3. Terminology

General Terms

Ballroom Dance – Partner dancing as a social recreation or competitive sport. This term is an umbrella for a variety of dances, including traditional smooth dances and Latin dances.
Leader / Follower – The dancer who initiates (leader) and the one who responds (follower).
Frame/Hold – The position of the arms and posture used to connect with a partner.
Posture – Upright, aligned body position for balance and control.
Turnout – relating to feet in a parallel position or with heels together and toes pointing out diagonally.
Timing – Matching steps to the rhythm or beat of the music.
Connection – the push or pull sensation within the frame.
Rise and Fall – upward and downward lift of the body primarily through the ankles.
Balance – distribution of weight of the body while dancing.

Musical Timing

Beat – The steady pulse of the music.
Tempo – the speed of the music.
Time – number of beats in each bar of music.
Count – Numbers assigned to beats (e.g., 1-2-3).
Slow (S) – A step that takes 2 beats.
Quick (Q) – A step that takes 1 beat.
& (And) – A half-beat, used in syncopation.
Syncopation – unevenly accented steps/beats (e.g., 1&2).

Footwork and Movement

Basic Step – The standard step pattern for a dance.
Box Step – A square pattern used in Waltz, Rumba, and Foxtrot.
Rock Step – A shifting of weight back and forth between feet.
Chassé – A side-close-side movement.
Cucaracha – A side step with weight shift, returning to center, used in Latin dances.
Twinkle – A step moving from closed to promenade position and back; or a timing (Foxtrot).
Underarm Turn (UAT) – A spin or slow walk by the follower under the leader’s raised arm and back to facing.
Pivot – A turning movement on the ball of one foot.
Progressive Step – Movement that travels forward or backward.

Directions in Relation to the Room

Line of Dance – flow of traffic with leaders moving counterclockwise around the room.
Diagonal Wall – angled on a diagonal, right of the line of dance.
Diagonal Center – angled on a diagonal, left of the line of dance towards the center.
Natural Turn – a turn to the right.
Reverse Turn – a turn to the left.

Partnering Positions

Closed Position (CP) – Partners face each other closely in a traditional ballroom hold, with the follower slightly to the right side of the leader (sometimes referred to as “in alignment”).
Open Position – Partners are separated and connected by hand(s).
Promenade Position (PP) – Lead’s right side and Follow’s left side in close contact to form a V-shape and move in the same direction.
Outside Partner (ROP/LOP) – One dancer slightly outside the partner’s path.
Open Facing Position (OFP) – Partners face one another at arm’s length.
Handshake Hold – A right-to-right (or left-to-left) hand connection.
Shadow Position – One dancer behind and slightly to the side of the other, facing the same direction.

Dance Styles Introduced in Class

(Slow) Waltz – 3/4 time, smooth rise and fall based on a box step (counted 1-2-3).
Foxtrot – 4/4 time, walking steps (counted Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick or Slow-Quick-Quick).
Tango – 4/4 time, Sharp and dramatic, walking steps and poses, counted Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick-Slow.
Cha-Cha – Latin, rhythm dance with a syncopated “2-3-4&1” rhythm.
Rumba – Slow, romantic Latin dance based on a box step (Slow-Quick-Quick).
East Coast Swing – Energetic, rhythm dance with rock steps (Triple-Step, Triple-Step, Rock Step).
Salsa – Fast Latin dance with syncopated timing (counted 1-2-3, hold 4, 5,6,7, hold 8).