Let's Dance New England
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Amalgamation: A combination of two or more patterns or movements.
Anchor Step: The anchor step is a stationary triple step danced in third foot position to the timing of 1&2.
And: Half of a quick count (half of a beat).
Attitude: A dance "pose"
Balance: The ability of the dancer to maintain an upright and controlled position of the body whether moving or stationary.
Balance Step: A step (in any direction) followed by a 'close' (no weight) and hold.
Ballon: The ability of a dancer to remain suspended in the air.
Barrida: A sweep.
Barn Dance: Popular term for a partner oriented dance where the dancers change partners after each pattern.
Basic Movement: A characteristic figure of a dance that remains constant.
Break: A stop in the music.
Break Step: A step that changes the direction of movement
Carolina Shag: A swing style dance resembling West Coast Swing that is very popular from Virginia down to the Carolina's most often danced to "beach music" or Motown music.
Ceili: A gathering for music and dance.
Center: The balance point of the body mass. Usually described as the upper chest or diaphragm.
Chanie: A turn or chain of turns in which one full turn is made in two steps. The dancer steps forward then brings the feet together making a weight change while in first position then completing the 360-degree rotation.
Chase: A term in dance which refers to one partner 'pursues' the other partner across the dance floor. Popular in Cha-Cha.
Chasse: A dance step used in many dances in many variants, all of them being three-step patterns of gliding character, steps going basically step-together-step. A "sliding" step where one foot replaces the other.
Choreography: A creation or compilation of steps, patterns and movements that form a dance routine.
Coaster Step: A triple step, back-together-forward.
Cuban Motion: Hip movement achieved by bending and straightening the knees with timed weight transfer.
Developpe: The unfolding of a leg in the air.
Extended: Feet apart, heel pointing to the other foot's instep.
Fan: Circular motion of the free foot.
Ferme: The closed position of the feet.
Fifth Position: Feet touching, one foot in front, heel to toe and toe to heel.
First Position: Feet together. (Feet in line with heels together.) Toes forward and slightly turned out.
Floor Craft (see also 'Dance Etiquette'): Refers to avoiding bumping or otherwise colliding or making contact with other couples on the dance floor with the ability to continue dancing even when crowded.
Following/Follower, The: The ability of the dancer to correctly read the signals (both physical and visual) given by the leader of a dance
Fourth Position: Normal walking step (feet apart separated about the length of a foot, one foot in front of the other). Walking step forward or back.
Free-Spin: The ability to turn independently without any contact.
Free-Style: Dance movement usually ad-lib, without any fixed structure.
Freeze: A stop. No movement.
Grapevine: A continuous traveling step pattern. Steps are sideways where the trailing foot alternates between crossing in front and crossing behind the other
Hold: A count to describe a designated time before taking another step.
Home: The original starting place.
Inside Turn: The follower turns to the left under the leaders left had OR turns right under the leaders right hand.
Isolation: Movement of one part of the body independent from the rest of the body.
Jive: An international form of swing dance with elements of Jitter Bug and LIndy Hop, characterized by lively movement usually in triple steps.
Kick Ball Change: A three step sequence consisting of a kick, a step to the ball of the opposite foot and then a step to change weight.
Leading: Effective communication of intended actions by the leader of the dance through the use of the leaders own body movement and through one or more physical or visual connection to the follower.
Lean(ing): When one partner leans into or away from the other and the non-leaning partner supports the other.
Lift: A theatrical movement in which the followers body is completely supported by the leader and held aloft.
Line: The length and stretch of the dancers body from head to toe.
Line of Dance: The counterclockwise course of dance around a ballroom or dance floor by the dancers progressing around a room.
Lock or Lock Step: A tight cross of the feet in 1st or 2nd position. During the step, the lower part of the legs cross such that the back leg becomes locked behind the lead leg until the lead leg moves forward.
Lunge: A weight transfer to a bent leg with the other leg extended.
Military Turn: The 180-degree turn that effects an "about face". The turn consists of a prep step and a pivot.
Open Break: A break step taken in open facing position, usually with the partners dancing in opposition.
Outside Turn: The follower turns to the right under the leaders left hand OR the follower turns to the left under the leaders right hand. See also inside turn.
Paddle turn: A turn either left or right, using a series of ball changes with 3/4 of the weight staying over the turning foot.
Pivot turn: A 180 degree turn on the ball of one foot, performed in extended 3rd foot position with the thighs locked. A series creates traveling rotations, with 180 degrees of rotation per weight change.
Prep: A lead-in move or step a set up used as a preparation for a turn or a change of dance position.
Progressive Dance: When couples move along the Line of Dance progressing around the dance floor.
Quick: A step or weight change that takes one beat of music.
Reverse Turn: A turn to the left.
Rhythem: The regular occurrence of accented beats of music which shape the character of the music or the character of the dance.
Rhythm break: To leave the natural rhythm of the pattern.
Rise and Fall: The controlled raising and lowering of the body while dancing. Waltz is characterized by rise and fall.
Rock: Two weight changes with the feet apart, taken in any direction.
Roll: The indicated body part circles right or left.
Sailor step: A triple step dance pattern accomplished by leaning in the opposite direction of the crossing foot (weight stays centered over lead foots original position). Leaning toward left (1) Step left behind right (&) Side step right (2) Side step left (to original position).
Second Position: Feet apart (feet in line, heels apart, separated by about the length of one's foot). Feet parallel, shoulder width apart.
Shuffle: A triple step similar to a polka step with no lilt. Used in triple two step.
Slide: To bring the free foot slowly together to the weighted foot.
Slot: Used as a concept in certain dances (i.e. west coast swing) where the goal is for the follower to dance on a track, turn around, and then come back on the same track in the opposite direction. The leader job is to move slightly out of the track (slot) to allow the follower a clear path.
Split: The feet move apart with the weight evenly distributed over both feet.
Spotting: To avoid dizziness or disorientation, it is the fixing of one's eyes on a particular spot as long as possible during turns and spins.
Syncopate: To add or subtract steps within a specific number of beats performed by dancers to vary the normal step and to allow for personal expression and creativity.
Third Position: Heel to instep (feet touching one foot in front of the other with heel to instep). Heel to instep, or ball to heel. Used in rock steps, shuffles, polkas, triple steps and basic swing.
Timing: Dancing on the 'time' or beat of the music.
Traveling Pivots: Pivots danced down Line Of Dance in extended 5th position.
Triple step: The Triple Step is a three step sequence taken on two beats of music. If the first step of the triple step is taken on count 1, the second step is taken on the half beat between counts 1&2, and the third step is taken on count 2. The step timing is often called out as 1&2. Usually the triple step is two quick steps and one slow, called out as "quick-quick-slow", or, using numbers, as "one-and-two.”