REVISION 7
Copyright: 1980, 1984, 1996, 2000
and for web posting 2001, 2003
BY
FRED HAURY
PHONE (501) 513-4300
Round Dancing is couples ballroom dancing. The name Round
Dancing is derived from the circle formed by dancing couples.
Rhythms & patterns are the same as International Ballroom,
Exhibition & Studio dance. This book is written for Round
Dancing. Terms & descriptions of other dance forms are included.
Use of abbreviated terms is minimized for easy reading. The
abbreviations: L = left & R = right are understood by readers w/o
knowledge of Dancing. A -L or -R after a direction indicates a
L-foot or R-foot step: Forward-L = forward step on L foot;
Forward-R = forward step on R foot.
Definitions & descriptions are written for the man. The girl
uses opposite footwork unless identical footwork is specified.
Girl's parts are enclosed in parenthesis () as required. Unless
stated otherwise the man starts patterns from weighted R-foot w/
L-foot free (girl opposite).
Patterns progress toward dance-line unless indicated otherwise.
Patterns may be danced to rhythms other than those described.
Adjust timing & step phrasing of patterns to desired rhythm.
Waltz or two-step patterns may apply to other rhythms. Two-step
[4/4 time Q, Q, S, - ;] patterns adapt to: rumba; polka; the
half-measure cha/cha, cha; etc.. Waltz patterns adapt to fox
trot rhythm, use the first two beats of fox trot music for the
slow first step. Fox trot patterns adapt to samba rhythm, dance
a double measure Fox trot pattern to a single samba measure i.e.:
Fox trot away-L, - , R, L; & Together-R, - , L, R; becomes samba:
Away-L, R/L, & together-R, L/R;
Terms & descriptions are listed in alphabet order, & contain
information on couple ballroom, social, round & square dancing.
Terms are not limited to current standard definitions. They
include past usage encountered in dance, literature and cue sheets.
Some terms are not recommended, but are included to provide means
to reckon w/ old references. Standardization is desirable for
communication between contemporary dancers, but neglects meanings
conveyed by archaic terms. Old definitions are preserved for
understanding past usage.
Copyright Information
Visitors of this ABC's of Round Dancing site are invited, and hereby granted Permission
to download or reprint text as written by Frederick W. HAURY in the ABCs of Round
Dancing, and to distribute the text for non-commercial purposes.
Words written by others and added to this ABC of RD edition may require permission
from those authors for permission to reprint.
ABC's of Round Dancing was originally copyrighted and Published 1988 by Frederick W.
HAURY. It is re-published here with the permission of the author.
Advance permission is not required for non-commercial use. Permission to use the material
in this document for commercial purposes usually is granted. However, commercial use may
require advance authorization.
Fred Haury