A Glossary of Dance Terms

hand turn, left/ right hand turn:
A couple facing each other take left/ right hands, usually with elbows bent, forearms vertical and hands at shoulder height and turn around as a couple, moving forward.

hands four/ six/ etc.:
Four/ six or more dancers join hands, dance around clockwise, making one complete circuit, separate, and return to places.

head: An American term equivalent to top.

heel & toe:
Hop on right foot and extend left leg diagonally left to touch left heel to the floor. Hop on right foot and touch left toe to the floor with bent left knee.

hey, [straight] hey: An English term equivalent to reel of three.

hey, circular hey,: An English term similar to grand chain but without taking hands as you pass each oncoming dancer.

honour: Facing opposite dancer, lady curtsies and the man bows. See also: curtsey: bow:

hop: Spring from one foot and land on that same foot.

hop-point: Hop on one foot and at the same time point the other foot.

hop-step: A hop on one foot followed by a step onto the other.

hora, horo, oro, choros (Balkan): A baulkan dance in a circle or linked chain. choros (coro) -- Greece, hora -- Romania, horo -- Bulgaria, oro -- Macedonia.

in place: At approximately the same spot where the previous step on that same foot was taken.

inside [hand, foot, etc.]: For a couple standing side-by-side, the hand, foot, etc. between them.

1. A strong lift of the free foot without bending the knee. The kick has more force than a swing.
2. A quick extension of the leg caused by straightening the knee.

kopanica: A Bulgarian dance in 11/16 ( . ) rhythm.

ladies to centre (quadrille):
Each man takes his partner's left hand in his right and turns her under their raised hands to the centre of the set. The ladies move into a tight circle and sometimes hold each other round their waists.

lead couple:
The couple leading the dance and who usually perform parts of the dance reserved for them.

lead couple (quadrille):
The lead couple changes throughout the dance. Usually starting with the top couple then their opposite, followed by the top couple’s adjacent couple and their opposite. When a lady and her opposite man start the dance, then that lady and her partner are the lead couple.

lead couples: The lead couple and their opposite couple.

lead down (longways):
The top couple take inside hands and move down the middle of the set to the bottom.

lead through (quadrille):
The lead couple take inside hands and move between their opposite couple to the opposite couple’s position, while the opposite couple separate and move to the lead couple’s position then take inside hands. Both couples turn the ladys under an arch of their joined hands as the partners exchange position. This is usually repeated to return to original position’s with the new lead couple.

lead up (quadrille): A couple take inside hands and move towards their opposite couple.

lead up turn and back (quadrille):
A couple lead up, then the man turns the lady under an arch of their joined hands as the partners exchange places. The couple then lead back to place and turn again to finish in their original positions.

leading lady/ man: The lady/ man of the lead couple.

leap: Spring from one foot and land on the other foot.

lift: Raise the free foot with the knee bent.

lift, heel lift: Alternative term for cukce.

line dance:
A row of dancers, all facing in the same direction, holding hands or otherwise joined up in a line.

line of dance/ [direction]:
The direction of movement of the dancers along an imaginary circular line around the edge of the dancing area. If the dancers stand on this line with their left shoulders towards the centre of the circle and move forwards along the line then they are moving in line of dance. (It does not matter what direction the dancers are facing, just the direction of movement or travel.) This is an absolute direction of movement and does not refer to the direction of any particular dance.

line of four (quadrille):
The lines formed by the lead couple and their two corners and the opposite couple and their two corners. The lead couple and their opposite couple are in the middle of their respective line of four and are in their original position.

side lines (quadrille): A line of four where one of the side couples is the lead couple.

top and bottom lines (quadrille): A line of four where one of the tops is the lead couple.

line of three, progressive line of three:
A trio in a line, side by side, facing another trio. All the trios are in a circle alternately facing line of dance and reverse line of dance. (A sicilian progressive using trios instead of couples.)

LOD: Abbreviation of line of dance [line of direction].

long-arm hold:
A couple facing each other join hands right to right and left to left. The lady crosses her arms with the right on top. The hands grip with interlocked thumbs.

longways set:
A line of men facing their partners in a parallel line of ladies. The left most man in his line is at the top of the set which should be the end nearest to the music. See also, minor set, proper, improper.

mayim step (Israel): My-im
An Israeli term equivalent to grapevine.

meas: Abbreviation of measure.

measure (music): An American term equivalent to bar.

meter (music):
The rhythmic structure of the music or dance. The term comes from American music terminology (and hence the spelling). See also time signature.

mill, ladies’/ men’s right/ left hand mill (quadrille):
ladies’ right hand mill: All ladies form a right hand star, men fall in beside partner with right arm around her waist, lady’s left hand on her partners right shoulder. All move forward to turn the mill clockwise. In the men’s mill, the men make the inner star. Right and left refer to the hand used to form the star. The figure usually repeats as an opposite hand mill with optional change of partner forming the inner star to return to original positions.

minim (music): The minim is half the note value of the semibreve (whole note). See note values.

minor set:
Minor sets occur when the dancers in large formations form up into small temporary groups of 2 to 4 couples. These groups perform the dance then progress to form a new group and repeat the dance.

duple/ triple minor set (longways set):
A minor set of two (duple) or three (triple) couples temporarily brought together to perform the dance. The lead couple progresses to the bottom of the general set and the other couple/s progress to the top. The minor set consists of the lead couple and the next (for duple minor set) or next two (for triple minor set) couple/s below them. The next couple below the minor set is the lead couple of the next minor set.

moulinet (quadrille): A star for two couples.

move behind (quadrille):
All men step back and cast off towards their own adjacent lady, who moves to meet them.

= semibreve, the whole note.
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
. = dotted minim, 3/4 of a whole note.
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
= minim, 1/2 a whole note.
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
. = dotted crotchet, 3/8 of a whole note.
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
= crotchet, 1/4 of a whole note.
~~~~~~~~
. = dotted quaver, 3/16 of a whole note.
~~~~~~
= quaver, 1/8 of a whole note.
~~~~
. = dotted semiquaver, 3/32 of a whole note.
~~~
= semiquaver, 1/16 of a whole note.
~~
= demisemiquaver, 1/32 of a whole note.
~

opp: Abbreviation of opposite.

opposite: The dancer who is facing you.

opposite couple: The couple who is opposite another couple.

opposite lady/ man: The lady or man who is from the opposite couple.

orig: Abbreviation of original.

outside [hand, foot, etc.]:
For a couple standing side-by-side, the hand, foot, etc. furthest from your partner.

pas de basque:
| | meter. | Leap to the right onto the right foot. Step on ball of the left foot across in front of the right foot. | Step on the right foot in place. The step repeats with opposite footwork to the left.

pass through:
The movement through an opposite couple (or line of dancers). All pass right shoulders with their opposite to form a new minor set and repeat the dance. Sometimes the lead couple (the ones moving in line of dance) make an arch under which the others pass.

piece of cake:
In a circle dance, the dancers move diagonally forwards into the centre, turn and move backwards out of the centre along the other diagonal.

pivot [turn]:
A couple take a very close hold facing each other. The man’s left shoulder and the lady’s right shoulder are towards the direction of travel (LOD). The man’s and lady’s right feet are between their partners feet. Man steps in line of dance (LOD) on the left foot and start turning clockwise, swivelling on the ball of the left foot. Lady steps on the ball of the right foot, between the man’s feet, then swivels with the man as a couple. Lady steps in LOD on the left foot and continues the clockwise turn by swivelling on the ball of the left foot. Man steps on ball of right foot between the lady’s feet and swivels with the lady as a couple.
The steps should be small and close to or between the partners feet.

point: Touch the ball of the free foot to the floor in the indicated direction.

point and knee (Scotland):
The step is usually done with partner in the ballroom or open hold. Both hop on inside foot and point other foot to the side (outside) to touch, with straight leg. Hop again on the inside foot as the man lightly touches his inside lower leg with his outside heel just below his knee. Meanwhile the lady bends her outside knee similar to the man but without the touch.

polka:

1. Travelling The step may be danced in any direction but is usually forward. | meter. | Hop on right foot. | Step forward on left foot. Close right foot beside left foot. Step forward on left foot. Repeat with opposite footwork. The step usually starts with the man hopping on the right foot and the lady hopping on the left foot.
2. Turning A couple take a close hold facing each other. Man’s left and lady’s right shoulders towards the direction of travel (LOD). | | meter. | Man hops on right foot. Lady hops on left foot. | Man steps in LOD with left foot. Lady steps in LOD with right foot. Man closes right foot. Lady closes left foot. [ Man steps with left foot in place. Lady steps with right foot in place. During this ‘close - step in place’ the couple turn clockwise half way round.] | Man hops on left foot. Lady hops on right foot. | Man steps in LOD with right foot. Lady steps in LOD with left loot. [ Man closes left foot. Lady closes right foot. Man steps with right foot in place Lady steps with left foot in place. During this ‘close - step in place’ the couple turn clockwise half way round to return to their original position (relative to LOD).] The step repeats.
3. Czech & Russian The Czech, Russian and some other north-east European national polkas do not have the leading hop.

polka promenade: Alternative term for open polka.

polka, [circular] polka: Alternative term for polka 2 (turning)

polka, open polka:
A couple take inside hands and starting with hop on inside foot move forward with a polka 1 (travelling) step as the joined arms swing back and you turn towards your partner. Continue forward with a polka step on the outside foot as the arms swing forward and you turn away from your partner. The steps repeat.

polkade: An open polka for a single circle of couples with all dancers holding hands.

polkade left/ right:
To polkade left; All dancers turn to face their corner (to the man’s left) with arms extended sideways, then turn to face their partner. Each turn is with an open polka step and the dancers move as a whole circle clockwise.
To polkade right; All dancers turn to face their partner then their corner while moving as a whole circle anticlockwise.

pos: Abbreviation of position.

pravo: A Bulgarian straight line dance in 2/4 rhythm.

promenade:
The couples take promenade hold or skaters hold and move in line of dance around the circle.

promenade hold:
A couple side by side, facing the same direction, with the man a little behind the lady. Left hands are joined and held up. The right hands are joined and held up behind the lady. Illustration »

promenade position: An American term equivalent to skaters hold.

proper (longways):
A set is proper if all the men are on the men’s side and all the ladies are on the ladies’ side of the set.

ptr(s): Abbreviation of partner(s).

Q: Abbreviation of quick.

quadrille [set]:
Four couples standing on the sides of a square and facing the centre of the set, ladies on the right of their partners. The couples are usually numbered in the order in which they take the lead in the dance. The top couple is couple 1, the bottom couple is couple 2, the couple to the right of the top couple is couple 3 and the remaining couple is couple 4. Sometimes other couple numbering is used for a particular dance.

quaver (music):
The quaver is one-eighth of the note value of the semibreve (whole note) and half the note value of the crotchet. See note values.

râcenica: (literally - small handkerchief) A Bulgarian horo in 7/16 rhythm.

reel of four:
A figure similar to the reel of three but with four dancers. The middle two dancers stand back to back facing the end dancers. All dancers start by passing their opposites by the right shoulder and continue to pass through the original position of each of the other dancers in turn. The figure ends when all dancers return to their original positions. When like dancers (two ends or two middles) pass, they do so by the left shoulder. Unlike dancers (ends and middles) pass by the right shoulder.

reel of three:
A figure for three dancers in a line, A, B and C. The end dancers A and C face the centre dancer B, who faces A. Each dancer travels in a figure of eight through the original positions of the other two dancers. Dancers A and B start by crossing right shoulders and dancer C starts by moving to his/her right. The dancers continue to move in their figures of eight taking turns to pass through B’s original position. First is A then C, B, A, C and finishing with B by which time all dancers have returned to their original position.

reel step:

1. Bush A variant of the schottische. The step starts with a hop on the upbeat followed by a step forward, a close, and a step in place. Sometimes the close is a cross behind.
2. International | . meter.  | Hop slightly forward. | . Step crossed close in behind. The step repeats with the opposite footwork. The effect of the slight forward hop and cross behind is to dance in place.

reverse line of dance/ [direction]: The opposite direction of movement to line of dance (LOD).

rhythm (music):
Rhythm is used in a general sense to describe the flow of time in music. In a more limited sense it is used to describe the way in which beats are divided to produce smaller units and joined to produce larger units.

right and left:

Two couples facing eachother do half right and left then repeat it to return to place. See also cross over
half right and left:
Two couples face each other, give right hand to opposite, pass by right shoulders and turn to face partner. Give left hand to partner, pass by left shoulder and turn to face opposite.
right and left through (quadrille):
A couple and their opposite couple exchange places passing their opposite by the right shoulders then the ladies move to their opposite lady’s position and the men do likewise passing behind their lady to the opposite man’s position. Repeat to return to original positions. See also cross over.

RLOD: Abbreviation of reverse line of dance.

run: A series of leaps at a fast even tempo with both feet momentarily off the floor.