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Come Dancing in sequence

~ a review of sequence dance CDs ~

 

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 Statistics

 

 

The information presented below may not be of wide interest but is recorded here for weirdos like myself who are fascinated by numbers!

 

Track Length/Tempo/Sequence

 

The theoretical track lengths for a given number of sequences are given in Table 1.  This table assumes that each track has a 4-bar introduction, is in sequence throughout, and has the exact bpm stated.  The bpm given for each dance is that most commonly specified.  The times highlighted in red are those for the median (most commonly occurring) number of sequences (see below).  Many of the CDs assessed fitted in well with these data, agreement to within a few seconds reflecting the care taken in playing, recording and mastering the music.

 

Table 1: Track lengths for given number of sequences, allowing for a 4-bar introduction

 

Dance

bpm

Number of sequences in track

 

1

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

 

Gavotte

24

0:50

2:50

3:30

4:10

4:50

4:90

 

 

 

 

 

Polka

24

0:50

2:50

3:30

4:10

4:50

4:90

 

 

 

 

 

Rumba

26

0:46

2:37

3:14

3:51

4:28

5:05

 

 

 

 

 

Saunter

28

0:43

2:26

3:00

3:34

4:09

4:43

 

 

 

 

 

Blues

29

0:41

2:21

2:54

3:27

4:00

4:33

 

 

 

 

 

Foxtrot

30

0:40

2:16

2:48

3:20

3:52

4:24

4:56

 

 

 

 

Waltz

30

0:40

2:16

2:48

3:20

3:52

4:24

4:56

 

 

 

 

Cha Cha

32

0:38

2:08

2:38

3:08

3:38

4:08

4:38

 

 

 

 

Tango

32

0:38

2:08

2:38

3:08

3:38

4:08

4:38

 

 

 

 

Stroll

34

0:35

2:00

2:28

2:56

3:25

3:53

4:21

 

 

 

 

Jive

35

0:34

1:57

2:24

2:51

3:19

3:46

4:14

 

 

 

 

Calypso

36

0:33

1:53

2:20

2:47

3:13

3:40

4:07

 

 

 

 

Salsa

36

0:33

1:53

2:20

2:47

3:13

3:40

4:07

 

 

 

 

Bossa Nova

40

0:30

1:42

2:06

2:30

2:54

3:18

3:42

4:06

 

 

 

Mambo

41

0:29

1:40

2:03

2:26

2:50

3:13

3:37

4:00

 

 

 

Quickstep

48

0:25

1:25

1:45

2:05

2:25

2:45

3:05

3:25

3:45

4:05

 

Swing

48

0:25

1:25

1:45

2:05

2:25

2:45

3:05

3:25

3:45

4:05

 

Samba

52

0:23

1:18

1:37

1:55

2:14

2:32

2:51

3:09

3:28

3:46

 

NV Waltz

55

0:22

1:14

1:32

1:49

2:07

2:24

2:41

2:59

3:16

3:34

 

V. Waltz

60

0:20

1:08

1:24

1:40

1:56

2:12

2:28

2:44

3:00

3:16

 

Paso

62

0:19

1:06

1:21

1:37

1:52

2:08

2:23

2:39

2:54

3:10

 

The number of 16-bar sequences in each individual track varied widely (Table 2).  For most dances the median number of sequences was six.  As might be expected, the number of sequences in a track tends to increase with increasing tempo, especially at tempos of 48 bpm and above.  However, there appears to be little justification for more than eight sequences with these faster dances.  The mean number of sequences for each dance is now changing little as more CDs are reviewed (as at (19/02/08).  With about half the dances the mean number of sequences is roughly 5.5 which suggests that there is no over-riding preference by artists/producers for either five or six sequences.

 

Table 2: Frequency of tracks with given number of sequences in each track

 

Dance

Number of sequences in track

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12