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.
Flamenco
Not to be confused with a "flamingo," it is a Sevillian gypsy dance, possibly originating in India, also with Moorish and Arabian influences, originally accompanied by songs and clapping and later by the guitar, and characterized by its heelwork (taconeo). A flamingo is a bright pink bird who mysteriously appears on some lawns in America, normally in lower-class neighbourhoods.
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.
Folk Dancing
A type of dancing that has developed through the traditions of a culture, and has been passed down from generation to generation. It is danced to traditional ethnic music and their instruments.
Foxtrot
The dance originated in 1913 when a vaudeville performer by the name of Harry Fox performed a little "trot" which appealed to the social dance teachers in New York and thus the Foxtrot was born. Little did Harry Fox realize that his trotting on a New York stage in 1913 would become an overnight success. The Foxtrot is the foundation for many of the social dances that followed. It is enjoyed by all age groups for its ease of movement and smooth style. Foxtrot music is played by most social dance orchestras and is one of the easiest dances to learn in the American Style.
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?"
Frug
The Frug was born from a dance called the Chicken which had a lateral body movement and was used as a change of pace during the Twist. So as the kids grew lazier they decided to do less work, and started moving only their hips while standing still. As the hips swing from side to side they started making up arm movements for the dance. From this came the Swim, the Monkey, the Dog, the Watusi, the Waddle or Wabble and the Jerk. Some of these dances are named with localities. What we call the Frug is often called the Surf, Big Bea and Thunderbird, with the Swim being born out of it. What we call the Watusi is also known as Wabble and Waddle. The Monkey, Dog, Bump and Jerk fall roughly into the same category.
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. Donkeys seldom gallop, as they are known to have a stubborn streak and move quite slowly.
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! Oh…it is also something which grows grapes.
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.
Gumboot Dance
The slave laborers in the gold mines of South Africa developed their own language by slapping their gumboots and rattling their ankle chains. In time it has developed into a truly unique dance form. It has absolutely nothing to do with gum on one's boots or the dance which often follows, in the attempt to remove it. For this situation, an ice pack is said to be more effective to removing the gum than dancing.
Halay
A very popular Turkish
square dance. Participants join hands, making a circle. The music
and the dance start slowly but gets faster and faster. It is
danced with the accompaniment of a drum and shrill pipe. The
halay is danced especially on holidays and wedding days. It
starts with a folk song, sang by the drummer in general. The origin
of the halay is in the west and south of Turkey.
Hambo
A traditional Swedish
couple dance, originating in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It
is danced in ¾ time, to music played with a strong accent on
the first beat and a tempo that varies from moderate to
fast. When danced to a quicker tune, it involves a lot of
spinning around and should never be danced immediately after eating
a large meal.
Heel
A man's idea of beauty and
a woman's idea of pain. 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.
Heel Clicks
An
action where the weight is on the balls of both feet and the
heels lift from the floor and hit each other. It can also occur
in older persons whenver they walk across the floor. It is
usually not painful, but an irritating noise to many.
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 Cokey
The correct spellings for what Americans refer to as the "Hokey Pokey."
Honour
Facing opposite dancer, lady curtsies and the man bows. It is also something that has
been removed from many wedding vows.
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.
Hornpipe
A lively British
dance typically performed by one person, and is often danced wearing
a hard shoe. The form dates back to the mid-18th century or
earlier, but became much more popular in the early 19th century.
Perhaps the best known example is the Sailor's Hornpipe, which
imitates the life of a sailor and their duties aboard ship.
Due to the small space the dance required, and no need for a
partner, the dance was popular on-board ship.
Hula
Originally a sacred
dance of Hawaii supposedly created by the younger volcano Kala to please
his sister Pele. In due time its varied interpretation also
served to please the visiting sailors which did not please the
missionaries who promptly banned it. Despite this blight, it
has been revived and is now more popular than ever. It is in
4/4 meter, interprets stories by the use of arms, hands and
facial expression. The basic step is a chasse' during which
the hips undulate.
Hustle
A number of similar
style disco dances which had its beginning in the mid-70's and
enjoys some continuing popularity as a swing style today. The
record "Do The Hustle" was followed by the movie
"Saturday Night Fever." The movie portrayal of partner dancing
by John Travolta to the popular beat of top selling
music from the Bee Gees and the introduction to America of the
discotheque setting, popular for some years in Europe, took
America by storm. Flashing lights, mirrors everywhere, loud
throbbing beat, and high fashion were in. Large numbers of popular
discos sprang up in every city and everyone was waiting in
line to dance.
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)
Jarabe
The Jarabes are typical Mexican Folk dances. Usually done by a couple, it depicts a flirtation and conquest. It is well known in America by its other name, "The Mexican Hat Dance." The Mexican Jarabe is a descendant of the Spanish Zapateado, and its rhythm resembles that of a Mazurka. It is in 3/4 time.
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)!
Kaka
Sometimes spelled "Caca," it is the foul smelling substance found in babies nappies (diapers) at the most inconvenient of times. Synonyms: poo-poo, doo-doo, poopy, number 2. Antonyms: wee-wee, pee-pee, tinkle, number one. It is also a picturesque Togolese dance of the coastal areas, carried out with pieces of bamboo. (Note: If travelling to Togo, do not tell your host you need to do "kaka." The musicians will start playing and you will be expected to produce "kaka.")
Kolo
A Slavic dance performed in a circle with origins to the late 18th century. It is Serbo-Croat, literally meaning "wheel."
Lambada
A samba-derived dance from the northeast coast of Brazil. The exciting look of this dance on European television took the continent by storm in the late 1980s.
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.
Lindy Hop
Named by Ray Bolger, after Colonel Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic. This Swing had as much "getting into the air" as possible. However, the violently acrobatic style used for exhibitions is not the same as the quietly rhythmic Lindy enjoyed by good dancers on the ballroom floor. The rhythmic patterns takes place over two measures of music. The more acrobatic versions were limited to ballrooms of which the most famous was the New York's Savoy Harlem. At one time the Jitterbug included the Charleston, Black Bottom, Shag and Lindy Hop. It has now been consolidated into Lindy Hop in eastern U.S. and on the west coast the West Coast Swing.
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
A Polish dance consisting of 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 (for the sole purpose of dancing with somebody else) and has nothing to do with "swinging."
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.