Frequently Asked Questions – Convention 2026
What is special about this year’s convention? This year we celebrate 50 years of ROUNDALAB Conventions. There will be special events and recognitions celebrating our history.
Important information and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the ROUNDALAB (RAL) convention. This information may also be found on the RAL website homepage under the Convention tab.
What are the dates of the 2026 RAL convention?
RAL will begin on Sunday, June 21, 2025 with an evening reception. This reception is casual and there is no dancing. The RAL convention then continues all day (approximately 8 am to 10:30 pm) on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. There will be no Thursday events. The last general assembly meeting will happen prior to the Award Dinner and Anniversary Dance on Wednesday,June 24.
When should you plan to arrive?
Most attendees will arrive the afternoon of Sunday, June 21 and leave the morning of Thursday, June 25 (unless you are staying for the 75th NSDC). Board members need to arrive on Saturday, June 20 to be ready for meetings all day Sunday.
What is the location of the 2026 RAL convention? The Hilton Waco and Waco Convention Center.
What is the hotel room rate for the RAL convention? Waco Hilton Riverfront Hotel – primary site for ROUNDALAB. 113 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76701 Phone: (254) 754-8484 There are no rooms available in the room block. There may be commercial rooms available. Courtyard by Marriott is right across the street from the Hilton. 101 Washington Ave, Waco, TX 76701 Phone: 254-759-5516 There are no rooms available in the room block. There may be commercial rooms available. Cambria Hotel Waco University Riverfront 0.7 miles from convention site – shuttle available. 110 S M.L.K. Jr Blvd Building A, Waco, TX 76704 Phone: (254) 347-5511. There are no rooms available in the room block. There may be commercial rooms available. Comfort Inn and Suites – 2 miles from the convention site. ROUNDALAB room block available but you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from the site. 810 I35 N, Waco, Texas, 76705 Phone: 254-799-7272 (may answer as Orchid Hotel, double check when you get an operator). A link to the reservations page is under “CONVENTIONS” at the ROUNDALAB home page. The base room rate is $99.00
Hotel amenities: Hilton Waco offers free Wi-Fi, free parking, digital key, EV charging, and is non-smoking.
Is there an airport shuttle? Hilton Waco offers a free airport shuttle.
Is there a charge for parking my vehicle at the hotel? Complimentary self-parking is included with your reservation.
How is RAL different than other conventions? RAL focuses on educating the round dance cuer/ teacher. Although the instruction is directed toward the cuer/teacher, many non-cuer/teacher round dancers attend RAL frequently and find it to be a great experience. They learn information and techniques at RAL that are not presented in any other convention. We encourage all round dancers to attend.
Can I register for only part of the RAL convention? No, RAL does not offer a per-day registration. You must register for the entire convention regardless of how many of the daytime sessions you attend. You may, however, attend only the evening dances and pay at the door ($10 per dancer) for those dances without attending the rest of the convention.
How do I make a hotel reservation for RAL? Hotel reservation information may be found under “CONVENTION” at the www.roundalab.org. There are many hotel options available but the primary room blocks are all sold out.
Why should I make the hotel reservation through ROUNDALAB if I can find a better rate? Hotel reservations in the RAL room block help pay for the convention. By registering with ROUNDALAB, you are helping keep the cost of the convention registration as low as possible for everyone.
Do I have to stay at the convention hotel in order to attend the RAL convention? No, there is no requirement that you stay at the convention hotel. However, the RAL convention receives credit toward rental of the meeting/ dancing space based upon hotel rooms used by our convention attendees.
What is included in the RAL convention fee? The convention registration includes the opening night reception, three-and-a-half days of education sessions by leading round dance instructors, business meetings (which can be very educational and are the heart of RAL), three evening dances on a beautiful wood floor, six refreshment breaks, the Awards Banquet, digital education syllabus, all convention materials, networking with round dance leaders from around the world and much more.
Where does my ROUNDALAB convention registration money go? For the past several conventions, 100% of your collected fees go to expenses for the convention. ROUNDALAB subsidizes the balance of the expenses to help keep costs down.
Will I have education choices at ROUNDALAB? Yes! There will be up to three concurrent educational opportunities for each time slot. Typically, any time there is a session that is dedicated to cueing, there is also a simultaneous session or two that is not dedicated to cueing. There are sessions for all phases and experience levels. One of the most common “complaints” is that people had to choose between multiple sessions that they wanted to attend. Sometimes couples split up and attend two sessions at the same time and then share what they learned with each other later.
What is the suggested attire for ROUNDALAB? Daytime is casual attire, although we request no halter tops, shorts, etc. Evening dances are casual attire or round dance attire, as desired. Many dress up for the awards banquet, but that is not required.
Should I purchase the meal package for the RAL convention? YES! Sharing meals together is one of the best features of the RAL convention. Sit with Board members and cuers and teachers from all over the world. Make new and lasting friends, connect with friends you have not seen for a while. You will also have a seat ready when you are ready to eat, you won’t need to find a restaurant (make a reservation, wait in line, etc.) Also, the meal package helps RAL meet our Food and Beverage requirements, which helps lower convention fees and improves our nightly room rate.
What if I have special meal needs? The hotel can accommodate special meal requests. Be sure to include special needs on your registration form. If you have questions, please contact the RAL office.
How about breakfast? Breakfast may or may not be included with your hotel reservation. Please inquire of your hotel what their breakfast options are.
Can someone come to the awards banquet if they are not attending the RAL convention? Yes, sometimes parents, children, friends of convention attendees wish to attend the awards banquet. Contact the office for further details. Banquet tickets must be purchased in advance. Deadline is May 21.
What if I have further questions? That one is easy, simply contact the RAL office at roundalab@roundalab.org or call 1-877-Y-I-DANCE (943-2623). The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm, Eastern Time.
Will we see you at the RAL convention? We hope so!