So what is Sequence Dancing?  

Every Sequence Dance Forum sets out to explain what Sequence Dancing is. For those  people who know nothing of Sequence Dancing and visiting our Sequence Dance Magazine Forum for the first time, its signature gives nothing away. With the full permission of  TW Whitworth and his book The History of Sequence Dancing and script lists, I try to define Sequence Dancing and  its popularity with the dancing public, and its relationship to the beautiful and very stylistic Ballroom Dancing.

Ballroom dancing and Sequence Dancing use the same dances and figures. Ballroom experts can dance Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango and Quickstep by linking together thier own figures to make a freestyle routine unique to them. Depending on their depth of  knowledge the combinations they use might change their routine  every time they take the floor. Equally popular is Latin Dancing, Rumba, Cha, Samba, Mambo and Jive and we dance everyone of these in Sequence Dancing.

As Strictly Come Dancing has shown, the formal discipline and style of Ballroom Dancing is exacting but, looks exciting and beautiful to watch. Men and women, after seeing their favourite celebrities practicing their dance routines for Saturday nighs show, are filling schools across the country. Hang on did I not described Ballroom Dancing as  Freestyle dancing where the lady is supposed to be so clever she can read the mans mind and dance his chosen steps backwards?

Despair not, very few people are able to follow a partner doing more than the very basic ballroom steps. Even Fred Astair and Ginger Rodgers practiced their routines for hours before they went on stage.The fact is that learning a routine is a easier way to learn to dance, as it eliminates the need to learn dance theoy. Both Ballroom and Sequence teachers pass on their knowledge and skills through set routines whether on the competition floor or at a Social Sequence Dance. Teachers demonstrate and the class follows.

The routines the celebrities dance on Strictly, are constructed  by linking Ballroom figures together to fit a 90second timeslot of music. Sequence Dancing has similar restrictions, but this time the routine must start and finish within sixteen bars of music. Why sixteen bars you ask? Well,  Sequence Dancing came from the Old Time School where  dances were traditionally danced and repeated every 16,24 or 32 bars. Todays arranger will put  figures together to create a dance within the sixteen bars of music and perform their routines in front of judges, at one of the dozen or so Sequence Dance Competitions held each year. These are great events for the beginner to visit to see Sequence  danced at its very best.

 If  arrangers are lucky enough to win with their dance, the dance will become one of those adopted and danced across the world. Each dance has it own unique name and most have been listed in Peter and Diane’s www.modernsequencedancing.co.uk  website. Any new dance, worthy of that title will have its own unique combination of figures in a sixteen bar sequence, which gives the general dancer the opportunity to learn more than just a new dance but also new figures. Everyone at the dance dances the same routine at the same time, so if you have learned the dance, you never need to worry when a stranger asks you to dance. Some routines are danced for years, others are danced and immediately forgotten.

Sequence Dance Competitions are run under the rules and regulations of the British Dance Council, but Sequence Dancing has no formal governing board. It has run for many years on very little money and very little advertising but because of its popularity  Sequence Dancing has its own music, and culture. The dance script is its bible and the teachers reference manual. As a dance form Sequence Dancing may not be as beautiful to watch as Ballroom Dancing so does not attract the attention of the media  but, that has never affected its popularity. There are Sequence Dances right across the world and we hope this forum can give you a single access to the information you are looking for.

If you are a looking to come into dancing and want to Ballroom Dance consider whether you want to dance competitively or socially. Excellent Dance Schools across the country are training dancers of all ages for their competitive circuits. If you want to go dancing as part of your social experience Sequence Dancing is the quick and easy way to get onto the floor and dance. Of course there is also the 50/50 option where the dance organiser offers dancing from a favourite selection of basic ballroom and classic sequence dances. Group classes are quite cheap and great fun.  Many of our dance leaders have their own websites but, if you are not familiar with the names, searching for the information you require can be difficult. Here we will give you the links to the websites that can help you,  and teachers themselves can tell you exactly  what they can offer.