What is Round Dancing?

At a glance, Round Dancing looks like Social or Ballroom Dancing since the dance rhythms and movements are the same. However, round dancers have the advantage of “pre-choreographed and cued” dances which use defined (and practiced!) figures/steps – thereby, an alternate name has become Choreographed Ballroom or Choreographed Social Dancing.

Choreographers (usually experienced round dance instructors) choose dance rhythms and figures to fit the selection of music – dancers find this helps the dances “flow better”. In addition, a “cuer” (much like a caller in square dancing) announces each figure as the music progresses. In this way, the gentleman is freed from predetermining (and the lady from guessing!) each figure throughout the dance; instead, both partners are able to focus on performing the figures as announced.

Couples also enjoy the challenge of completing more figures in a round dance than they would normally use in either ballroom or social dancing. And since round dancers perform in unison, moving in the same direction around a large circle, it became known as Round Dancing .

Round Dancing classes are available in many centres in Canada, USA, Europe, and Japan. Roundalab, the international, non-profit, educational organization for Round Dance leaders, has standardized the figures/steps, using English terminology, for the dancing rhythms. In addition, they’ve created a Program for the Phases/Levels for advancement of dancers from Beginners to Phase VI that is recognized and followed world-wide.