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

Suggestions for Writing Round Dance Routines

Ted May (Louisiana)

Creating a round dance routine is one of the easiest things in the world to do! Just put on some music, listen to it, and think out loud — that sounds like a "vine 4" and that part sounds like a "scissors through", etc.

Unfortunately, there are way too many routines written in this manner; not that you don't let the music tell you what figures to use, but it's the manner in which the figures are placed without consideration for what preceded a figure and what will follow it that makes for awkward movements.

Let's look at what makes some dances so popular while many others are never picked up. Think of some of the classics that you are dancing. Most of them you could probably sing, hum or whistle the tune to which they are written. A mediocre dance to great music is more likely to succeed, where a very good dance routine to poor music would fail. So the most important thing to us is the music. It has to be music that makes you want to get up and dance. Therefore, the first thing to do is find yourself some really great music, something that will start your feet to tapping out the beat, or maybe singing, humming or whistling along with the music. If it is a pop record that you have chosen, find out if the record is available all over or did you buy your copy from a record shop that had the only copies available. You can find out if a record is available if the store can order more copies from the distributor, but we usually check with a record shop that sells both round dance labels and pop labels. They are usually more helpful.

Now that we have the music we put it on the turntable and listen to it to determine the musical changes that will make up the parts of the dance. Then we decide how many parts we have in the dance and how they are arranged. We then count out the measures in each part, Intro, A, B, Interludes or bridges (if any) Ending, etc., and put this down on paper.

It's time to get up and dance, get the feel of the music, do whatever comes naturally as you listen to the music. Don't worry about the figures just yet. Try to get the feel of the music. Is the temp slow? fast? Is it comfortable to dance? Yes! Good!

Now we can start to build a round dance routine. If it is a two-step we are writing the steps for, and we want to write an easy level dance routine (which by the way are the more popular and most likely to be accepted), we would start off with some basic two-step patterns; i.e., step, close, step, -;. No change of rhythm for basic two-step patterns. Let's say we have chosen for part A of 8 measures the following:

Meas. 1 - 4 (CP LOD) Box;; Progressive scissors to BJO;;
Meas. 5-8 2 Fwd 2 steps;; (blend CP LOD) Side 2 step L & R;;

Next, we try some variations to the above - both in figure and rhythm patterns - until we are satisfied with what we have put together. We determine what we feel was the best pattern of steps or figures for the music and was comfortably danced by both partners and allowed them to be in position to repeat Part A or to enter the next part of the dance comfortably, and so on for the rest of the routine.

Keeping in mind that in round dancing, we normally travel line of dance and that we want to progress around the room as we dance. Try to avoid Forward and Backward progression or in place dancing, i.e.,:

(CP WALL) Box;; Scissors SCAR; Scissors BJO;
(Blend CP) Side 2 step L & R;; Back Away 2 step-; Together 2 step-;

The above shows how we have in 8 measure of music no progression. We are still in the same place where we started the figures. Non progression should be kept to a minimum.

Now for the hardest part of writing the dance - THE WRITING OF IT ON PAPER so that it can be learned from the cue sheet. Use ROUNDALAB approved format. Put it on paper so everyone who looks it over will understand what you have written and what you want them to do. Don't release your routine for publication until you are satisfied it is a correct cue sheet. Use ROUNDALAB approved terms when available. Don't make up a new name for something that is standard. Check with others if you're not sure of what to call a figure or step pattern. Then get a second opinion. Keep your cue sheet simple and avoid unnecessary cluttering of the cue sheet - but include all facing directions and position in which you start and end a figure - if it is not obvious.

Have someone work out the dance from the cue sheet to see if they understand what you have written. If they have a question, re-check your description for clarity and double check for typographical errors and punctuation.

Limit the amount of dances you write each year. First, there are way too many dances being written; and secondly, I feel that the people who turn out dance routines like a production line, usually have dance routines that are all about the same. They often use the same things over and over, rather than thinking of new ways to combine the same basic steps into new and interesting patterns. Take a few cue sheets by the same choreographers written in one year and you will readily see the similarity from one cue sheet to the next.

So, in signing off: may you find just that right piece of music and write us a really good dance that makes the classic list a few years from now!

ROUNDALAB Journal, Summer, 1982