Amalgamation Arch Turn Ball Change Ballroom Dancing Beat Brush Canter Chasse Close Combination Contrary Body Movement Counterparts Cross in Front, Cross in Back Dance Position

Downbeat Draw Fallaway Follow Through Free Foot Hesitation Hold Line of Direction Loop Turn Measure Phrase Pivot Quick Rhythm

Rocking Step Slow Social Dancing Step Step in Place Style Supporting Foot Swivel Syncopation Tempo Time Timing Twinkle "Up" Beat

AMALGAMATION: A sequence of step patterns or figures. Also COMBINATION. Back

ARCH TURN: A turn to the right for the lady, or to the left for the man, individually or together, through an arch formed by the joined hands. The man's left hand joins the lady's right hand. Back

BALL CHANGE: Two changes of weight, the first on the ball of the foot. Back

BALLROOM DANCING: (a) A recreational dance activity performed by couples utilizing characteristic music, steps, and STYLE of diverse, currently-popular dances. The man forms flowing ad-lib patterns of the steps to perform movements specific to the dance being done - the lady follows.

(b) An activity in which a lady and gentlemen dance to rhythmic music. The gentleman leads and the lady follows. Their movements are governed by rhythm patterns, as well as current styles and rules. A distinction is sometimes made between Ballroom Dancing and Social Dancing, i.e., ballroom dancing refers to the style of dancing which may be done in large ballrooms and social dancing to the style where space is limited. Back

BEAT: The underlying pulse of music that continues with equal duration and force. Back

BRUSH: To brush the inside edge of the SUPPORTING FOOT with the inside edge of the FREE FOOT in one motion between changes of weight. Back

CANTER: Two transfers of weight in waltz rhythm occurring progressively on the first and third beats of the measure. Back

CHASSE: Three changes of weight with a close on the second step. Also a series of sideward closes. Back

CLOSE: A movement in which one foot is brought to the other and takes the weight. Back

COMBINATION: A sequence of step patterns or figures. Also AMALGAMATION. Back

CONTRARY BODY MOVEMENT: Contrary Body Movement, or CBM, is the action of tuning the opposite hip and shoulder towards the direction of the moving leg. It is used to begin all turning movements. Back

COUNTERPARTS: Description of the lady's movements when they are the same as the man's but with the opposite side of SUPPORTING FOOT; one change of weight. Back

CROSS IN FRONT, CROSS IN BACK: To move the FREE FOOT in front or in back to opposite side of the SUPPORTING FOOT; one change of weight. Back

DANCE POSITION: The way a gentleman and lady stand in relation to each other and other couples in the LINE OF DIRECTION when ballroom dancing. A table of basic ballroom dance positions is shown below.

Closed	Skater's	One Hand
Open	Back to Back	Two Hand
Semi-Open	Sweetheart	Free (Challenge)
Full Open (side-by-side)	Right Side	Arch
Cuddle	Left Side	Varsouvienne

Back

DOWNBEAT: The down beat corresponds to the first beat in the measure as the "UP" BEAT corresponds to the last beat in the measure. Back

DRAW: A movement in which one foot is brought up to the other without a transfer of weight. Back

FALLAWAY: A position or step in which the couple moves backward in Promenade position. Back

FOLLOW THROUGH: The act of bringing the moving foot up to the weight-supporting foot before continuing on the spot where the weight transfer is made. Back

FREE FOOT: Foot on which there is no weight. As contrasted to the SUPPORTING FOOT. Back

HESITATION: A pause in the movement with the weight supported on one foot. Back

HOLD: A pause in the rhythmic pattern, generally for one beat, but sometimes two. Also the carriage of the arms and body in relation to one's partner. Back

LINE OF DIRECTION, LINE OF DANCE (L.O.D.): The counter-clockwise course which is maintained in making progress around the floor. Back

LOOP TURN: An individual turn to the left for the lady or the right for the man, led by bringing the lady's right arm across in front of her. Back

MEASURE: A division of music. A group of beats marked off by the regularly recurring accent of the music. Back

PHRASING: The fitting of figures to the rhythm and or melody of the music. Back

PIVOT: A turn made in either direction on the ball of the foot. Back

QUICK: A comparative term used in timing steps. A SLOW step occupies twice the time of the quick step. In 4/4 time, a slow step takes 2 beats of music, while a quick step takes one. Back

RHYTHM: The regular recurrence of accented beats which gives a specific character to the music or the dance. Back

RETURNING STEP: Two changes of weight, each in the opposite direction. Back

SLOW: A comparative term used in timing steps. A slow step occupies twice the time of the QUICK step. In 4/4 time, a slow step takes 2 beats of music, while a quick step takes one. Back

SOCIAL DANCING: See BALLROOM DANCING. Back

STEP: (a) A change of weight, with foot moved in any direction or remaining in place. (b) A term used to indicate a combination of movements. A table of basic ballroom dance steps is shown below.

Foxtrot	Cha Cha	Waltz	Swing	Rumba
Box	Basic	Box	Basic	Basic
Box Turn	Front Cross	Box Turn	Basic Turn	Arch Turns (1,2,3 Measures)
Balance	Walk Around	Hesitation	Break Away	Flirtation Walk
Sway	Right Arch	Right Arch	Right Arch	Cuban Entry
Conversation	Zig Zag	Zig Zag	Loop Turn	Breaks
Two Step	Chase	Step Ladder	Changing Places	Yale Breaks
			Cuddle

Back

STEP IN PLACE: A change of weight in which the foot remains on its original place. Back

STYLE: (a) The particular characteristics of a dance. (b) A term used to indicate a combination of movements.

Styling in dance is best and simply defined as the appearance, technique, and particular characteristics of a dance. The dictionary defines style as "distinction, excellence, originality, and character in any form of artistic expression". In other words, style is the way in which we dance. Our personal styles are determined by our body types, by our personalities, and by our willingness to share our inner feeling with an audience.

When we first begin to dance, most of us are too busy trying to learn steps and movement patterns to care whether or not we perform them with style. However, as we master movements, our own interpretations of them should become more and more important. At first you may feel silly because your movements seem exaggerated and overdone, but remember that most of your dancing will be expression of feeling, enjoyment, and confidence. If you merely dance a technically-correct series of steps, your performance will be wooden and unexciting.

A dancer usually begins to develop a personal style by copying from a good model. For example, you can imitate the style of an admired teacher or an advanced student who takes class with you. Watching and copying the styles of well-known dancers is very helpful in developing a style. As you begin to adapt your "copies" to fit your own body and feelings, your own style results. Back

SUPPORTING FOOT: Foot on which there is weight. As contrasted to the FREE FOOT. Back

SWIVEL: A twisting motion on the ball of one or both feet. Back

SYNCOPATION: A variation or embellishment of the regular occurrence of accented beats within the framework of the basic rhythm pattern. Back

TEMPO: Speed of the music is measured by the number of beats per minute (BPM). Back

TIME: The number and kind of beats in a measure. It is designated by the musical signature. The time signature is 3/4 in Waltz, meaning that there are three quarter notes in each measure. Foxtrot, Swing and Cha Cha are in 4/4 time. Back

TIMING: Adherence of the movement to the beat of the music. Back

TWINKLE: A sideward, forward, or backward close, followed by a step in the opposite direction. Three changes of weight such as: forward, together, backward; or sideward, together, cross. Back

"UP" BEAT: The "up" beat corresponds to the last beat in the measure. It is a weaker beat than the DOWNBEAT, which is the first beat of the measure. Back