Creating a group routine in Run a Dance Studio on Roblox requires coordinating dancer placements, assigning individual move tracks, and setting up smooth formation transitions. Following the Routine Creator overhaul and September updates from developer Dance Interactive, players can now create multi-dancer pieces with independent choreography rather than forcing every performer into identical animations.
This guide walks through every step to build, choreograph, and save a functional group routine for regular competitions and the weekly Roblox Awards.
Step 1: Open the Routine Menu and Select Your Settings
To start choreographing, click on the Routines icon from the main studio menu bar and select the option to create a new routine.
- Name your routine: Click the title field and enter a name. Make sure the name avoids words flagged by the Roblox chat filter, as filtered text can appear as hashtags during competition scoring.
- Choose your routine format: Select your desired format. The system offers Solo, DUO (exactly two dancers), TRIO (exactly three dancers), and Group formats.
- Select a music track: Choose a song from the library of 35+ unlockable tracks (such as Dance Off, Mountain Race, or Distortion). Note that current game mechanics do not allow swapping a song on a saved routine without re-recording movements, so select a track that aligns with the competition style you want to enter.
Step 2: Set Initial Stage Formations
Once the track loads, you will be taken to the stage interface to place your performers.
- Click on the stage grid to position your dancers across the front, center, or back of the stage.
- Keep sufficient spacing between your performers so dancer character models do not clip into each other during wider movement animations.
- If you have a primary dancer or lead soloist within the group, position them centrally so the camera captures them clearly.
Step 3: Assign Different Moves Using Groups
In early builds of the game, every dancer in a group performed identical moves simultaneously. With the Routine Creator updates, you can give different dancers unique choreographic phrases by using the Groups system inside the routine editor:
- Click the Add Group button to create distinct choreographic tracks (for example, Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3).
- Navigate to the Dance Moves tab.
- Select a group and add animations along the timeline from the 19+ available moves across poses, choreography, jumps, turns, and leg holds. You can click the plus sign (+) to add a move, use the Swap function to change an animation, or drag items on the timeline to reorder phrases.
- Switch to the next group and assign different moves to that timeline.
- Once your movement phrases are built, switch back to the Groups tab and select Add Group Change.
- Assign each dancer on stage to their corresponding group number so the editor knows which dancer performs which movement track.
- Click Save to lock in your group assignments.
Step 4: Add Formation Changes and Transitions
Static choreography looks incomplete against competitive studio rosters. Update 1 added the ability to implement multiple formations within a single routine:
- Move your timeline marker to the point in the song where you want dancers to change positions.
- Click Add Formation.
- Select and drag your dancers across the stage grid into their new positions (such as shifting from a horizontal line into a clump or floor formation).
- Set the transition duration using the on-screen slider. You can set transitions to be quick (such as 2 seconds) or extend them up to 8 seconds depending on the pacing of the track.
Step 5: Fine-Tune Timing with Speed and Crop Controls
Choreographers can use timing controls to synchronize movements to the rhythm of the track without having to re-record phrases from scratch:
| Tool | Function | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Speed Up | Accelerates the movement animation | Fast-tempo sections and rapid beat hits |
| Slow Down | Extends the movement's duration | Dramatic pauses, holds, and lyrical styling |
| Crop | Trims the start or end frame of a move | Tightening phrase transitions and clean cutoffs |
Use these adjustments on individual dancers to prevent awkward animation resets and ensure all group members finish their combinations on time.
Step 6: Save, Costume, and Enter Competitions
After reviewing your dance:
- Click Save and Exit (or Save) to write the choreography to your studio's saved slots. Note that the base game includes limited save slots, while the optional Routine Creator Gamepass (799 Robux) expands capacity up to 10 saved routines.
- Open the Wardrobe menu to open the Designer and assemble a matching two-tone costume set for your group.
- Open the Compete menu, select an upcoming competition schedule slot, select your participating dancers, attach your saved routine, and apply your saved costume.
Entering group competitions is essential for progress: earning a placement in both one Solo Nationals and one Group Nationals is the confirmed qualification requirement to enter the 24-entrant weekly Roblox Awards lobby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my dancers performing the same moves despite adding new groups?
You must explicitly assign each performer after creating groups. After adding choreography to Group 1, Group 2, or Group 3, go to the Groups tab, click Add Group Change, assign each individual dancer to their specific group number, and click Save.
Can I change the music track after finishing choreography?
No. There is currently no in-game tool to swap audio on an existing routine. If you want a routine set to a different track, you must create a new routine and place the choreography again.
What is the difference between TRIO and Group routines?
A TRIO routine requires exactly three dancers and has its own dedicated competition category. Group routines accommodate larger ensembles and count toward the Group Nationals qualification requirement needed for Roblox Awards.
