Terminology
Terminology:
L = Left
R = Right
S = Slow
Q = Quick
Usage instructions:
You can see the video in full screen, if you click the square-icon in lower right corner of video, or if you double click the video. You can return from full screen to normal with same way or pressing the ESC-key.
Below you find detailed descriptions. When you click the title / name of the movement, it's description will open. If you click it again, it closes.
Following terms has been used in descriptions:
AND means simultaneous action
& (ampersand) The upbeat that precedes or follows the whole downbeat.
APPLEJACK
A foot swiveling movement in place as follows:
1 With weight on Left heel ad Ball of Right foot, swivel Left toe to the left and Right heel to the left (feet are in the "V" position, toes pointed outward.) & Swivel Left toe and Right heel back to center 2 Weight on Right heel and Ball of Left foot, swivel Right toe to the right and Left heel to the right (feet are in "V" position, toes pointed outward.) & Bring feet together
BRUSH/SCUFF
Scuffs are done with the heel. Foot swings forward with just heel touching. Brushes are done with the ball of the foot forward, back, or across.
BALL CHANGE
Step down on the ball of one foot and raising the other foot. Step down on other foot. (A shuffle is really a step-ball-step.) Can be done on either foot. Eg: & Step on ball of R next to L raising L 2 Step on L next to R
CHA BASIC
Rock forward, rock back, cha in place, rock back, rock forward, cha in place. Eg: 1-2 Rock forward on L, recover back on R 3&4 Cha Cha in place LRL 5-6 Rock back on R, recover forward on L 7&8 Cha Cha in place RLR
CROSS CHA
On counts 1-2 and 5-6 above you rock across, and back. Chas are the same.
CHARLESTON
4 Count Move. Step 1st foot forward, kick 2nd foot forward, step 2nd foot back, touch 1st foot back. Eg: 1 Step R forward 2 Kick L forward 3 Step L back 4 Touch R toe back
CLOSE
This means stepping next to other foot. Also can be called TOGETHER.
COASTER
The rhythm is 1&2. Second step is always step beside the first step. Third step is to the opposite direction. It is used to quickly change direction.
A back coaster step: Eg: 1 Step back on L & Step R back next to L 2 Step forward on L A forward coaster step: Eg: 1 Step forward on L. & Step R fwd next to L 2 Step back on L
FAN
2 count move. The toe of the one foot is moved out to the side and back.
FWD-CLOSE-FWD
step forward, together, step forward.
GRAPEVINE
Originally a 4 step sequence: "side, cross behind, side, cross in front". Now used variously for a 3 step sequence followed by a touch, step together, kick, stomp, scuff etc.
HEEL JACK
& Step right diagonally R back
1 Touch left heel in place
& Step left in place
2 Step right beside left
HEEL SCISSORS
Eg: & step right foot diagonally right backwards
1 step left across right
& step right diagonally back
2 touch left heel diagonally left forward
HIP BUMP
Step foot forward or back & bump hips in the same direction. Continue bumping hips as specified. [May be syncopated. May not involve a step.]
HIP ROLL
The movement of the hips in a circular action either clockwise or anti-clockwise.
HITCH
Raise your knee up with weight on the opposite foot.
HOLD
Hold your position for the specified counts of music before taking another step.
HEEL HOOK COMBO
Touch heel forward, hook the heel across the foot, touch heel forward, step together.
HOP
A jump on the spot and landing on same foot.
JAZZ BOX
4 count move. Also called JAZZ SQUARE. One movement of 4 is a cross step. Normally you do it on the first count.
Eg: 1-2 Cross step R over L. Step back on L. 3-4 Step to side on R. Step L next to R.
KICK
Self explainatory. May be done in any direction.
KICK BALL CHANGE, HEEL BALL CHANGE
Do a kick and then a ball-change as above. It can be done on either foot. Eg: 1. Kick R forward (or touch R heel fwd) & Step the ball of R next to L raising L 2. Step L next to R
LOCK STEP
The designated foot crossed closely in front or behind the other foot. [Often done as part of a step sequence, eg: a lock-shuffle, a lock-vine or a "step, lock"]
LUNGE
The transfer of weight to a bent leg with free leg extended.
MAMBO
1. Step foot to the side, rock onto opposite foot, cross foot over opposite foot. [See also Samba]
2. Step foot forward, rock onto opposite foot, step foot back.
Note: The term 'mambo' originally referred to a side samba (No.1). However it is now almost universally used as per the second definition above. If you are using an old stepsheet, make certain which step sequence is meant.
MONTEREY TURN
Unless specified a Monterey turn is always a 1/2 turn. It may be 1/4, 3/4 or full. Eg: Right Monterey turn: Touch toes of right foot to the right side, keeping weight on the left foot (count 1). Turn 1/2 turn right and step right foot next to left taking the weight onto right foot (count 2). Touch left toes to left side (count 3). Step left foot beside right with weight on the left foot (count 4).
PADDLE TURN
A turn either left or right, using a series of ball changes with the weight staying over the turning foot.
PIVOT TURN
Unless specified a pivot turn is always a 1/2 turn. Step the nominated foot forward, then turn 180° on the balls of both feet in the opposite direction of the forward foot and return weight to the original foot.
QUICK
A step or weight change that takes one beat of music
RAMBLE
To travel right or left twisting heels then toes (or vice versa).
ROCK STEP
2 count move. Rock one foot forward, back, or side on count 1, weight on it. Stationary foot lifts slightly. On count 2 weight shifts to stationary foot (recover). Recover means put the weight back on the foot that stayed in place.
ROCKING CHAIR
A series of 4 rock steps. Eg: Rock/step forward on left. Rock back onto right. Rock/step back on left. Rock forward onto right. [May be done backwards.]
RUMBA BOX
8 count move with a hold on count 4 and 8. Can start forward, side or back. Eg: 1-4 Step R to right, step L next to R, step R back, hold 5-8 Step L to left, step R next to L, step L forward, hold
RUN RUN RUN
3 quick steps forward.
SAILOR STEP
3 steps to 2 counts of music. Eg: 1 Step R behind L & Step L to left side 2 Step R to right side
SCISSORS
Eg: 1 Step R foot to right side
2 Step L foot next to right foot
3 Cross R foot over L foot
4 Hold
SHUFFLE STEP
3 steps to 2 counts of music. It can move forward, backward, or to either side. When it moves to the side it can be called a chasse. As triple step it can be done in place. Eg: 1 Step forward on R & Step ball of L next to R 2 Step forward on R
SKATE
Slide nominated foot forward at 45 degrees angle, slide other foot together. A skate may also be only the first slide.
SLOW
A step or weight change that takes two beats of music
STOMP
Stomp the foot on the floor to make a loud sound. Weight usually remains on the other foot.
STRUT
2 count move. There are two kinds: HEEL TOE STRUT - heel goes first and the toe goes second. TOE HEEL STRUT - toe goes first and heel goes second.
SWEEP
Curve pointed toe out and around from front to back or back to front. Can sometimes be executed with a turn. [Usually one beat, but may be 2]
WALTZ BASIC
Waltz steps - groups of 3. A basic waltz goes forward on one set of 3 and back on the other. The first count is long and the other 2 are short. Eg: 1 Step forward on L (long) 2 Step R next to L (short) 3 Step L in place (short) 4 Step back on R (long) 5 Step L next to R (short) 6 Step R next to L (short)
TWINKLE
. Eg: 1 Cross step L over R 2 Step R out to right side 3 Step L slightly back or nearer to R foot
UNWIND
Cross the lead foot in front of the other foot. With weight the other foot make a 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 or "unwind" turn (ie: turn in the opposite direction of whichever foot is crossed - if the left foot is crossed over the right, turn right). [Weight ends on either foot, as specified in the particular dance. The unwind may take one or more beats.]
WEAVE
Eg: Left: Cross right over left. Step left to left side. Cross right behind left. Step left to left side.
