What is Round Dancing? Basically, it is choreographed social or ballroom dancing. The dancing is performed in a circle or oval around the dance floor - hence the name Round Dancing.

Round Dancing began in the 1940's and 1950's and at that time dancers memorized the dance routines. However, as the number of choreographed dances increased it became too onerous to commit all the dances to memory. So, a dance cuer (similar to a "caller" in Square Dancing) started to direct the dancers on the floor. All going well, dancers move in the same direction performing the same steps or figures.

As in ballroom dancing, there are different rhythms - two step, waltz, fox trot, jive, as well as Latin dances like the cha cha and rumba. Round Dancing is broken down into phases or levels - beginning Phases I and II introduce waltz and two step rhythms. Subsequent Phases add new rhythms and complexity in the figures. Phase VI is the highest level. The CueSteps Round Dance Club currently runs classes from Phase I through IV+.

The cuer/instructor couple for our CueSteps Club is Ron and Donna Baba from Medicine Hat. Ron and Donna have been teaching and cueing Round Dancing for over 40 years and are the recipients of several Provincial and Canadian Association awards of excellence and service.