| Bob Curran (Instructor) | Jeannie Woolman (Instr/Choreog) |
| Trevor & Josephine Batten (Instr/Choreog) |
Critical Revisions Provided Courtesy Of:
| Pete McCracken (Instructor) | Charlotte Skeeters (Instr/Choreog) |
& Paul Bottomer (Four Times World & European Argentine Tango Champion)
Some differences of interpretation in respect of step patterns contained within the glossary remain unresolved. These differences may either be due to corruptions of dance patterns or may legitimately fall within the parameters of artistic licence.
"&" The ampersand symbol in dance descriptions is used to denote 1/2 (half) a beat of music or a quick count in between standard beats of music
45 Feet together, weight on left, Touch Right heel
forward at a 45 degree angle and replace together.
The term "45" is widely used by Australian
Choreographers.
ACROBATIC A move where a dancer's body, leg or foot passes
over your partner's head (Check your Liability
Insurance).
AERIAL A move where a dancer's feet or foot is raised
above your partner's shoulder or waist (Check your
Liability Insurance).
ACROSS LEFT Move your Right foot across in front of your left foot
ACROSS RIGHT Move your Left foot across in front of your right foot
ANGLE see DIAGONAL
ANKLE ROCK Shifting your weight from one foot to another whilst
your ankles are crossed. Also called by ANKLE ROLL in
Australia.
ANKLE ROLL See ANKLE ROCK
APPLEJACK (R) With the weight on the heel of your left foot and
ball of your right foot, twist right heel to left
instep while turning both toes out and return to
centre position
(L) With weight on heel of right foot and ball of left
foot, twist left heel to right instep while turning
both toes out and return to centre position.
BALL CHANGE A change of weight from the ball of one foot to the
ball of the other foot
BOOGIE see HIP BOOGIE
BOOGIE WALK Move your free leg by lifting your hip and stepping
forward
BOOT HOOK See HOOK
BOX STEP See JAZZ BOX and also explanatory description Jazz Square
in Section 5.0A.
BPM Beats Per Minute. Calculated by determining the number
of beats in a 60 second timeframe. For further
information on BPM and BPM counters see Section 12
of the FAQ.
BREAK A Change Or Reverse Of Direction
BRONCO With weight on your left, touch right toe to right
side. Hitch right knee in front of left knee. You
can slap your right knee with your left hand if
you wish. This term is widely used in Australia.
BRONCO TWIST Another Australian Dance Term:
(R) With weight on your left heel and ball of your
right foot twist heels to the right side and return
to centre position.
(L) With weight on your right heel and ball of your
left foot twist heels to the left side and return
to centre position.
BRUSH A smooth swing of the leg to the front or back. As the
leg swings, the foot lightly brushes the floor. Since
a brush takes one count and leaves the foot in the air,
another move/count is required to return the foot to
the floor
BRUSH UP An Australian term used to describe a right or left
foot step move as follows. For a Brush Up (R):
Feet together, touch Right heel forward at a 45 degree
angle, lift to left shin, touch heel forward at 45
degree angle and replace together.
BUMP Dancers bump hips to the side or with their partner
See also HIP SWIVEL
BUTTERFLY See HEEL SPLITS
BUTTERMILKS See HEEL SPLITS
CAMEL WALK Move the knee of your weighted leg forward by raising
your heel off the floor and then returning it to the
floor (A KNEE POP). Then follow this by stepping
forward with your free leg whilst keeping your knee
straight.
Australian Variation:
Step forward at 45 degrees onto right foot thrusting
right hip forward, drag left foot together with hand
clap straightening body.
CAPE POSITION Woman stands to the right of the man. The man holds
the woman's left hand with his left hand in front of
the woman's left shoulder. The man crosses his right
arm behind the woman and holds her right hand with
his right hand in front of the woman's right shoulder.
The man's arm is held just above the woman's shoulder.
The couple face the line of dance. Also called by
SWEETHEART POSITION, OPEN SOCIAL POSITION, PROMENADE
POSITION or SIDE OPEN POSITION.
Variation Of The Sweetheart/Side-By-Side Position
Dancers are side by side with the lady to the right
and "slightly in front of the man". The man's right
arm extends across the lady's back with the right
forearm resting lightly on the lady's right shoulder
and the man's right fingertips touching the lady's
right fingertips with her right hand raised to
shoulder level, palm facing forward. The lady's left
arm is extended to the left in front of the man with
her left hand (palm down) resting in the man's left
hand (palm up) almost "directly in front of the man's
belt buckle". In this position, with the lady
slightly in front of the man and with a space between
partners, the lady has room to turn, spin or step
sideways without bumping or interfering with the man.
CBM Contra Body Movement
CENTRE Both feet together with toes pointing forward.
CHA CHA STEP A CHA CHA STEP involes a Contra hip movement (Cuban
Hip) and is more of a weight change than a foot
movement, although foot movement can occur. A CHA
CHA CHA and a SHUFFLE are not interchangeable. They
are two distinctly different steps done in the same
rhythm (1 & 2 or 3 & 4). However, the terms CHA CHA
CHA & SHUFFLE are sometimes confusingly used to mean
the same thing so be warned! See also SHUFFLE
For additional explanatory information see also
Shuffle and Cha Cha Section 5.0A.
CHA CHA CHA See CHA CHA STEP & SHUFFLE
For additional explanatory information see also
Shuffle and Cha Cha Section 5.0A.
CHANGE OF WEIGHT Moving the weight from your weighted leg to your
free leg
CHARLESTON A 4-count step pattern. The pattern is step forward
with the left foot, kick the right foot forward, step
back on the right foot, touch the left toe behind, or
vice versa, while swivelling the feet in and out.
CHICKENS See HEEL SPLITS
CHUG A scoot forward or sideways on one foot while the other
foot is held in a raised position. Also called a SCOOT,
SKOOCH or a HOP.
CLOSE To bring the feet together without a change of weight
COASTER STEPS Rock forward on your right foot, rock back on your
left foot and then do a small cha cha cha
backwards (R,L,R). Simply reverse this for a left
foot Coaster Step.
CONTRA DANCE A progressive social dance to live old-time reels &
jigs in sets made of several minor sets of two couples
each. A 64-beat dance of square dance-like figures is
performed in the minor set, after which each couple
progresses to make new minor sets, and the dance
repeats. For further information see Section 12A.
In Line Dancing the term "Contra Line Dance" is used
to describe a dance in which two lines of dancers face
each other. The term "Contra", a Latin prefix,
literally means against or opposed to. The French and
German equivalents being "Contre" and "Kontra"
respectively.
CONTREDANSE French Country Dance reaching its height of popularity
in the 18th Century.
COUNT Used to describe the "Counting" of foot movements,
weight changes or beats of music.
CPB Centre Point Of Balance
CROSS The free foot will step across in front or behind
the opposite foot. A CROSS STEP is most generally
accepted as stepping across "In Front" of the other
foot. If the foot goes behind the other foot, the most
accepted call is a "HOOK" (don't confuse with a boot
hook where the foot is raised in front of the other
shin).
CROSS-BALL-CHANGE See SAILOR STEP description (Section 5.0A)
CUBAN HIP See CHA CHA STEP
CW Clock Wise (To Your Right!)
CCW Counter Clock Wise (To Your Left!)
DEWEY STEP See JAZZ BOX and also explanatory description Jazz Square
in Section 5.0A.
DIAGONAL A Diagonal or Angle denotes an angle of 45 degrees from
the forward or backward point of starting the dance.
DIG A hard touch of the heel or toe of the unweighted
foot to the floor as if "digging" a shallow hole with
the foot
DRAG Slowly move your free foot next to your supporting
foot. Also called by DRAW. See also SLIDE STEP.
DRAW See DRAG & SLIDE STEP
DOROTHY CLICKS Just Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz click your
heels twice. With weight on the toes of both feet,
quickly swivel heels out and back together with a
click. These clicks are quick. Two clicks to one
beat of music.
ELECTRIC KICKS Essentially a "Hip Hop" movement involving both
steps & weight changes:
1. Step back on your right foot
2. Rock forward replacing weight on your left foot
3. Step forward on your right foot
4. Rock back replacing weight on your right foot
DOUBLE ELECTRIC KICKS:
1. Step back on your right foot & at the same time
lift your left foot up
&. Step forward on your left foot & at the same
time lift your right foot up
2. Step forward on your right foot & at the same
time lift your left foot up
&. Step back on your left foot & at the same time
lift your right foot up
3. Step back on your right foot & at the same time
lift your left foot up
&. Step forward on your left foot & at the same time
lift your right foot up
4. Step forward on your right foot & at the same time
lift your left foot up
FAN BRUSH A brush where the free leg swings diagonally across
the weighted foot then sweeps around in a circular
motion back to the free leg side before moving on
to the next step
FANS (TOE) With weight on the heel of one or both feet move
toe(s) to side and return to centre. This movement is
like the opening and closing of a fan
Australian Variation
With feet together, turn right toe out to right
side, twist both heels to the right, twist both
heels back to the centre position and bring right
toe together to centre position.
FAST LANE A dance floor is usually divided into concentric
lanes, with the outside lane being described as the
"FAST" lane. This is usually occupied by Two Step
and Waltz dancers. Depending on the size of the dance
floor there may also be an "INNER" lane for slower
dances (Schottische). If you are doing a slow dance,
stay in this inner lane and let other dancers pass
you on the outside. The closer you go to the center,
the slower you may go. Line and Swing dancers are
usually located in the "CENTRE" of the floor. For
further information see Dance Floor Etiquette.
FLARE Keeping heel on the floor move toe out to the side
and then back in
FLICK Lifting your foot whilst bending the leg at the knee
FREEZE A Universal Challenge By A Law Enforcement Officer.
It Means Exactly What Its Says. STOP & DO NOT MOVE.
See Also HOLD.
FRIEZE Another term widely used by Australian Choreographers.
Better known as a GRAPEVINE.
For a Frieze to the Right:
Step right foot to right, cross left foot behind right
foot, step right foot to the right & hitch the left
knee or touch left foot together.
Simply reverse the above for a Frieze to the left.
GRAPEVINE A three step pattern (usually) used to move sideways
across the dance floor. The pattern is characterised
by the grapevine like path the feet trace on the
dance floor. The step is performed by stepping to one
side, leading with the foot on the side of the
direction of travel, followed by crossing the opposite
foot behind the lead foot, followed by bringing the
lead foot back to a normal position. If the pattern is
continued, then the opposite foot is crossed in front
of the lead foot. In dance steps, the direction of
travel is called with the term, example GRAPEVINE
LEFT. Also called by VINE & in Australia by FRIEZE.
See Also GRAPEVINE & TOUCH Section 5.0A
HEEL-BALL-CHANGE This step move is usually perfomed in place:
1. Touch heel forward
&. Quickly change weight to opposite foot
2. Quickly change weight back to starting foot
HEEL FAN With feet together move the heel of one foot out to
the side and then back together
HEEL SHIFTS Starting with your feet together and weight on the
balls of your feet move both your heels to the
right or to the left.
HEEL SPLITS A separating of the heels by swivelling on the balls
of the feet, which are together at the start of the
Heel Split. Also called by BUTTERMILKS, BUTTERFLIES,
CHICKENS, HEEL SPREADS, PIGEONS, PIGEON TOES,
SCISSORS, SPLITS, SWIVELS, SWIVETTES, TEXAS SPREAD.
HEEL SPREADS See HEEL SPLITS
HEEL STOMPS Raise the heels of both feet off the floor by
bending at the knees and then return heels to the
floor. Usually counted as "&1" and performed to
one beat of music.
HIP BOOGIE A swinging motion of the hips from front to back or
from center to front or back. Also swinging one hip
in the same manner to produce a diagonal motion. The
appropriate hip is called with the step. Also called
by BOOGIE
HIP BUMP See HIP SWIVEL
HIP SWING See HIP SWIVEL
HIP SWIVEL A swinging motion of the hips from side to side. Also
called by HIP BUMP, HIP WIGGLE or HIP SWING.
HIP WIGGLE See HIP SWIVEL
HITCH A lifting of one leg with the knee bent so the lower
leg hangs straight down. This can be combined with a
scoot or a turn.
See Also Hitch Section 5.0A
HITCH KICK A Kick and a Ball Change to the counts of 1 & 2
HOLD No movement whilst waiting for the next step or beat
of music
HOME The Home Position Is Left Foot Beside Right Foot
ie. Your Original Starting Place
HOOK The unweighted foot is swung in front or back of the
weighted foot so as to form a hook shape at the knee
and is held in this position usually for the duration
of the count, eg. Lift your heel up bending your knee
and almost touching about mid shinbone on the opposite
leg. You will see some people touch their kneecap or
even overshoot their leg altogether, but it is still a
hook. A Hook is often used as part of a 4 count
Combination move, for example:
1. Touch your right heel forward
2. Hook your left foot over the right knee
3. Touch your left heel in front
4. Step together
This Step Pattern is called by BRUSH-UP in Australia.
HOP A simple jump into the air from the weighted foot and
landing on the same foot
JAZZ BOX A three, four or five step box pattern involving at
least one step across a weight bearing foot
See also explanatory description Jazz Square
in Section 5.0A.
JAZZ SQUARES See JAZZ BOX (See also Jazz Square Section 5.0A)
JUMP Leaping into the air off both feet and landing on
both feet
JUMPING JACKS 1. Jump into the air landing with feet apart
&. Jump into the air landing with feet together
KICK BALL CHANGE A quick three step pattern usually done in two
beats of the music characterised by a small kick
forward of one foot. That foot is immediately set
back down beside the stationary foot and weight
is transferred to the ball of the kicking foot
while slightly lifting the stationary foot and
immediately transferring the weight back to the
stationary foot
This Step Move is amply demonstrated by the
following, submitted by Paul Bottomer Four Times
Latin American Dance World Champion.
The Kick Ball Change is a 3 step movement that
occurs over two beats of music requiring a split
beat rhythm of 3/4, 1/4, 1 (Three quarters, One
quarter, One). Either foot may be used:
Step 1 The lower leg is flicked forward from
the flexed knee
Step 2 The free foot (having flicked) is moved
under the body and slightly further back
than the standing foot. Only the ball of
the foot is used.
Step 3 The opposite foot is then lifted just
clear of the floor and the weight
replaced onto it.
See Also Kick Ball Change Section 5.0A
KNEE POP Move your left or right knee forward and then
backwards by raising and lowering your heel
from and back to the floor
LINE OF DANCE (LOD) Line Of Dance/Direction In Which You Travel.
The imaginary line around the dance floor
followed when doing speciality dances, two-steps
and waltzes. The LOD is usually Counter Clockwise
around the dance floor. Dances which travel
clockwise around the dance floor are described as
travelling "against the line of dance".
LOCK STEP Step forward and slide the unweighted foot up to the
opposite side of the weighted foot ending with the
ankles crossed
LOUIE LOUIE With feet 12 inches apart and with your weight on
both feet, swivel your heels apart then, with your
weight still on the balls of both feet, swivel your
left heel to your right and your right heel to
your left (your left heel should be slightly in
front of your right heel). Bend your knees slightly
during this step move.
MILITARY PIVOT See STEP TURN (See Also Military Pivot Turn Section 5.0A)
MILITARY TURN See STEP TURN (See Also Military Pivot Turn Section 5.0A)
MONTEREY TURN See MONTEREY SPINS/TURNS Section 5.0A.
NC2S Nightclub two-step, sometimes called "California" or
"L.A." two-step, is a slow, soft, romantic dance that
has a simple "Quick Quick Slow" (QQS) rhythm with a
moderate accent on the downbeat (odd numbered dance
counts) and a very strong accent on the backbeat
(even numbered dance counts). It's typically counted
"One and TWO, Three and FOUR" and is performed to
"light rock" music. The dance was developed in the
early 1980's by Buddy Schwimmer, a prominent California
dance pro and has achieved reasonable but not
overwhelming popularity in the ballroom community over
the last decade. For further information see Section 12A.
OPEN SOCIAL POSITION See CAPE POSITION
PIGEON TOES See HEEL SPLITS
PIGEONS See HEEL SPLITS
PIVOT See STEP TURN
POINT To point your free foot to the left, right, forwards,
backwards or crosswise
POLKA See SHUFFLE
POPCORN Usually done to two beats of music. Roll your knee
whilst keeping the ball of your foot in place. For
example for a POPCORN LEFT:
1. Roll your left knee in a semi circle to your
left
2. Roll your left knee in a semi circle beck to
the centre
Simply reverse the above for A POPCORN RIGHT
PROMENADE POSITION See CAPE POSITION
PROMENADE See SHUFFLE
PUSH STEP A STEP-BALL-CHANGE move to the left, right, forwards
or backwards.
QUICK STEP This is two steps to one beat of music. This step will
drive you crazy in Cha Cha's and shuffle steps found
in most all the dances. See also Two Step.
RHYTHM BREAK A Deliberate Break In The Music Accompanying The
Dance. Sometimes Dances Are "Cut At The Break" And
Will Finish At That Point. However Some Dances Have
Been Choreographed To The Whole Music "Track" Including
The "Breaks". In These Circumstances It Is Customary
To "Acknowledge The Break" And Then Continue With The
Dance
ROCK STEP A step either forward or backward followed by a weight
transfer back to the foot that remained in place
ROLLING GRAPEVINE A grapevine type pattern which incorporates a
-turn or more throughout the entire motion of
steps
RUNNING MAN 1. Step forward on your right foot
&. Scoot backwards on your right foot whilst
lifting your left knee
2. Step forward on your left foot
& Scoot backwards on your left foot whilst
lifting your right knee up
3. Step forward on your right foot
& Scoot backwards on your right foot whilst
lifting your left knee up
4. Step forward on your left foot
SAILOR STEP (See Sailor Step Section 5.0A)
SCISSOR STEP (See Scissor Step Section 5.0A)
SCISSORS See HEEL SPLITS
SCOOT See CHUG.
SCUFF A gentle kick forward while scuffing the heel on the
dance floor
SHADOW POSITION The man stands behind the lady, both facing the
same direction. The man holds the ladies right hand
in his right hand and her left hand in his left
hand
SHIMMY A left to right or right to left movement of the
shoulders and upper body. Essentially a style move.
Sometimes refered to as SHIMMIES.
SHUFFLE A quick three step pattern characterized by a short
step forward with one foot, sliding the other foot
alongside the first and another short step forward
with the first foot. The lead foot is called out in
the step, for example SHUFFLE LEFT would be a L-R-L
pattern. This step move is usually done to two
beats of music. Also called by CHA-CHA-CHA, CHA CHA
STEP, TRIPLE STEP, PROMENADE or POLKA
See also Shuffle and Cha Cha.
SIDE OPEN POSITION See CAPE POSITION
SKOOCH See CHUG.
SLAP A slap of a foot or knee with the opposite hand
SLIDE STEP To slowly bring the free foot back together with the
weighted foot by sliding, or dragging, it along the
floor. Do not lift the foot off the floor. Also called
a Drag or DRAW.
SPLITS See HEEL SPLITS
SQUIGGLE To Walk Your Foot To The Side In A Toe, Heel, Toe Motion
STAMP Similar to a stomp though not as loud and without a
weight transfer
STEP Transfering your weight from one foot to the other
STEP PIVOT See STEP TURN
STEP TURN A step forward with the weight on both feet followed by
a swivelling on the balls of the feet either a [ or
turn. The step is led with the opposite foot from the
intended direction of rotation, for example a Left Step
Turn would lead with a step forward on the right foot
then swivel to the left. Also called a PIVOT, MILITARY
PIVOT, MILITARY TURN & STEP-PIVOT.
STOMP A loud stomp of the foot on the floor with a weight
transfer to the stomping foot. However, the weight
could be evenly distributed over both feet if a
further step move is to follow immediately after the
Stomp
STRUT STEP A step forward onto the heel first then in exaggerated
fashion slap the ball of the foot down and transfer
weight to that foot. This step takes two counts, or
beats, of the music. Also called a WILLIE WALK. See
also TIPTOE STEP.
SUGAR FOOT A two count pattern of touching the toe of the right
foot to the instep of the left foot then touching the
heel of the right foot to the instep of the left foot
or touching the left toe and heel to the right instep
SWEETHEART POSITION See CAPE POSITION
SWITCH A small hop executed while one foot is forward. During
the hop, the forward foot is returned to the "home"
position and the opposite foot is "switched" to the
forward position
SWIVELS Heel swivels, heel splits, heel spreads, heel scissors,
pigeon toes, heel fans, etc. Usually called either HEEL
SPLITS OR HEEL SWIVELS (See Line Dance Step
Descriptions for Swivel and Scissor Step
in Section 5.0A).
SWIVET For a SWIVET to the right:
On the ball of your left foot and the heel of your
right foot, swivel your left heel to the left and your
right toes to the right. Simply reverse this for a
SWIVET to the left. During the SWIVET your heel and
toes should be moved at approximately a 45 degree angle.
SWIVETTES See HEEL SPLITS
TAP A touch of the heel or the toe to the floor in a given
direction without putting weight on that foot. Also
called a TOUCH
TEXAS SPREAD See HEEL SPLITS
TIPTOE STEP A step onto the toe/ball of the foot first then in
exaggerated fashion slap the heel down and transfer
weight to that foot. This step takes two counts, or
beats, of music. See also STRUT STEP.
TOE FAN See FANS (TOE)
TOE SPLITS With your heels in place, fan the toes of both your
feet out and then back together
TOGETHER Moving your free foot next to the foot in place
TOUCH See TAP
TRIPLE STEP See SHUFFLE
TURNING Changing your position in a CW or CCW circular
direction
TURNING VINE See GRAPEVINE
TWIST With both feet together, move your heels in a
given direction by placing your weight on the
balls of your feet
TWO STEP A dance pattern either quick, quick, slow-slow
or quick, quick, slow- quick, quick, slow.
Generally any eight or six count dance step
combination that has a forward progression.
Usually danced to C&W tracks within the 180-212 BPM
range. See also Quick Step & Dave's Two Step Notes.
VAUDEVILLE HOP See Section 5A
VINE See GRAPEVINE
WALTZ A triple-time dance pattern employing a 1 2 3, 4 5 6
step combination with a generally forward progression.
Usually danced to C&W tracks within the 90-112 BPM range.
The Waltz (a Ländler folk dance) originated in
Austria-Germany in the 18th Century.
WASHBOARD RUB See Washboard Rub Section 5.0A
WEIGHT CHANGE See CHANGE OF WEIGHT
WILLIE WALK (WILL HE WALK) See STRUT STEP
WILLIES A pigeon toed step forward with the weight on the balls
of the feet
WOOLY BULLY Kick your right foot forward; cross your right ankle in
front of your left shin; pivot 1/2 turn to your left on
the ball of your left foot & at the same time bring
bring your right foot back beside your left knee (your
right foot should remain raised with the knee bent for
the previous three counts). Step back onto your right
foot; sccot forward on your right foot with your left
knee bent and raised. Step forward onto your left
foot; bring your right foot forwardand cross your right
heel in front of your left shin; pivot 1/2 turn to your
left on the ball of your left foot & at the same time
bring your right foot back beside your left knee; step
back onto your right foot. Scoot forward on your right
foot with your left knee bent & raised.
ZYDECO Zydeco dancing is a style of music and dance that
originated in the Louisiana Creole population. The
Zydeco dance is based on 8 counts. Schematically the
whole 8 beat series could be given as: Foot(Beat):
L(1) - L(2) - R(3) - L(4) - R(5) - R(6) - L(7) - R(8)
(Repeat). For further information see Section 12A.