Allemande Left: Join left hands with your corner or partner and turn once CCW in 8 steps, ending in starting position. Allemande Right is done with opposite hands and direction.

Arabesque: This is a position in which the dancer stands on one leg, straight or bent (not the dancer, the leg), with the other extended to the back at 90 degrees.

Back Skaters Position: Partners stand side-by-side, left hands joined in front of man's body (man's palm up), with man's right arm around partner's waist, and holding lady's right hand at her right hip.

Balance: 1) Two dancers face and dance two step-swings, starting to the right first, either with or without right hands joined. 2) One two-step, two walking steps, or a step and touch moving forward or back, and then repeat the same steps in the opposite direction. 3) A two-step or Pas de Basque to the left and then to the right or to the right and then to the left.

Ballroom (Closed) Position: Two dancers face. The man's left hand is held out to his left, approximately shoulder high, and his right arm is around his partner's waist with the right hand supporting her back. The elbow of the man's right arm must be kept at least as high as the right hand in order to lead properly. The lady's right hand is placed on the man's left hand, and her left hand is placed on the man's right shoulder or upper arm. The lady's left arm should be in contact with the man's right arm, though she should carry the weight and not drag down on her partner, even if he is a muscular sort of person!

Basket Hold: The last thing "Little Red Riding Hood" saw before being consumed by the bad wolf. With regards to dancing...Front Basket Hold (more common) is a row or circle of dancers, side-by-side, with arms extended sideways in front of the adjacent dancers to take hands with the second dancer to each side. Unless indicated otherwise, the left arm is over the right arm of your neighbour to your left.
Back Basket Hold: is a row or circle of dancers, side-by-side, with arms extended sideways behind the adjacent dancers to take hands with the second dancer to each side.

Behind: Otherwise known as the buttocks, rear, bum, rump, khyber pass, backside, derrière or a few other choice words not printable on this site, to which you sit on if you don't know the dance or need a rest from dancing! It can also refer to the free foot, which is supposed to go in back of the opposite foot. The former definitions, however, are much more exciting!

Belt Hold: This first presumes that people are wearing belts. Otherwise, care must be given when reaching towards, and pulling on another dancer's clothes. It involves a row of dancers, side by side, each dancer holding the belt of the adjacent dancer. If the row moves to the right in the dance then the right arm is crossed under the left arm and vice versa. The end dancers in the line hold their belts with their free hands. If there is an absence of belts, you must pretend!

Box Step: A pattern consisting of six steps, which when taken in its entirety, form the shape of a box.

Brush: Nothing to do with the hair-do! This step involves a brushing of the toe(s) on the floor at the lowest part of a swing or in conjunction with another step.

Butterfly Position: When referred to in dancing, two dancers face and join hands out to the sides, palm to palm, elbows slightly bent. When referred to in Kama Sutra it is something totally different.

Buzz: A type of haircut experienced by many military personnel, skin-heads, or persons infested with lice. It is also the euphoria experienced by smoking marijuana!
In dance terms, this step is used when the body is moving sideward to the left, but with the right foot leading. It is sometimes referred to as a pivot. Crossing the right foot over in front of the left, step to the left on it, and close the left foot to the right. This buzz step can also be used to move in the other direction by reversing the footwork. This step can be used when swinging in the shoulder-waist or waist-swing position. Simply put, it is a turn in one spot.

Camel Walk: A skill practiced by Bedouins and Nomads for the purpose of exercising their dromedaries. If your dromedary is physically fit or you do not presently own one, it can be a two-beat maneuver in which a step forward is made on the first beat. On the second beat, the forward foot does a knee pop while the trailing foot slides up to and under the upraised heel of the forward foot.

Chain: A necessary accessory for those who enjoy the charming sport of S&M. In dancing, however, partners face each other in a circle with the men facing anti/counter-clockwise (LOD) and the ladies facing clockwise (RLOD). Give right hand to partner and pass by right shoulders. Give left hand to the next dancer and pass by left shoulder. Continue giving alternately right hand and then left hand to the oncoming dancers. Also known as a "grand chain".

Chug: Something dancers do to water when thirsty, after a long dance. It is also a sharp movement (usually backward) of the supporting foot/feet where the foot/feet do not leave the floor. First shift the weight in the direction of the chug then sharply move the foot/feet to the new center of weight.

Contra or Longways Formation: Couples stand in two lines, men in one line facing the right wall and their partners who are standing in another line and facing the left wall. Starting with the couple at the head of the set, couples are numbered consecutively, to the foot, with rarely more than six couples to a set.

Corner: Where Little Jack Horner sat. It can also be the person standing by a dancer other than his/her partner when dancing as couples.

Cukce: In Balkan dancing, it is a soft rise and fall of the heel, like a bounce. In baby talk, it is the first word (repeated twice) followed by the word "coo". Many babies consider such talk condescending or odd at the very least, especially when a pinch of the cheek or tickling under the chin coincides with such gibberish.

Curtsy: The lady faces her partner with feet together, she touches her left foot behind her right and bends the knees slightly, lowering the body, then returns to normal position. Body remains upright. There is a push for a revival of such practices amongst some men.

Cut: A quick displacement of one foot by the other. To cut the left foot you would stand with weight on the left foot and swing the right foot sidewards towards the left foot. Take weight on the right foot and swing the left foot away from the right foot as a continuation of the right foot’s swing. To "cut right", do the opposite.

Dip: The placement of a small amount of chewing tobacco under the lip, normally thought to be a very disgusting habit. It can also mean a step back on the right foot, with the left foot taking full weight and bending the knee. The other leg remains extended and straight with the toe in contact with the floor.

Dirty Dancin': A general style of very intimate closed position partner dancing popularized in the late 80's by actor/dancer Patrick Swayze in the movie "Dirty Dancin'." Danced to popular fast or slow music and characterized by sensuous and seductive movements by both the man and woman.

Do-si-do: Two dancers face, move forward passing right shoulders (unless directed otherwise), move to the right passing back-to-back, and fall back to places, all in 8 steps. The direction of facing remains the same. There should be no spins. The same figure may be danced passing left shoulders first and moving to the left.

Double Circle: Usually consists of couples who are facing CCW around the circle. Variations: partners face; all dancers face center; all dancers face toward the wall with backs to center; men are in the outside circle with women in the inside circle; every other couple faces CW while alternate couples face CCW, leaving a couple facing a couple.

Drag: A man with a slight 5 o'clock shadow wearing a woman's dress and wig. A drag can also happen when a couples dance is announced and you are suddenly the odd person out without a partner, or when nobody ever asks to be your partner. This can also be a drag. It can also suggest that you bring your free foot slowly together to the supporting foot and is usually much more exciting than a man in a wig.

Draw: Something which is learned after the realization that all of your people look like stick-figures. It can also be something similar to the side-step, except the trailing foot is closed to the supporting foot, with the heel leading and the toe pointed to the side. Weight depends on the next movement or step.

Escort Hold: You can use your own imagination on this one, but can anyone say "Hugh Grant?" When referring to a Line Dance you would place the left hand at waist level close to center front of body. (Men may place left thumb in their belt.) Rest the right hand lightly on the adjacent dancer’s left forearm through the space formed by the bent elbow.
As a Couple Dance, a couple stands side-by-side, facing the same direction. The man bends his right arm and holds it at his waist. The lady slips her left hand through the gap at his elbow to rest it on the man’s right forearm. The man’s left arm and the lady's right arm are held at their sides.

Flea Hop: A skip or scoot sideways in the direction of the non-support leg. The hip moves upward, as if you have just been bitten by a flea in your under-garments.

Free-style: Ad lib dance movements with no fixed structure. This is a very convenient dance term for new-comers. If asked by the more experienced dancers, "What in the world was that step?" The proper reply is, "Free-style, what else?"

Gallop: Think of a horse and then remember that it is similar to the "slipping-step", but executed forward. It is a step on one foot, followed by a rapid closing of the trailing foot. It is danced in uneven rhythm, which comes natural to many caucasian people. The same foot leads on each gallop step.

Grapevine: This is a sideward movement in which the trailing foot may cross behind or in front of the leading foot, or may alternate crossing in front and then behind or behind and then in front. The step may be started with a sideward step, moving the body in the direction of the originating foot, or it may be started by crossing one foot over the other, in which case the body moves in the direction of the crossing foot. If all else fails, step out of the line and/or follow the person beside you with a brave smile!

Gypsy: It has nothing to do with tramps or thieves as Cher would have us believe. It is when two dancers move around each other in a circular path facing outward or towards the center as directed. More often, the pair looks each other in the eyes and walks around each other in the designated direction, without touching each other. The amount of eye contact depends on various factors including individual comfort, how good looking he or she is, the smell of their breath and local tradition.

Heel: For many people, it is the item that grows mold in a package of bread. In dancing terms, however, it means to touch the floor with the heel of your foot, toe raised, without taking weight and usually executed either forward or diagonally forward and to the side.

Hip Bumps: A dance move, generally referred to in its shortened version, "The Bump", that was believed to have went out of fashion in the 1970s. It still reappears occasionally amongst geriatrics. More commonly however, it now refers to a movement in which the hip moves out and back in a quick fashion without coming into contact with the neighbour or dancer beside you (which seems rather pointless).

Hokey Kokey or Hokey Cokey: The correct spellings for what Americans refer to as the "Hokey Pokey." (NOTE: Webmaster is British)

Honour: Facing opposite dancer, lady curtsies and the man bows.

Hop: Not to be confused with a jump (see jump). A hop is a spring from the ground on ONE foot, returning to the ground with weight on the same foot.

Improper: A longways set is "improper" if any of the men are on the ladies’ side or any of the ladies are on the men’s side of the set, unless you are in San Francisco where it doesn't matter.

Irish Hey: A greeting by a gay person from Belfast, who has visited the southern USA (It must be pronounced with a long "A" sound and is often followed by the word "girlfriend"). It could also be an Irish dance, a round or figure dance. (see Straight Hey)

Jump: Not to be confused with a hop (see hop or flea hop). A jump is a spring from the ground on one or both feet, landing with the weight on both feet temporarily, and with the ankle and knee bend absorbing the shock (of doing it correctly)!

Leap: Similar to a "hop", inasmuch as it is a spring from the ground on one foot. However, you return to the ground with the weight on the opposite foot, landing on the ball of the foot and absorbing the shock through the ankle and bent knee. Seeing that it is a "leap", it happens correctly usually once every four years.

LOD: Refers to the "Line of Dance" or "Line of Direction", typically meaning to face and moving CCW (anti/counter-clockwise) around the room and sometimes referred to as "Forward".

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.

Mazurka: Two steps with the free foot displacing the supporting foot on the second step, followed by a hop on the new supporting foot. Left, cut (R), hop (R), or right, cut (L), hop (L). It is danced in even time, but with 3 steps to the measure. On the hop, the heel of the free foot is crossed over in front of the supporting leg. If confused, skip it.

Mixer: Anything blended with tequila, rum, whiskey, gin or other hard beverages. After which (when drank in large quantities) it is a dance or dance pattern where partners are switched.

Morris Dance: An English folk dance that appeared in the fifteenth century, in which dancers wore bells on their legs and characters included a fool, a boy on a hobby horse, and a man in blackface.

Open Position: (A swingers favourite position) Partners stand side-by-side and join inside hands, generally facing LOD (Line of Dance).

Open Promenade: Right- The couple are in Open Dance Position. The lady is to the right of the man. The lady's left hand is held in the man's right. They are facing the same direction, both traveling down the line of dance (LOD).
Left- The couple are in Open Dance Position. The lady is to the left of the man. The lady's right hand is held in the man's left. They are facing the same direction, both traveling down the line of dance (LOD).

Pas de Basque: This is a fancy name for a two-step moving sideways. The timing is exactly the same. To Pas de Basque left, leap onto the left foot, cross the right foot over in front of the left foot and momentarily, while in mid-air and breathing comfortably, take the weight on it, then quickly step on the left foot in place. To Pas de Basque right, reverse the above.

Plié: is a movement in which the knees are bent while the back is held straight.

Point: Pointing is rude. Don't do it. However, if you insist, you may touch the floor with the pointed toes without taking weight. The toe may touch backward, sideward, forward or across in the front of the supporting foot. Pointing and giggling is even more rude.

Polka: This is a springy two-step, preceded by a hop on the supporting foot on the up-beat.

Promenade: From Closed dance position, the man and the lady step forward in a "V" position down the line of dance. See Open Promenade

Quadrille: Four couples standing on the sides of a square and facing the center 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.

Quick, Quick: A majority of men's approach to foreplay and sexual intimacy. On the dance floor, however, it is represented by a "Double Rhythm Unit" which is 2 steps to 2 beats of music. In 4/4 time a "Quick Quick" would be 2 steps to 2 beats of music (stepping on each beat) and a Slow would be 1 step to two beats of music (stepping on the first beat).

RLOD: Refers to the "Reverse Line of Dance" or "Reverse Line of Direction", typically meaning to face and moving CW (clockwise) around the room and sometimes referred to as "Back" or "Backward."

Rolling Turn: A 3/4 to full turn, while progressing in any given direction usually requiring 3 to 4 steps. It can also happen when you are not paying attention on the dance floor, and can be rather embarrassing.

Schottische: Sounds like someone who has had too many mixers and is referring to a native from Scotland. It involves three steps followed by a hop on the supporting foot. On the hop, the free foot may execute a swing. It is danced in even rhythm, and may be executed forward, backward, sideward or turning. On the second step, the free foot may be closed to the supporting foot, or may move past the supporting foot before taking the weight.

Scissors: Spring to the right foot as the left foot kicks forward then spring to the left foot as the right foot kicks forward. The body weight usually rests on the back foot but can rest on the front or both feet. You spring on the spot and the legs alternately kick forward and may touch the ground with the toe, heel or whole foot. The scissors appear in many rhythms.

Semi-closed Position: From a closed position, both dancers turn to face forward around the room, maintaining the same arm and hand positions.

Shag: A word that was made popular again by the Austin Power's films. The meaning is not able to be published on this website. Neither should it be confused with the Carolina Shag, which is a slow laid back type of Swing that became popular in the late 30's along with the Jitterbug and Lindy Hop. The dance was done to up-tempo Swing or Foxtrot music and was instantly recognizable by the flicking of the feet backwards with a pronounced hopping action.

Shoulder Hold: A row of dancers, usually men, side by side, with arms straight and hands on the shoulders of neighbours.

Siding: Two dancers face, and dance forward and back, passing left shoulders as they dance forward (turn to left on 3rd step to continue facing partner), and right shoulders as they return (turn to right on third step).

Single Circle: All dancers stand in a circle, either with or without hands joined, and regardless of sex or sexual orientation. Variations: circles consists of couples, with lady on the man's right; dancers face center; dancers face clockwise; dancers face anti/counter-clockwise; dancers face out (backs to center)... You get the idea!

Slipping or Sliding: Something very easy to do when dancing on a newly finished floor! This is a step to the right or left, with the leading foot followed by the other foot closing to it and taking weight. The tempo is quick and uneven, with the leading foot moving quickly to the side after the trailing foot has closed. The feet remain near the floor and the legs are only slightly separated. The leading foot lands on the accented beat and the trailing foot takes the weight only long enough to move the free foot out to the side again.

Straight Hey: No such thing. (See Irish Hey)

Tcherkessia: Step right foot forward, step left foot in place, step right foot backward, step left foot in place.
Half Tcherkessia: Step right foot forward, step left foot in place.
Double Tcherkessia: Step right foot across in front of left foot, step left foot in place, close right foot to left foot. Step left foot across in front of right foot, step right foot in place, close left foot to right foot.

Two-Step: A step with one foot, followed by a closing of the other foot, and again a step with the originating foot. (Left, right, left or Right, left, right). To confuse matters, it may be danced forward, backward, sideward, or while turning. The rhythm is quick-quick slow, quick-quick slow.

V-Hold: A row or circle of dancers, side by side, with arms sloping down and hands joined with neighbours. There is a slight gap between dancers so that arms look like the letter "V", otherwise it would be called a "W" hold!

Varsouvienne: Couples stand side-by-side, left hands joined in front of man's body (man's palm up), with man's right arm behind partner's shoulders and holding partner's right hand above her right shoulder. Lady's right hand faces forward with the back of the hand resting against man's palm.

Village Variations: When you screw-up royally and you don't want anyone to know, you claim that in your "village" the dance is done like you just did it. A form of relieving embarassment.

W-Hold: A row or circle of dancers, side by side, with elbows bent and hands joined with neighbours at shoulder height. Hands are slightly forward, creating a formation that looks like the letter "W", otherwise, it would be called a "V" hold!

Waltz: Three steps in which the free foot is closed to the supporting foot on the third step. It is danced in even time, but with either three or six steps to the measure. It may be danced forward, backward, sideward, or while turning. Seldom is it done upside down!

Weight: You may hear it said either, "No weight", "no body weight", "full weight", etc. Weight refers the position a dancer finds him/her-self at the end of the step. The dancer's center of gravity is directly over the support foot. A simple test for a full weight transfer is that you can freely lift the second foot off the floor.

Yemenite (R): A person who comes from the country of Yemen. In dance terms, step to the right with the right foot, bending the knee. Step on the left foot slightly behind the right foot with straight leg and on the ball of the foot. Step with right foot back to starting position. Hold (or close left foot). May be “repeated” with a yemenite left, ie. opposite footwork and opposite sideways directions.