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DANCE TERMS |
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Adagio - Any dance to slow music; also, part of the classical pas de deux in ballet.
In classical ballet the pas de deux (duet) consists of four sections: an opening adagio in which the man supports the woman in turns and balances, followed by a solo variation for each of them, and concluded by a fast coda in which they again dance together.
air, en l' - (ballet) a step done off the ground -- for instance, rond de jambe en l'air.
allegro - A dance with a fast or moderate tempo. That part of a ballet class comprised of fast turning or jumping, especially beaten steps; usually follows the adagio.
allonge - (ballet) an elongated line; in particular, the horizontal line of an arabesque with one arm stretched front and the other back.
amague - a fake
arabesque - a position in which the dancer stands on one leg, straight or bent, with the other extended to the back at 90 degrees.
arrastre - a drag.
assemble - a jump from one to both feet, usually landing in fifth position.
attitude - a pose in which one leg is raised in back or in front with knee bent, usually with one arm raised.
balance - A step that rocks from one foot to the other, usually in 3/4 time.
ballerina - female dancer. Prima ballerina, or first dancer, is usually used for one who dances leading roles.
ballet - classical theatrical dancing based on the danse d'ecole, the rules and vocabulary that were codified around 1700 in France.
ballet blanc - A ballet in which the women wear white tutus, such as the second and fourth acts of Swan Lake.
ballet d'action - a ballet with a plot, usually tragic.
ballon - the ability of a dancer to remain suspended in air during a jump; elasticity in jumping.
ballroom dances - social dances usually performed by couples, including the fox-trot, waltz, tango, rumba, swing, mambo, samba, and cha cha.
barrida - a sweep.
barre - the wooden bar that runs around the wall of the ballet studio at waist height, and which the dancer holds onto during the first part of class - usually referred to as the barre. It helps the dancer find or adjust his/her balance.
bas, en - low, as in placement of arms.
basic movement - a characteristic figure that remains constant.
basse danse - a solemn court dance usually in duple time, popular in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
battement - a beating movement of the legs.
bolero - a dance that originated in Spain. Very slow Rumba rhythm, usually with Spanish vocals.
bourree, pas de - a series of small, fast steps executed with the feet very close together.
brise - a jump off one foot that is "broken" by a beating of the legs in the air.
cabriole - In ballet, a leap in which the lower leg beats against the upper one at an angle, before the dancer lands again on the lower leg.
cambre - In ballet, a bend from the waist to the side or to the back.
Cha Cha - From the Mambo this underwent subtle changes. It was triple mambo and this then became a dance in itself.
chasse - A sliding step in which one foot "chases" and displaces the other.
chat, pas de - Catlike leap in which one foot follows the other into the air, knees bent; the landing is in the fifth position.
ciseaux - A jump in which the legs open in second position in the air, resembling a scissors.
coda - In ballet, the third and final part of the classical pas de deux.
contraction - A basic movement in the technique of Martha Graham, based on breath inhalation and exhalation.
corphyee - A dancer who has moved out of the corps de ballet to dance minor solo roles.
corps de ballet - The members of a ballet company who do not perform solo.
corrida - a run
croisee - In ballet, a position with the body at an oblique angle and the working leg crossing the line of the body.
cruzar - (cruze) to cross (the cross)
dance - a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music.
danseur noble - A male dancer who performs the "princely" roles of the classical ballet, such as the Prince in Swan Lake.
degage - Shifting weight from one foot to the other.
demi-caractere - A style of dancing that has elements of character dancing but remains within the classical technique.
developpe - An unfolding of the leg in the air.
ecarte - A position with one leg extended at an oblique angle while the body is also at an oblique angle.
efface - A position of the body at an oblique angle and partly hidden.
elevation - The ability to jump high into the air and give the appearance of remaining suspended at the apex of the jump.
en travesti - A female dancer dressed as a man, or a male dressed as a woman.
enrosque - a twist
entrechat - A ballet movement in which the dancer repeatedly crosses his or her legs in the air.
epaulement - The position of the torso from the waist up.
etoile - Literally "star." The highest rank a dancer may hold in the Paris Opera.
feis - a festival that includes figure (group) and solo step dancing, crafts, instrumental, vocal and Gaelic language competitions. The plural is feisianna. A competition with only dancing is called a feile.
ferme - A closed position of the feet.
flamenco - 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).
floorcraft - Refers to avoiding bumping into other couples as well as the ability to continue dancing without pause when boxed in.
fondu - A lowering of the body by bending the knee.
fouette - Literally "whipped." A turning step, usually done in a series, in which the working leg whips out to the side in and then into the knee as the dancer turns on the supporting leg, rising onto the pointe at each revolution.
fouette en tournant - A spectacular movement in which the dancer propels himself or herself around a supporting leg with rapid circular movements of the other leg while remaining in a fixed spot.
fox-trot - A social dance of American origin. A standard ballroom dance the world over and serves as a good foundation for social dances in 2/4 or 4/4 time.
freestyle - Ad lib dance movements with no fixed structure. Danced to a variety of music styles including Rock 'n Roll, and discotheque beats.
Glissade - A gliding step which usually connects two steps.
haut, en - A position of the arms above the head.
Hesitation Waltz - This dance is reputed to have developed in Boston. Apparently, the dance masters who were responsible for the evening's program at society functions gained favor with their socialite clients by imposing as much restraint as possible on the dances and creating an obviously reserved interpretation. The Waltz, in particular, became a target of this type of constraint. The blatant rotation of the dance was effectively curbed by taking a step and hesitating for two beats before proceeding with a conventional Waltz figure or another hesitation.
Hornpipe - The hornpipe began around 1760, evolving from English stage acts. It was originally danced exclusively by males in hard shoes, but now, both men and women compete. It is reported that the ladies of Cork were the first to brazenly perform the hornpipe in the male style. The hornpipe is in 4/4 time, reminiscent of a slow reel with accents on the first and third beat. A notable feature is the frequent use of a rocking motion with the ankles.
Hustle or Swing 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." John Travolta's portrayal of partner dancing took America by storm. Discotheques with flashing lights, mirrors, loud throbbing music and high fashion were the in thing.
Irish Hey - Irish dance, a round or figure dance.
Irish Uillean Pipe - a complicated bellows-blown instrument that differs from the more often seen Scottish Highlands pipes. The sound has been described as being more appropriate for playing an Irish air in the parlor rather than the stirring sound of the Scottish bagpipe.
Jete - A leap from one leg to the other in which one leg is thrown to the side, front, or back. Grand jete: a large leap forward.
Jig - A number of variations of the jig are performed including the single (or soft), double, treble, and slip jig. The music is 6/8 time.
Jitterbug - A lively social dance popular during the 1930's. It is a toned down version of a Lindy Hop.
Jive - International competitive Swing dance with elements of the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. Characterized by up tempo single time music danced with triple steps done primarily on the toes with very lively movement.
Leotard - A one-piece garment covering the entire torso, with or without sleeves, worn with tights for practice or in many contemporary ballets, as a stage costume. Originally designed by the French acrobat Jules Leotard (1830-1870) who also invented the flying trapeze.
Lindy Hop - One evening in 1927, following Lindbergh's flight to Paris, a local dance enthusiast named "Shorty George" Snowden was watching some of the dancing couples at the Savoy Ballroom in New York. A newspaper reporter asked him what dance they were doing, and it just so happened that there was a newspaper with an article about Lindbergh's flight sitting on the bench next to them. The title of the article read, "Lindy Hops The Atlantic," and George just sort of read that and said, "Lindy Hop" and the name stuck.
Line of Dance - The counterclockwise course followed by dancers progressing around a room.
Mambo - The Mambo dance originated in Cuba where there were substantial settlements of Haitians. The fusion of Swing and Cuban music produced this fascinating rhythm and in turn created a new sensational dance. The Mambo was originally played as any Rumba with a riff ending. It may be described as a riff or a Rumba with a break or emphasis on 2 and 4 in 4/4 time.
Mazurka - A Polish national dance in triple time with an accent on the second beat, characterized by proud bearing, clicking of heels, and holubria, a special turning step. In the Mazurka the couples follow the leader in circular formation around the room. Sometimes the woman kneels down while her partner executes a chasse around her, and then this figure is reversed.
Minuet - It was a carefree and lively dance until presented by the French court in 1650. There it developed into a slow, graceful and stately dance, elegant in its simplicity. It consists of a salute to the partner, a high step and a balance, and is characterized by symmetrical figures, courtly gestures, elaborate bows and curtsies.
Modern Dance - A form of dance as developed by Martha Graham, Haya Holm, Doris Humphyre, Charles Weidman and others. It expresses complex emotions and abstract ideas.
Ocho - a figure "eight".
Oireachtas (pronounced "o-rach-tas") - a type of super feis. In North America, they are organized by regions, having begun in 1976. Competition is by age category and gender, but there is no separation of skill levels. Dancers placing highly qualify for the World Championship in Ireland (Oireachtas na Cruinne). A North American championship competition began in 1969. Locations vary from year to year. Both the national and world championships are also called Oireachtas (plural is Oireachtasai).
Ouvert - In ballet, an open position of the feet.
Par Terre - Steps performed on the floor. It is the opposite of en l'air.
Pas de Deux - A dance for two, usually a woman and a man. In its traditional form, it begins with an entree and adagio, followed by solo variations for each dancer, and a coda.
Patada - a kick.
Penche - In ballet, leaning forward.
Pique - Stepping directly onto the point of a foot.
Pirouette - A complete turn of the body executed on one leg; the working leg is placed with the foot drawn up to the ankle or knee of the supporting leg.
Plie - A bending of the knees in any of the five positions. Demi plie: a half bending of the knees, with heels on the floor. Grand plie: a full bending of the knees.
Pointe - A position on the tip of the toes. Demi-pointe: a position on the balls of the feet. Women, and sometimes men, dance sur les pointes (on pointe) in blocked shoes.
Poise - in smooth dancing, the stretch of the woman’s body upwards and outwards and leftwards into the man’s right arm to achieve balance and connection with his frame, as well as to project outwards to the audience.
Polka - A Bohemian folk dance in duple time with a hop on the fourth beat. It became a popular ballroom dance in the mid-nineteenth century. See also History of Polka.
Port de Bras - In ballet, the positions of the arms.
Port de Bras - Literally "carriage of the arms." Used in this sense, and also to denote exercise designed to develop the upper part of the body. There are positions of the arms just as there are positions of the feet -- the numbering of them varies according to the method of training.
Positions (ballet) - There are five basic positions for the feet in which all steps in classic ballet begin and end, with corresponding positions of the arms. It is assumed that in all these positions the legs are turned out from the pelvis. First position: heels touching, feet in a straight line; second position: feet apart in a straight line; third position: one foot in front of the other, the heel against the instep; fourth position: feet apart, one in front of the other, either opposite first, or opposite fifth; fifth position: one foot in front of the other, the heel against the joint of the big toe. (Ballroom dancers describe feet positions same way).
Premier Danseur - Principal male dancer.
Progressive Dance (ballroom) - A dance in which couples move along Line of Dance around the dance floor.
Promenade - In ballet, a slow turn of the body on the whole foot.
Quickstep - English version of the Fast Fox Trot, which has quick hopping steps set in with the smoother gliding figures. It is very popular in Europe as a competition dance. It ranks among the "Big Five," the other four are the Slow Fox Trot, the Waltz, the Tango and the Viennese Waltz. See Quickstep syllabus.
Rise and Fall (ballroom) - a controlled raising and lowering of the body while dancing. The waltz is characterized by rise and fall.
Reel - The reel originated around 1750 in Scotland and the Irish dance masters brought it to full development. The music is 4/4 time and it is danced at a relatively fast tempo (ONE-two-three-four). Both men and women dance the reel. For women, it is a light, rapid soft shoe dance that allows for plenty of leaping and demands an energetic performance from the dancer. Men often dance the reel in hard shoes.
Releve - In ballet, a rising with a spring movement to point or demi-point.
Reverence - A ballet bow or curtsy in which one foot is pointed in front and the body leans forward.
Rhythm - The regular occurrence of accented beats that shape the character of music or dance.
Rinnce Fada or Fading - Irish dance where two lines with partners faced each other
Rock 'n' Roll - popular form of the Swing or Lindy Hop. Began as a dance done mostly by teenagers who were fans of artists like Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
Ronde de Jambe - Literally "circle of the leg." May be performed on the ground or in the air, inwards or outwards, jumping or turning.
Rosin - A by-product of turpentine, used by dancers in powdered form on their shoes to prevent slipping.
Rumba - The Rumba was originally a marriage dance. Many of its movements and actions which seem to have an erotic meaning are merely depictions of simple farm tasks. The shoeing of the mare, the climbing of a rope, the courtship of the rooster and the hen, etc. It was done for amusement on the farms by the black population of Cuba. It is in 4/4 time. The characteristic feature is to take each step without initially placing the weight on that step. Steps are made with a slightly bent knee which, when straightened, causes the hips to sway from side to side.
Sacada - a displacement of the feet
Salsa - This is a favored name for a type of Latin music which, for the most part, has its roots in Cuban culture and is enhanced by jazz textures. The word, Salsa, means sauce denoting a "hot" flavor and is best distinguished from other Latin music styles by defining it as the New York sound developed by Puerto Rican musicians in New York. The dance structure is largely associated with mambo type patterns and has a particular feeling that is associated mainly with the Clave and the Montuno. See also History of Salsa.
Samba - This Brazilian dance was first introduced in 1917 but was finally adopted by Brazilian society in 1930 as a ballroom dance. It is sometimes referred to as a Samba, Carioca, a Baion or a Batucado. The difference is mostly in the tempo played since the steps in all three dance are very similar. The style is to bounce steadily and smoothly in 2/4 meter. The Samba was introduced in the United States in 1939 by the late Carmen Miranda. See also History of Samba.
Set Dances - A set dance is performed to a specific tune which has remained set over time (at least during the 20th Century). Both males and females dance sets in hard shoes. Competitions begin at the level of "Open" because of the difficulty of the dances. Because the tune is always the same and the dancer knows the tune, adjudicators expect greater interpretation of the music. (In the jig, reel, and hornpipe competitions, the particular tune may vary depending on the musician.) The dances can be either in jig or hornpipe time. In one case, "Is the Big Man Within?" the time changes mid-tune. Regular jigs and hornpipes follow a particular structure of the number of measures per tune, but sets vary. Sets contain two parts, the first is the "lead around" (from 8 to 16 measures), the second is the "set" (12 to 16 measures). Some tunes are more than 250 years old, but most of the dances are of more recent origin, developed by dance masters. Also, some of the tunes have accompanying words.
Shape (ballroom) - the combination of turn and sway to create a look or position.
Single Jig - Dancers perform single or soft jigs in soft shoes.
Slip Jig (soft shoes) - is the most graceful of Irish dances and features light hopping, sliding, skipping and pointing. Only women dance the slip jig. Slip jigs are in 9/8 time
Spotting - A fixing of the eyes on one spot as long as possible during turns to avoid dizziness and to keep one's orientation.
Step (ballroom) - one change of weight. Means by which the body is moved. Taking a step means committing all of your body weight onto the forward portion (the ball) of the foot.
Swing - Popular blend of several African American dances, which include Lindy and Ragtime Jazz and Blues, as well as all the other dance music to accompanying dances of the past ninety years. Today it generally refers to the ballroom and night club version which is based on two slow and two quick counts or the slow and two quick counts of rhythm dances.
Tango - There are essentially three types of Tango - Argentine, American and International Style. Argentine Tango: (arrabalero) A dance created by the Gauchos in Buenos Aires. It was actually an attempt on their part to imitate the Spanish dance except that they danced it in a closed ballroom position. The Tango caused a sensation and was soon to be seen the world over in a more subdued version. American Tango: Unlike the Argentine Tango, in which the dancer interprets the music spontaneously without any predetermined slows or quicks, the American Tango features a structure which is correlated to the musical phrasing. The dance is executed both in closed position and in various types of extravagant dance relationships which incorporate a particular freedom of expression that is not present in the International style. International Tango: This is a highly disciplined and distinctively structured form of the Tango which is accepted worldwide as the format for dancesport events. The dancers remain in traditional closed position throughout and expresses both legato and staccato aspects of the type of music appropriate to this style.
Tarantella - Italian folk dance. Sometimes a single dancer gets up and spins alone until a partner joins in. Sometimes several couples stand up together, like a country dance set, although pairs dance individually. Girls use tambourines.
Tights (ballet) - A close-fitting garment covering the dancer's body from waist to feet, worn both in class and on the stage.
Timing - dancing on time with the music.
Tour en l'air - A turn in the air, executed as the dancer jumps with the body held vertically straight. Males perform single, double or triple tours.
Variation - Any solo performance in a ballet.
Viennese Waltz - With such wonderful composers as Johann Strauss and others, the Waltz became more and more refined. The steps became smaller with the turns smoother and more compact. Adding the graceful lilt of the flowing skirts we have today's Viennese Waltz.
Volte - The man turns his partner around several times and then helps her to take a high spring into the air.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE DANCE TEACHERS AND DANCERS WHO HAVE CHECKED INFORMATION AND HELPED PUT THIS TOGETHER.
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