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Glossary of partner dance terms

This is the list of dance terms that are NOT names of dances or types of dances. See List of dances and List of dance style categories for those. See Abbeviations for those.

Actually, this glossary lists terms used in other types of partner dances, leaving out terms of highly evolved or specialized dance forms, such as ballet, tap dancing, with elaborated terminology.

Unless there is much to say about a specific term, there is no reason to put each and every of them into a separate article.

Related links

List of dance organizations - Glossary of ballet terms - Musical terminology - List of musical topics - Requested articles: Dance and dancers

External links


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

A

Abbreviations

American Smooth

A category of dances in #American Style ballroom competitions. It includes Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz. Previously Peabody was also included.

This category loosely corresponds to the #Standard category of #International Style ballroom.

American Rhythm

A category of dances in #American Style ballroom competitions. It includes Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo. Sometimes it may include Samba and West Coast Swing.

This category loosely corresponds to the #Latin category of #International Style ballroom.

American Style

The term describes the particular style of Ballroom dances developed in the USA, as opposed to the International Style. In a narrower sense, it denotes the group of dances danced in American Style ballroom competitions. The group consistis of two categories: #American Smooth and #American Rhythm.

B

Backleading

In social dancing strongly relying on Leading and following, this term means that the follower executes steps without waiting for or contrary to the lead of the leader. This is also called anticipation and usually considered bad dancing habit. Sometimes this term is used in the meaning of Hijacking, which is not exactly the same.

Body contact

Body contact is a style of closed position in partner dancing ("closed position with body contact"); it is also a type of physical connection.

C

Center

When indicating a direction of movement during a dance, the term "center" means the direction perpendicular to the LOD pointing towards the center of the room. If one stands facing the LOD, then the center direction is to their left.

Chasse

Any of three-step patterns, steps going basically side-together-side.

There is a huge variety of them in many dances:

Closed dance figure

The term has at least two meanings: regarding dance position and regarding
footwork.

Closed position

A position in which partners hold each other while facing each other.

Connection

A means of communication between dancers in the couple. Physical and visual types of connection are distinguished.

Contra body movement

In terms of body rotation during a step, this action is opposite to Side lead.

Contra body movement position

The dancer's upper body is rotated towards the leading foot.

Compression

The term has two meanings.

Cuban hip motion

See #Latin hip motion.

D

Dancesport

An official term to denote dance as competitive, sport activity.

Dance move

Dance pattern

See Dance move.

Dance step

For one meaning, see Dance move.

Direction of movement

See Direction of movement.

Direction of step

See
Direction of movement.

E

F

Follower

See Lead and follow.

Footwork

In a narrow sense the term is used to descibe the behavior of the foot when it meets the floor. In particular, it describes which part of the foot is in contact with the floor: ball, heel, flat, toe, high toe, inside/outside edge, etc.

In a wider sense it describes other dance aspects related to feet: foot position and foot action.

Frame

Dance frames are the upper body positions of the dancers. A strong frame provides connection with your partner and conveys intended movement. A strong frame is where your arms and upper body are held firmly in place without relying on your partner to maintain your frame nor applying force that would move your partner or your partner's frame.

Major types of dance frames are latin, smooth, and swing.

G

H

Handhold

Handhold is an element of dance connection: it is a way the partners hold each other by hands.

Heel Lead

When taking a step in dance, a heel lead is where you land on the heel of your foot first before putting weight on the remainder of the foot.

Hijacking

In social dancing strongly relying on Leading and following, this term means temporary assuming the leading role by the follower. Also known as stealing the lead. Compare to Backleading.

I

Inside partner step

A step taken forward into the space occupied by the partner, while the partner steps backwards. During this step feet tracks of both partners overlap. See also Outside partner step.

Inside turn

The term is applied to an individual turn of a partner in the couple. Basically, it denotes the turn directed "inside" of the couple. The meaning is intuitively clear, but it may be performed in numerous ways and in different handholds, so that even accomplished dancers are confused. Most often it is understood that an inside turn is an underarm turn under the right arm if turning left and under the left arm if turning right.

International Style

The term describes the particular style of Ballroom dances, as opposed to the American Style. In a narrower sense, it denotes the group of dances danced in International Style ballroom competitions. The group consistis of two categories: #Standard and #Latin.

J

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill (J&J) is a format of competition in partner dancing, where the competing couples are the result of random matching of leaderss and followerss. Rules of matching vary. The name comes from the popular English nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill.

In dance competitons J&J is included as a separate division (or divisions, with additional gradations). J&J is popular at Swing conventions, as well as at ballroom dance competitions in the USA.

K

L

Latin

As applied to dances, the term has two meanings.

This category loosely corresponds to the #Rhythm category of #American Style ballroom.

Latin dance

See #Latin.

Latin hip motion

A characteristic type of hip motion found in #Latin and #Rhythm dances. Sometimes it is also called #Cuban hip motion, althoguh some prefer to distinguish the two.

Lead stealing

See Hijacking.

Leader

See Lead and follow.

Leading and following

See Lead and follow.

Leverage

The term describes type of physical connection, opposite to compression, in which a stress exists at the point(s) of contact directed away from the contact point(s). The term is frequently used, e.g., in swing dance community.

Line of dance

Line of dance (LOD) is an imaginary circular line going around the dance hall in counterclockwise direction. To help avoid collisions, it is agreed that the general direction of movement in travelling dancess is along the line of dance.

Line of dance is a useful line of reference when describing the directionss of steps taken, e.g., "facing LOD", "backing LOD". See also center, wall.

Line of foot

An imaginary straight line passing through the foot in the heel-toe direction.

M

Moving foot

Musicality

N

O

Open dance figure

The term has at least two meanings: regarding dance position and regarding footwork.

Open position

Outside partner step

A step taken with partner beside the moving foot. During this step feet tracks of both parners do not overlap. See also Inside partner step.

Outside turn

See Inside turn.

The term is applied to an individual turn of a partner in the couple. Basically, it denotes the turn directed "outside" of the couple. The meaning is intuitively clear, but it may be performed in numerous ways and in different handholds, so that even accomplished dancers are confused. Most often it is understood that an outside turn is an underarm turn under the left arm if turning left and under the right arm if turning right.

P

Physical connection

A dance connection by means of physical contact. Types of physical connection are body contact, compression, leverage.

Promenade position

"V" shaped dance position with the man's right hip and the lady's left hip in contact at the point of the "V". The dancer's heads face the open portion of the "V" where the dancers' bodies are slightly apart.

Q

R

Rhythm

S

Shadow position

Both partners face the same general direction, one of them squarely behind of slightly shifted sideways ("in the shadow"). Handholdss vary.

Side lead

A body position or action during a step, sometimes also called Same side lead. Side leading is taking the same side of the body in the same direction of the movement of the moving foot. The word "taking" means that if a step is taken squarely forward or backward', e.g., by the left foot, then the left side slightly rotates to the right or to the left'' respectively, as if the side of the body "leads" the step.

In terms of body rotation, this action is opposite to Contra body movement.

Slot

In slotted dancess, the slot is an imaginary narrow rectangle along which the follower moves back and forth with respect to the leader, who is more or less stationary. The as a rule, the leader mostly stays in the slot as well, leaving it only to give way for the follower to pass him. The leader almost never makes the follower to circle around when passing by. They may go into a common rotational figure when the follower happens to come close, but such figures are usually in a tight position and do not change the overall "slotted" appearance.

Slotted dance

A dance style in which the couple movement is fenerally confined to a slot. The most typical slotted dance is West Coast Swing. Some other dances, e.g., Hustle and Salsa may be danced in slotted style.

Smooth

See #American Smooth.

Spotting

A technique used during turns. The general idea is to choose a reference point (e.g., partner or a distant point along the line of travel) and focus the eyes on it as long as possible. When during the turn it is no longer possible to see it, the head flips as fast as possible to "spot" the reference point again.

Standard

A category of dances in #International Style ballroom competitions. Sometimes in the context of competitions it is called Ballroom or International Ballroom, confusing as it might be. It includes Waltz (also called Slow Waltz), ) Foxtrot (also called Slowfox), Quickstep, Viennese Waltz. This category loosely corresponds to the #Smooth category of #American Style ballroom.

Stealing the lead

See Hijacking.

Step

In a strict sense, a step is a single move of one foot, usually resulting in full or partial weight transfer to the moving foot. However foot actions, such as tap, kick, etc., are also sometimes called "steps".

In a broader sence, step means dance step, i.e., a dance figure.

Standing foot

Same as Supporting foot.

Supporting foot

It is also called support foot.

Syncopation

In dancing, the term has two meanings: The first one is similar to the musical terminology. The second one is making more (and/or different) steps than required by the standard description of a figure, to address more rhythmical nuances of the music.

T

Three Ts

Technique, Timing, Teamwork. The criteria for evaluation of dance mastery in Swing dancing community.

Timing

The relation of the elements of a dance step or dance figure with respect to musical time: barss and beatss.

Toe Lead

When taking a step in dance, a toe lead is where you land on the ball of your foot first.

Track of foot

The trajectory of the moving foot visualized as a narrow imaginary track, rather than a line. For the standing foot, its track is usually assumed to be parallel to that of the moving foot. If both feet are standing, their tracks are the tracks for the intended step.

Travelling dance

U

V

Visual connection

A dance connection by means of visual awareness of partners in a couple. Visual connection by no means should replace the physical connection, and some consider it to be an inferior form of connection. However it does have its proper usages. Most important are the coordination of styles (arms, etc.) and when dancing without physical contact. An important example of the latter is spotting the partner during turns, especiall free spinss.

W

Wall

When indicating a direction of movement during a dance, the term "wall" means the direction perpendicular to the LOD pointing towards the wall of the room (possibly imaginary). If one stands facing the LOD, then the wall direction is to their right.

X

W

Z