what-is-sequence-dancing

SEQUENCE DANCING AND SEQUENCE DANCE CLUBS?

Sequence dancing is ballroom dancing for couples where everyone dances the same routine. The routines (sequences) danced are in either the classical old time, modern or latin idiom. The most popular dances are usually: for the classical sequence: tangos, saunters swings and blues, for the modern: waltzes, quicksteps, foxtrots and tangos and for the latin: rumbas, cha cha cha’s, jives and mambos. All the dances take up 16 bars of music and nobody bumps into anyone else because everyone is doing the same thing at the same time. The dance steps are all fairly easy and with the minimum of effort become very enjoyable to do. Competitions are run throughout the year to find new dances and these are circulated to all the sequence dance clubs in the U.K. where a good proportion of the new dances are taught. The big advantage of sequence dancing is that wherever you go in the country you will know a good part of the programme before you arrive.

If you go along to a sequence dancing club the first thing you will realise is that all the dances have names. If you cannot connect the name to the dance, then no matter, because all clubs have floor leaders and it is their job to show the first sequence of the dance. The comment is usually: “Oh! It’s that one.” It is then fairly easy to join in with everyone else. The clubs are very sociable and a great place to meet people. You are always made welcome.

The club programme usually includes a regular weekly club night along with the so called Saturday Night Dances and Sunday Afternoon Tea Dances where members of other clubs are invited to join in. The club night usually has dancing interspersed with instruction on a new dance, a break for refreshments and a raffle. A typical evening lasts 2 ½ hours. The dress code is traditionally casual on club nights, smart casual at the weekend dances with recorded music and very smart dress with live music. The club leader will usually wear a dinner jacket for the latter.