K12-Basic Dance Vocabulary

dance position closed position:The normal hold where partners stand facing each other. In the smooth ballroom dances, partners stand very close together in body contact, slightly offset to the left. In the Latin dances, partners stand a few inches apart, either directly in front of each other or very slightly offset.

open position: Any dance position where man and lady stand apart or slightly apart, without taking a closed position dance hold.

open facing position:A variation of Open Position where man and lady stand apart, facing each other, usually with a one- or two-hand connection.

 outside partner position: A variation of the Closed Position where the tracking of the man and lady's feet are slightly offset. When in Outside Partner Position, the person moving forward will step in CBMP, to the partner's right or left.

promenade position: A V-shaped dance position where both man and lady move forward and in the same direction, toward the open end of the "V”

developpé  A movement in which the working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and from there smoothly out to a position in the air, usually at 90 degrees (i.e., parallel to the floor).

fan Circular motion of the free foot.

feet, positions of  There are five basic positions of the feet: First position: feet together (feet in line with heels together, toes forward and slightly turned out.); Second position: feet apart (feet in line, heels apart, separated by about the length of one's foot; Third position: heel to instep (feet touching, one foot in front of the other with heel to instep); Fourth position: normal walking step (feet apart, separated about the length of a foot, one foot in front of the other); Fifth position: feet touching, one foot in front, heel to toe and toe to heel. Often used in a rock-step.

 figure A standardized step pattern.

 flex To bend slightly or relax a portion of the body. Example: the flex of the knee.

 flick  Sharp, quick kick backwards with a pointed toe and a flexed knee.

 floor craft The ability of the leader to maneuver around the dance floor in a skilled and controlled manner as to avoid colliding with other dancers.

 following The ability of the follower to react correctly to the signals given by the leader through physical and visual connections. The act of moving a fraction of a second later than the leader, and yet still be on time.

 foot rise  Elevation of the body through the use of the ankles, by pushing up onto the balls of the feet.

footwork The use of the five positions of the feet in dancing.

 frame Posture, body position, and arm position for the purpose of maintaining connection.

 free turn or free spin To turn independently without any body contact.

 freeze A stop no movement.

heel lead A heel lead places the forward half of the heel onto the floor and then transfers the weight onto the rest of the foot. Used in forward steps in progressive dances.

 K12-Basic Dance Vocabulary 3 B.Wally Rev 4-30-10

 inside turn The follower turns to the left under the leader's left hand, or turns to the right under the leader's right hand.

 International Style The Internationally recognized style of ballroom dancing. For the five "standard” dances," the couples must remain in closed dance position throughout the dances. The 10 International Style dances are divided into two categories: Standard: Waltz, Tango, Viennese waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep; and Latin: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive.

 isolation Movement of one part of the body independently of the rest.

 Latin dances The partner dances originating from the Caribbean: mambo, rumba, merengue, etc.

 Leading  Effective communication of intended actions by the leader through the use of leader's own body movements and through one or more physical or visual connections to the follower

line of dance  The counterclockwise flow of traffic around the dance floor. The Line of Dance represents the general direction of movement overall, and is only pertinent to dances that travel continuously around the floor, such as Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, and Samba.

 lock  A tight cross of the feet in 1st or 2nd position. The lock step is usually danced to triple step timing. During the step, the lower part of the legs cross such that the back leg becomes locked behind the leading leg until the leading leg moves forward. The lock step is often used in the triple step of the cha cha cha.

lunge  A weight transfer to a bent leg with the other leg extended.

 Modern Style Ballroom  The term used to describe the ballroom dances of the International Style: waltz, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, tango, and quickstep. This term has l been replaced by the term standard.

natural opposite  A term used in teaching to say that one partner will be dancing the same foot positions in a particular dance pattern except in the opposite direction and on opposite feet.

 natural turn  A turn to the right.

 open break A break step taken in open facing position, usually with the partners dancing in opposition. In other words, they both break back simultaneously.

 outside turn The follower turns to the right under the leader's left hand or to the left under the leader’s right hand. See also inside turn.

picture line A dance figure (e.g. Over sway, Contra Check) characterized by changing shapes in stationary position. Also known as line.

quick A step or weight change that takes one beat of music.

reverse turn A turn to the left.

 rise and fall Coming up on the toes by bracing the ankles and stretching the spine then lowering to the heels.

rock Two weight changes with the feet apart, taken in any direction.

 Rhythm Category A category of dancing that include the following American Style dances danced at competitions: rumba, cha cha, bolero, mambo and swing.

 shine Popular in Latin dances such as Mambo and Cha Cha, these are movements where the partners are not physically connected. Often the partners dance similar patterns while disconnected or they act out a piece of music interpretation.

K12-Basic Dance Vocabulary 4 B.Wally Rev 4-30-10

 slide To bring the free foot slowly together to the weighted foot.

 slow  A step or weight change that takes two beats of music.

 Smooth Style Ballroom  The term used in DanceSport events and in general to mean American Style waltz, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz.

 split The feet move apart with the weight evenly distributed over both feet.

 spotting A technique for keeping oriented and avoiding dizziness during turns. Select a spot; keep looking at it as you turn until you can't any longer; then quickly turn your head so you are looking at it again.

step The transfer of weight from one foot to another. Frequently used to mean the same thing as figure or pattern of steps.

 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.

top line A posture and frame concept. The horizontal line that runs from elbow to elbow and through both shoulder blades.

Triple step Triple steps are popular in swing dancing. 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.”

 Theater Arts/Cabaret Division  A division at DanceSport events that involves dramatic lifts and drops usually performed by strong, highly trained dancers requiring unusual flexibility and balance.

variation  A non-standard or non-syllabus step pattern. A modified version of a common step pattern.

Social Dance Etiquette

 
MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE?
When  you  ask  someone  to  dance,  be  sure  to  make eye contact with your prospective partner, offer our hand, and ask clearly, “Would  you  like  to  dance?” If your partner says  yes,  smile,  offer  your  hand,  and  escort  him  or  her onto  the  dance  floor  and  into  dance  position.  This  will make your partner feel supported and at ease.

YES, THANK YOU,I’D LOVE TO DANCE.
When someone asks you to dance, your response should be,  “Yes,  thank  you,  I’d  love  to.”  In  a  social  dance environment, it is customary to say “yes” when someone asks  you  to  dance.  In  order  for  dancing  to  be  a  joyous activity,  it  is  important  that  social  dancers  are  supportive and kind to each other at all skill levels.

YOU DANCE DIVINELY!
During  the  dance,  be sure  to  be  aware  of  your  partner. Smile  and  make  eye  contact, but don’t stare.  It  is  fun  to dance with a partner who is gracious and appreciative. At the  end  of  the  dance, ALWAYS say  THANK  YOU  to  your partner and begin to escort them off the floor.

WHEN TO SAY NO
When a person asks you to dance, it is appropriate to say no  if  you  have  danced  with  this  person  before  and  he  or she  has  been physically  or  verbally  abusive. It  is  also appropriate  to  say  no if  the  person  is  obviously  drunk  or threatening  in  someway.  If  you  feel  that  a  dancer  is physically  dangerous  to  the  other  dancers,  you  should report   the   situation   immediately   to   a   Chapter   Board member. Unless someone is truly offensive, it is not appropriate to say   no   because   your   partner   may   have   poor   dance technique. While dancing with this person may not be one of life’s peak experiences, a dance is only three minutes long and the experience will not kill you.

CIRCULATING
In  a  social  dance  situation  it  is  appropriate  to  dance with a variety of people. It is poor dance etiquette to partner up & dance with the same person all evening.  Some will prefer certain dance partners to others, but it should not prevent them from accepting an offer to dance from a new person. If the same person asks you to  dance  repeatedly,  for  several  dances  in  a  row,  it  is acceptable to say, “thank you, but I’d like to meet and dance with some other people for awhile. I’ll be happy to dance with you again late in the evening.

”CLEANLINESS IS HEAVEN AT A DANCE
Social  dancing  is  a  quasi-intimate  activity  requiring a degree  of  physical  closeness.  Good  hygiene  shows respect  and consideration  for other  dancers.  Dancers should bathe, use deodorant, breath mints, and wear clean clothes that will not be too hot. If you perspire a great  deal  while  dancing, it  is  considerate  to  bring  a towel  and/or  change  of  clothes.  If  you  find  yourself getting too sweaty on the dance floor, stop, dry off, & cool down for a bit. Your partners will thank you for it.  Use  a light  touch with perfume  or  cologne.  Some people are sensitive to fragrances.

YOUR PARTNER’S TECHNIQUE
Unless someone asks you directly to make a correction of their dancing, you should never volunteer criticisms of your dance partner’s technique. Know that your dance partner is doing the best he or she can.If  your  partner is  dancing  off  time, view  the  situation as a challenge to dance to the same internal rhythms as  your  partner.  Your  partner  is  not  dancing  off  time intentionally. If your partner is physically hurting you, it is probably inadvertent.  Stop dancing fora second, and say “I’m sorry, but you’re holding my hand a little tightly.Could  we  try  again?”  If  you  receive  an inconsiderate    response    or    your    partner    seems unwilling to modify his behavior, it is then appropriate to say, “thank you,but I’d like to stop now.” Social dancing    should    never    be    physically    painful    or dangerous.

HOW CLOSE IS TOO CLOSE
There is nothing more uncomfortable for a lady dancer than  being  pressed  up  against  someone  she’d  rather not be pressed up against.  For most people this would seem  to  be  common  courtesy  but  it is  a  frequent problem   when   a   male   partner   believes   the   only “correct”way to dance is with full body contact.  Your partner   has   the   right   to   determine   appropriate closeness   regardless   of   what   is   perceived   as   the “correct”way.

FLOOR CRAFT
In  order  for  a  social  dance  to  be  enjoyable  for  all participants,  it is  crucial  to  be  considerate  &aware  in your floor craft. No matter how much you may want to swing  out,  on  a  crowded  dance  floor  your  primary consideration  should  be respect  for  the  other  couples on the floor. You don’t have to dance big to have fun.At times,collisions do occur in the heat of the moment. When there is a collision, everyone involved should stop and  apologize, regardless of whose “fault” it was. If someone has been hurt, you should make sure they are okay  before  you  resume  dancing.    If  necessary, escort the  person  off  the  floor to  a chair  and see  if  they need ice, a drink of water or medical attention. Careful observation of the traffic lanes in a ballroom can prevent  mishaps.  In  Waltz,  Foxtrot,  tango,  Quickstep and  Samba,  dancers  move  in  a  counterclockwise  circle around the floor. This circle is known as “line of dance”. The very outside lane of the line of dance is the “fast lane”; it is generally used by very experienced dancers who cover a great deal of ground. The inside lane is for less experienced dancers who may be moving a bit more slowly.  Beginners  and  those  who  would  like  to practice the  basic  steps  without  traveling  can  stay  on the  inside of the circle, out of the line of dance completely.In addition--It is considered inappropriate to cut across the dance floor, especially when carrying food or drink. And also, remember to move  off the dance floor  when engaged in conversation.

Group Dance Etiquette
Many  of  the  same  dance  etiquette  considerations  for dances also apply in a group class environment.

ROTATING PARTNERS
It  has  been  proven  that  you  will  learn  to  dance  30% faster by dancing with a variety of partners. Sometimes, in our group classes, we have you rotate. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself to your new partners. If you only want to dance with the same partner for your own personal reasons, you may do so by stepping out of the circle each time the instructor ask you to rotate. This way, it is clear that you are not part of the rotation. In order for dancing to be the joyous activity that it is, it is important that social dancers are supportive and kind to each other no matter what level the dancer is at. You should  never  refuse  to  rotate  to a  particular  partner because you don’t think that person is good enough. Everyone  needs  to  grow  and  learn.  Rotating  partners enhances your dancing.

THIS IS OVER MY HEAD!
If you really can’t get the step, you can tell your partner that you need to step out of the rotation for a minute to try to master the steps on your own.

IN CONCLUSION
Thank  you  for  taking  the  time  to  review  this  Guide  to Dance  Etiquette.  Keep  in  mind  to  use  common  sense, respect, and manners for an enjoyable dance experience for  both  you  and  your  partner. We  hope  this  will  help you enjoy any dancing situation with grace and finesse. Now go out there and experience thepure fun of social dancing! See you on the dance floor!

HAPPY & SAFE DANCING!
The purpose of dancing is to love doing it! Social  dancing  is  pure  fun.  This  fun  can  be dampened  by  a  snobbish,  superior  attitude and  lack  of  consideration  for  your  fellow dancers.   A   social   dance   is   not   a   dance competition –your  job  is  not  to  be  the  best looking  dancer  on  the  floor  but  to connect with your partner in a way that is supportive and   enjoyable   for   both   of   you. Partner dancing  is  not  a  performance,  and  it  is  not about   winning   or   losing.   It   is   an   activity which  is  above  all,  fun,  and  will  enable  you to share your love of dancing and music with another person. Social  dancing  is  one  of  life’s  rare opportunities    for    pure    fun.    It    is important    to    remember,  however, that  dancing  is  a  social  activity  which requires    interpersonal    as    well    as physical   grace.   Being a considerate and   thoughtful   dance   partner   can ensure a wonderful experience. Dance courtesy  is  even  more  important  thana social dancer’s physical technique. It is  not  always  intuitive  but  it  can