Dance Steps Online

Abbreviations

Definitions

Across - The foot position where one foot crosses over the path of the other foot.

Amalgamation - A combination of two or more figures.

Apart - Any dance position in which the man and the lady have no point of contact.

Balance - Correct body weight distribution when dancing.

Basic Figure - A figure or pattern which constitutes the basis of a specific dance.

Brush - The action when one foot closes with the second foot without changing weight from the supporting foot.

Chassé - A figure comprised of three steps. The feet are closed on the second step.

Chassé Turn (or Closed Turn) - A turn in which the feet close on the second or third step.

Contrary Body Movement (or Contra Body Movement) - The action of turning the opposite hip and shoulder towards the direction of the leg which is moving.

Contrary Body Movement Position (or Contra Body Movement Position) - The position of the body when either foot is positioned across the back or front of the body without the body turning.

Fallaway Position - The position in which the man and lady move backward in Promenade Position.

Figure - A grouping of steps.

Footwork - The part of the foot which is in contact with the floor at a specific point in time.

Heel Pivot - A turn on the heel of a single foot in which there is no weight change.

Heel Pull - A Heel Turn used by the man in which the feet may be kept apart instead of being closed.

Heel Turn - A turn on the heel of the foot which is stepping while the closing foot is kept parallel throughout and the weight being transferred to the closing foot at the end of the turn.

Hesitation - A figure in which movement is stopped for more than one count and all the weight is born on a single foot.

Hover - Part of a figure or pattern in which the turning and/or moving of the body is checked. The feet remain almost stationary.

Line of Dance - The direction of movement that is parallel to the walls and moves counter clockwise around the room.

Natural Turn - A turn to the right.

Open Turn - A turn where the third step passes the second step instead of closing.

Outside Partner - A lady or a man taking a step to the right of their partner putting them in a position “outside” instead of in front of their partner.

Pivot - A turn made on the ball of the foot.

Poise - The body position relative to the position of the feet.

Promenade Position - The body position where the man’s right side and lady’s left side are kept in close contact forming a “V” shape with the feet turned in the same direction as the body.

Quick - A step which occupies half the time of a slow step.

Reverse Turn - A turn the the left.

Rhythm - The beat value or values of notes and accents in a piece of music.

Rise and Fall - The changing of the body’s elevation through the use of the legs, ankles and feet.

Step - One movement of one of the feet.

Sway - One movement of one of the feet.

Swivel - A turn on the ball of the weighted foot.

Tempo - The speed of the music.

Time - The number of beats that are in a bar of music.

Variation - A figure or pattern which is non-standard or non-syllabus.