should place their right foot in between the man's two feet. Have the men step across the line of dance, and the ladies put their right feet between their partner's feet. Have them try pivot in this position.

This is the time to teach them that whichever partner is stepping forward on a free right foot places that foot in between the other's feet.

Cue this drill, "one and, two and, three and, pivot; right and, two and, three and, pivot; left and, two and, three and, pivot; right and, two and, three and, pivot". Have them change partners, have them visit a minute, use your discretion as to the time to be spent on the drill at one session.

This drill includes the basic two-step turn but allows them to practice it without becoming dizzy as they would if they just practiced two-step turns one after another. It is possible to have a class go through an entire record doing this drill with the two-step turn without tiring or getting dizzy, but acquiring the facility with the necessary steps.

Now have them take ballroom position, with the ladies a little offset so they can look over the men's right shoulder. This puts each of them in a better position to step forward with the free right foot in turn and put it between the partner's feet.

Now have them do just two turning two-steps, reminding them that this is simply, "side, close, pivot, -; side, close, pivot, -; side, close, pivot, -; side, close, pivot, -." This is the place where they will discover by position whether they are actually stepping across line of dance and pivoting halfway each time.

A simple little drill to introduce here is the use of two forward two-steps and one two-step turn. Vary this with "side, close, two-step turn, etc." Have the dancers change partners and practice the two-step turn following different preceding and with varied intermittent steps.

The two-step turn is an important part of smooth dancing, and too many dancers only "get around somehow". They do not know the footwork. Show your dancers how to do it correctly and with styling.