Partner Dance Terms Glossary (81 Terms)
81 partner dance terms with plain definitions and links between related steps. Filter the list or jump to a letter.
A
Alignment
Alignment can mean: the directions the feet face in relationship to the room. See Direction of movement . the positioning of the body's "bui…
Amalgamation
A combination of two or more figures; more generally: a sequence of figures that a couple wants to dance.
American Rhythm
A category of dances in American Style ballroom competitions. It includes cha-cha-cha , rumba , East Coast swing , bolero , and mambo . Some…
American Smooth
A category of dances in American Style ballroom competitions. It includes waltz , tango , foxtrot , and Viennese waltz . Previously Peabody …
American Style
The term describes a particular style of ballroom dances developed in the United States that contrasts with the International Style . In a n…
B
Backleading
In social dancing strongly relying on leading and following , this term means that the follower executes steps without waiting for or contra…
Body contact
Body contact is a style of closed position in partner dancing ( closed position with body contact ); it is also a type of physical connectio…
Body flight
Body flight is a property of many movements in dances such as the waltz and foxtrot . It refers to steps taken with momentum in excess of th…
Body support
Support of the partner's body is largely avoided in ballroom dancing. The exception would be "lifts" – often featured in some forms of swing…
C
Call
A call in square dancing is a command by a caller to execute a particular dance figure . In round dancing , calls are called cues . See " Ca…
Caller
A caller or a cuer is a person that calls/cues dance figures to be executed in square dances and round dances .
Center
When indicating a direction of movement during a dance, the term "center" means the direction perpendicular to the line of dance (LOD) point…
Center point of balance
Together with the center of gravity (COG), the center point of balance (CPB) helps the dancer to better understand and control their movemen…
Check
A pronounced discontinuation of movement through the feet. This is created by locking the back of one knee into the front of the other knee.…
Closed dance figure
The term has at least two meanings: regarding dance position and regarding footwork . A figure performed in closed position . A figure in wh…
Closed position
The ordinary position of ballroom dancing in which the partners face each other with their bodies approximately parallel. In Standard and Sm…
Compression
The term has several meanings. Compression is a type of physical connection , opposite to leverage , in which the dance partners lean togeth…
Connection
A means of communication between dancers in the couple. Physical and visual types of connection are distinguished. Physical connection, some…
Contra body movement
Refers to the action of the body in turning figures; turning the opposite hip and shoulder towards the direction of the moving foot.
Contra body movement position
Contra body movement position occurs when the moving foot is brought across (behind or in front) the standing foot without the body turning.…
Counter promenade position
In ballroom dances, the dance couple moves (or intends to move) sidewise to the leader's right while the bodies form a V-shape, with leader'…
Cue
A signal to execute a dance figure. See Call and Voice cue .
D
Dance step
For one meaning, see Dance move , for another one, see Step . See also Glossary of dance steps .
Dancesport
Dancesport is an official term to denote dance as competitive , sport activity.
F
Fallaway
Both dance partners take (at least) a step backwards into promenade position .
Figure
A completed set of steps. More explicitly: a small sequence of steps comprising a meaningful gestalt , and given a name, for example whisk o…
Footwork
In a wider sense, the term footwork describes dance technique aspects related to feet: foot position and foot action . In a narrow sense, e.…
Formation
A formation or dance formation is a team of dance couples. Formation of a dance team is the specification of positions of dancers or dance c…
Formation dance
Formation dance is a choreographed dance of a team of couples, e.g., ballroom sequence or ballroom formation dance/team.
Frame
Dance frames are the positions of the upper bodies of the dancers (hands, arms, shoulders, neck, head, and upper torso). A strong frame is w…
Full weight
Full weight or full-weight transfer means that at the end of the step the dancer's center of gravity is directly over the support foot . A s…
G
H
Handhold
Handhold is an element of dance connection : it is a way the partners hold each other by hands.
Heel lead
Landing on the heel of the foot in motion during a step before putting weight on the remainder of the foot. As in normal walking, much of th…
Heel turn
A heel turn is an action danced by the partner on the inside of turn in certain figures in Standard or Smooth . During the course of rotatio…
Hijacking
In social dancing strongly reliant on leading and following, hijacking means temporary assuming the leading role by the follower. Also known…
I
International Latin
International Latin is category of dances in International Style ballroom competitions. It includes samba , cha-cha-cha , rumba , pasodoble …
International Standard
A category of dances in International Style ballroom competitions. Sometimes in the context of competitions it is called Ballroom or Interna…
International Style
The term describes a particular style of ballroom dances that contrasts with American Style . In a narrower sense, it denotes the group of d…
J
L
Latin
As applied to dances, Latin dance is any type of social dance of Latin American origin.
Latin hip motion
A characteristic type of hip motion found in the technique of performing a step in Latin and Rhythm dances. Although most visible in the hip…
Leverage
The term describes type of physical connection , opposite to compression , in which the dance partners lean away from each other while being…
Line of dance
Line of dance (LOD or LoD) is conceptually a path along and generally parallel to the edge of the dance floor in the counterclockwise direct…
Line of foot
An imaginary straight line passing through the foot in the heel-toe direction.
M
Measures per minute
Measures per minute, or MPM, refers to the tempo of the music according to the number of measures or bars occurring in one minute of music. …
Moving foot
The foot that is in action (tap, ronde, etc.) while most or all of the body's weight is being supported by the standing foot. Compare Suppor…
N
O
Open dance figure
The term has at least two meanings: regarding dance position and regarding footwork . A figure performed in open position . A figure in whic…
Open position
Open position is any dance position in couple dances, in which the partners stand apart in contrast to closed position . They may face inwar…
Outside partner position
A step into outside partner position occurs when the moving foot of the forward travelling partner moves on a track outside of their partner…
P
Physical connection, physical lead
A dance connection by means of physical contact. Types of physical connection are body contact, compression , leverage .
Pinched shoulder
Pinched shoulder is the position seen when promenade position is incorrectly danced with an outward rotation of the upper bodies, rather tha…
Progressive dance
See Travelling dance
Promenade position
The promenade position is described differently in various dance categories. See also counter promenade position . In ballroom dances their …
R
Replace
In brief descriptions of dance figures, replace means replacing the weight to the previous support foot while keeping it in place. For examp…
Rhythm
See American Rhythm . See Rhythm .
Rise and fall
Rises and falls refer to the body ascending and descending by use of feet, ankles, and legs, to create dynamic movement.
S
Shadow position
Both partners face the same general direction, one of them (the man) behind and slightly shifted leftwards ("in the shadow"). Handholds vary…
Side lead
A body position or action during a step, sometimes also called same side lead . Side-leading refers to a movement during which the side of t…
Slot
In slotted dances , the dance slot is an imaginary narrow rectangle along which the follower moves back and forth with respect to the leader…
Slotted dance
A dance style in which the couple's movements are generally confined to a slot . The most typical slotted dance is west coast swing . Some o…
Spot dance
A dance that is generally danced in a restricted area of the dance floor. Examples are rumba , salsa , east coast swing . Compare travelling…
Spotting
A technique used during turns. The dancer chooses a reference point (such as their partner or a distant point along the line of travel) and …
Standard
See International Standard
Standing foot
Same as Supporting foot .
Stealing the lead
In social dancing strongly reliant on leading and following, stealing the lead means temporary assuming the leading role by the follower. Al…
Step
In a strict sense, a step , or a footstep , is a single move of one foot, usually involving full or partial weight transfer to the moving fo…
Supporting foot
It is also called support foot or standing foot , a foot which bears the full or nearly full weight while the other foot does some action (s…
Sway
The term sway has a specific meaning in the technique of ballroom dancing. Basically, it describes a body position in which its upper part g…
Syncopation
In dancing, the term syncopation has two meanings. The first one is similar to the musical terminology: stepping on an unstressed musical be…
T
Tension
Describes a physical connection , opposite to compression , in which a stress exists at the point(s) of contact directed away from the conta…
Three Ts
Technique, timing, and teamwork . The criteria for evaluation of dance mastery in the swing dancing community.
Timing
The relation of the elements of a dance step or dance figure with respect to musical timing: bars and beats . Also the synchronizing of move…
Toe lead
Landing on the toe of the foot in motion during a step before putting weight on the remainder of the foot.
Top line
The top line is the way dancers hold their head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and upper back.
Tracking, track of foot
The trajectory of the moving foot visualized as a narrow imaginary track, forward and backward of the foot rather than a line. For the stand…
Travelling (progressive) dance
A dance that significantly travels over the dance floor, generally in the direction of the line of dance . Examples are waltz , foxtrot , po…
V
Visual connection, visual lead
A dance connection by means of visual awareness of partners in a couple. Visual connection by no means should replace the physical connectio…
Voice cue
Voice cues help match rhythmic patterns of steps (or other moves) with the music. There are different types of voice cues. The most common e…
W
Definitions adapted from the Wikipedia article “Glossary of partner dance terms” (CC BY-SA 4.0).