This is a glossary of dance terms that I have compiled.
I am sure that there are many terms that are not here, and also many terms that may be different to some that you use.
Dance Terms | Beats | Descriptions |
1/2 Brushup | 2 | Touch heel 45° forward, bring the heel up to the opposite knee |
45 | 2 | Nominated heel taps farward at 45° angle then return to original position |
Ballchange | 2 | On the spot three steps done to two beats eg: Right ballchange - Right foot steps in place, left foot lifts up then takes the weight as the right foot is lifted |
Behind Frieze | 4 | Step nominated foot to side, cross other foot behind, step nominated foot to side, cross other foot behind |
Boogie | Step back turning slightly in direction nominated | |
Boxstep | 4 | Eg: Right Boxstep: Step right across left, step back on left, step side right, step left together. This step can also have a directional change |
Bridge Step | 2 | Touch nominated foot to side and cross over opposite foot |
Broadway Kick | 1 | Kick nominated foot across opposite foot at 45° |
Bronco | 2 | Bring nominated knee up and forward across body, return foot to the side |
Brushup | 4 | Touch heel 45° forward, bring the geel up to the opposite knee, touch heel 45° forward, place together |
Buttermilk | 2 | With weight on the toes: Heels move apart from eachother then back together |
Camel | 2 | Step nominated foot 45° forward, drag/step other foot to close together |
Cha Cha | 2 | Three steps done to two beats of music. Like a shuffle but done on the spot |
Charleston | 4 | Step forward on nominated foot, kick other foot forward, step back, touch nominated foot back |
Clap | 1 | Clap hands together |
Corner Turn | 4 | Step left foot forward, step right foot to right turning 90° left, step left foot back turning 90° left, step right foot forward |
Double Buttermilk | 4 | Weight on the toes: Heels move apart, change weight to the heels, move toes apart. Reverse steps to bring feet together to original position |
Extended Frieze | (variable) | Eg: Left extended frieze - Step side left, cross right behind, side left, cross right in front, side left, cross right cehind, side left, etc |
Fan | 2 | Nominated toe turns out 90° then returns to its original position |
Footslap | a heel/toe movement of the nominated foot slapping the boot sole on the floor | |
Frieze | 4 | Step nominated foot to side, cross other foot behind, step nominated foot to side, close other foot together. Can be done forward, back or to the side |
Front Frieze | 4 | Eg: Left front frieze - Step left foot to side, cross right foot over left, step left foot to side, step left foot over right |
Grind | Moving nominated foot/heel in a 90° arc | |
Heel Pivot | Normally on the spot, pivoting the nominated foot from the forward together position through a 90° arc and back together | |
Hitch | 1 | Raise nominated foot straight up to knee level |
Hinge | 2 | On the ball of R/L turn 180° L/R stepping L/R to L/R, slide R/L beside L/R |
Hold | 1 | No movement - hold previous position for one beat of music |
Hook | 4 | Touch heel 45° forward, bring the heel up to the opposite knee, touch heel 45° forward, place together |
Hop | 1 | Hop onto same foot |
Kick | 1 | Kick the foot forward |
Lock | 2 | Step forward on nominated foot, bring other foot behind to lock into position |
Monatary Turns | 2 | Step forward on nominated foot, turn on the balls of the feet 180° to turn the opposite direction |
Montana Kick | 4 | Eg: Left montana - Step forward on left, kick right, step back on right, tap left toe behind |
Outback | 2 | Nominated foot to side, up behind opposite knee and slap with opposite hand |
Pivot | 2 | Step forward on nominated foot, turn on the balls of the feet 180° to turn the opposite direction |
Rock | 1 | Change the weight from one foot to the other without changing the position of the feet |
Sailor Step | Step nominated foot behind other, step other foot to side, step nominated foot on the spot | |
Scissor Kick | 2 | Kick one leg up, then the other so that you have both feet off the floor at the same time, landing on one foot then the other |
Scoot | 1 | Hopping forward on nominated foot when other has been hitched |
Scuff | 1 | Swinging nominated foot through brushing the ground as it passes the other foot |
Shimmy | Moving the shoulders in time with the music forward and backwards | |
Shuffle | 2 | Three steps done to two beats of music, can be done forward or backwards. Eg: Step forward left, right together, step left forward |
Skate | 2 | Slide nominated foot forward at 45°, slide other foot together |
Slap Foot | Eg: Right Slap - right foot up behind/infront of left and slap boot with left hand | |
Stomp | 1 | Stomp the foot on the floor to make a loud sound |
Strut | 2 | Step nominated heel forward with the toe up, slap the toe to the floor |
Swiggle | 2 | Twist the nominated heel of one foot and the ball of the other foot to the side, then twist back to the centre |
Swivel | (variable) | Like a twist but continuing in one direction. Eg: heels left, toes left, heels left, toes left, etc |
Tap | 1 | Place foot in the direction nominated without any weight on it |
Toe Strut | 2 | Step nominated toe forward with heel up, slap heel to the floor |
Touch | 1 | Place foot in the direction nominated without any weight on it |
Travelling Buttermilk | 4 | Heels out, toes out, toes in, heels in |
Twist | 1 | Movement of both heel turning out, together to the nominated side |
Turn | 1 | A change in direction and degree of turn will be stated |
Waltz | 3 | Step forward or back on nominated foot, other foot steps together, nominated foot steps in place. Lead foot alternates with each waltz step done |
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