The stress or emphasis given to a musical note or a mark indicating this. Normally the accent in a bar of music is on the first beat. When the accent is not, the rhythm is syncopated.
adjacent (quadrille):
adjacent couple:
The couple to the right of the lead couple.
adjacent lady/ man:
The lady/ man of the adjacent couple.
adjacent couples:
The adjacent couple and their opposite couple.
advance & retire:
anticlockwise:
- The direction faced while standing with the left shoulder towards the centre of the dancing area. Often notated as facing line of dance (LOD).
- The direction turned when making a continuous left turn.
arch:
- Two dancers facing each other with joined hands raised to form an arch under which other dancers may pass.
- Two dancers side by side, with joined inside hands raised to form an arch etc. The two dancers are usually a couple but need not be.
arm turn, left/ right arm turn:
B
- With feet apart transfer the body weight from one foot to the other.
- |
| meter. | Step forward on the right foot. Swing left foot forward. Step back with left foot. | Swing right foot back. The step may be repeated. It may start on the left foot and move to the left or right.
balance, waltz balance:
| meter. | Step on right/ left foot. Close
left/ right foot and raise heels just off the floor. | Take weight on right/ left foot in place and lower the heels. The step repeats with alternate footwork and may be danced in any direction.
| ballroom hold: A couple facing each other, man's right arm around the lady's waist, with his hand below her shoulder blade. The man’s left hand holds the lady’s right hand, with arms extended, at shoulder height. The lady's left hand rests on the man's shoulder. |
 |
banjo hold:
A couple facing each other but offset with the lady to the
right and slightly in front of the man. The man's right hand at
the lady's left waist and his left hand holds the lady’s extended
right hand. The lady’s left hand rests on the man's shoulder.
This is similar to the ballroom hold but the couples are more
side by side than facing each other.
bar (music):
A group of beats divided by the regular occurrence of an
accent. A bar of music, by definition (unless syncopated), starts
with a strongly accented note and continues up to the next strongly accented note.
barn dance hold: A bush dance term equivalent to promenade hold.
basket:
- Two couples in a small circle, the men, opposite each other,
grip wrists with their arms behind the ladies' backs. Ladies rest
their hands on the men's shoulder or grip the other lady's hand.
All move clockwise using the buzz step.
flying basket:
A basket where the ladies allow their legs to lift and swing outwards. This is dangerous for the dancers and everyone else and requires a great deal of skill to do it safely.
basket hold:
- Usually means front basket hold (see below). The dance description should indicate whether right or left arm is over the adjacent dancer's arm. The otherwise free hand of the first and last dancer is taken by the second and second last dancer.
[front] basket hold:
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.
back basket hold:
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.
beat (music):
The beat is the regular pulse that continues throughout a piece
of music. Beats can be organised into groups (notes) where some
are stronger (accent) than others. Their speed (tempo) may vary
or they may be used as a background for further division or
enlargements (meter).
beg: Abbreviation of beginning.
beh: Abbreviation of behind.
belt hold:
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.
bkwd: Abbreviation of backward.
bleking step:
| . | . | | . meter. | Hop on right foot. | . Touch left heel forward. | Spring onto left foot in place. | . Touch right heel forward. | Spring onto right foot in place. | Touch left heel forward. Spring onto left foot in place. Touch right heel forward. | Spring onto right foot in place. | . Touch left heel forward. The step is done in place and repeats, starting with a spring to the left foot, with alternate footwork.
bocazo (Hungary): Bo-ca-Zo
| | meter. | Hop on left foot, touching right toe diagonally left, in front of left foot. Hop on left foot, touching right toe diagonally to right. Jump to both feet together, clicking heels. | Hold in place.
bottom (longways): The end of a set farthest from the top of a hall.
bottom couple: The couple at the bottom of the set.
bounce: Take weight on the balls of the foot/ feet, lift heels then lower heels to the floor.
bourree: A French longways set dance.
bow: The man faces partner with feet together. He bends from the waist, then straightens up again.
branle:
A French round dance from Poitou in the 12th to 13th century.
Popular during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV and survives as a folk dance. In favour at the court of Elizabeth I as the brawl.
break step (Hungary): Alternate term for bocazo.
brush: Touch the floor lightly with the ball of the foot while it is moving in the required direction.
buenek: A Bulgarian name for simple walking dances.
butterfly hold:
A couple facing each other take hands, joined right to left.
Their arms are extended to the sides at shoulder height.
Illustration »
buzz step (for couples):
The couple takes hold for swinging. meter. Step right foot near but outside your partner’s right foot, bending knees. Step to the left (clockwise) on the ball of the left foot with the left leg stretched straight while pivoting on the ball of the right foot. The step repeats with the same footwork.
As the couple turn, the positions of their right feet change, so that the couple turn on the spot. The couple should give weight (lean out and counter-balance each other) and dance as a couple. The closer the couple hold and the closer and smaller their steps then the faster they will turn. The step is very rarely done anticlockwise with opposite footwork.
buzz step (for line dances):
meter. Cross the right foot down in front of left foot bending both knees. Step to the left on the ball of the left foot with the left leg stretched straight. Repeat the step with the same footwork. The step may also be done to the right with opposite footwork.
C
cast off: Turn outside and dance outside the set.
cast up/ down: Turn outside and move, up to the top or down to the bottom, outside the set.
CCW: Abbreviation of counterclockwise.
centre: The space in the middle of a set or circle of dancers.
chain, double ladies’ chain (quadrille):
Ladies right hand star half way round, give left hands to their
opposite man, who turns her with a courtesy turn. The figure is
usually repeated to return to original places.
chain, grand chain:
Partners face each other in a circle with the men facing anticlockwise (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.
chain, ladies’ chain:
Start with two couples facing each other. The ladies cross over, take right hands and pass, then give left hands to their opposite man, who turns her with a courtesy turn. The figure is usually repeated to return to original places.
change step:
| | meter. | Step forward on right/ left foot. Close left/ right foot. | Step forward on the right/ left foot. Repeat with opposite footwork.
chassé/ chassez: A slow step sideways followed by a slow draw step to close.
chassidic: A Judaic sect that believe dance brings you closer to God.
cherkessia: Alternative spelling for tcherkessia
chug:
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 centre of weight.
circle dance:
A circle of dancers all holding hands or otherwise joined up in a single circle.
circle of couples: Couples in a circle side by side and facing line of dance.
progressive circle of couples:
A circle of couples where you change partners for each repeat of
the dance.
circle, broken circle: Alternative term for open circle.
circle, double circle:
An outer circle of men facing their partners in an inner circle
of ladies, with their backs to the centre. Can also have ladies
on the outside and men inside.
circle, open circle:
A circle of dancers holding hands or otherwise joined up in a
circle with the circle broken at one point, to let the evil out.
circle, right/ left circle: Form a circle and galop to the right/ left.
circle, single circle:
A circle of couples where all take hands with their partner and
their ‘corner’ and face the centre. Sometimes the number of
couples is determined by the dance.
clockwise:
- The direction faced while standing with the right shoulder towards the centre of the dancing area. This is often notated as facing reverse line of dance (RLOD).
- The direction turned when making a continuous right turn.
close: Bring the right/ left foot next to the other and take weight.
closed position: An American term equivalent to ballroom hold.
coda (music):
The independent passage at the end of a musical composition,
which brings it to a satisfactory close.
contra: An American term equivalent to longways set.
conversation position (USA):
A couple stand side by side facing the same direction, with the
man's right arm around the lady's waist. The lady's left hand
rests on the man's right shoulder. The man’s left arm and the
lady's right arm are held at their sides.
corner (quadrille): The dancer next to you who is not your partner.
count (music): An American term equivalent to beat.
counterclockwise: A term equivalent to anticlockwise
couple position (USA):
A couple side by side and facing the same direction with their
inside hands joined and held at shoulder height. The man’s left
arm and the lady's right arm are held at their sides.
couples: A couple dance where the couples spread randomly throughout the dance area.
cpl(s): Abbreviation of couple(s).
cross: Step across in front of or behind the other foot.
cross over:
- (longways): Exchange positions with the opposite dancer by passing right shoulders, then turn to face the opposite dancer.
- (quadrille): A couple exchange places with their opposite person passing right shoulders. Take inside hands with their partner and exchange places with the lady turning under an arch of the couple’s joined hands. Finish facing the opposite couple. The figure is usually repeated to return to original places.
cross-back hold (USA):
A couple side by side and facing the same direction. Join the
right hands over the joined left hands behind the couple.
Illustration »
crossed arm/ hand hold: Alternative term for long-arm hold.
crotchet (music):
The crotchet is a quarter the note value of the semibreve (whole note) and half the note value of the minim. See note values.
ct(s): Abbreviation of count(s) See beat.
ctr: Abbreviation of centre.
cukce (Balkan): This is a soft rise and fall of the heel, like a bounce.
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.
cut:
A quick displacement of one foot by the other. eg. To cut the
left foot, 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.
CW: Abbreviation of clockwise.
D
demisemiquaver (music):
The demisemiquaver 
is one thirty-second of the note value of the semibreve (whole note) and half the note value of the semiquaver. See note values.
diag: Abbreviation of diagonal, diagonally.
diamond (longways):
A couple exchange places by moving diagonally right, turn to face
each other (in the middle of the set), move diagonally right to
their partner’s original position, then turn to face partner.
dip:
Step back on the right/ left foot taking full weight and bending
the knee. The other leg remains extended and straight with the
toe in contact with the floor.
do-si-do:
Partners move forward and pass each other by the right shoulder. Without turning each moves to their right passing back to back. Return to original position by passing left shoulders and moving backward. This may also be done passing left shoulders to start.
double, forward a double, back a double:
Four running steps forward bringing feet together on the last
beat. Repeat the same footwork moving backward. The step usually
starts with the right foot, both forwards and backwards.
draw:
Move the right/ left foot along the floor to bring the feet
together then transfer weight to that foot. See also slide.
dreher (Germany): The pivot turn step.
dreisteyrer: A German/Austrian dance for three in 3/4 rhythm.
duplet (music):
A set of two notes played in the time (duration) normally allowed
for three.
E
In a progressive line of three the right hand ends are the middle dancer, their right hand partner and the right hand partner’s opposite. There are two right hand ends in each minor set.
escort hold (line dance):
Place 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.
escort hold (couple dance):
A couple side by side and 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.
F
fall in behind (quadrille):
As the lead couple is returning to their original place, the
adjacent couple, then the adjacent couple’s opposite couple,
followed by the lead couple’s opposite couple, line up to form a
longways set.
fig: Abbreviation of figure.
figure of eight:
- A dancer moves in a figure of eight path around two stationary dancers.
- Term erroneously used for reel of three.
foot (of a line): An American term equivalent to bottom (of set).
ft: Abbreviation of foot, feet.
ftwk: Abbreviation of footwork.
fwd: Abbreviation of forward.
G
A step imitating a horse.
. meter. . Step forward with the
right foot, the leg lifts during the step. Close with the left foot. The step repeats with the same footwork and may be done with the left foot leading.
galop:
Spring to the right on the right foot. Commence closing with the
left foot, but before this finishes, spring from the right foot
(to repeat the start of the step) and allow both feet to touch in
the air before landing on the left foot. To start the step, a
quick hop on the left foot provides the spring needed by the right foot as it starts moving to the right. The step repeats with the same footwork and may be done to the left with opposite footwork and direction. This is a step that most adults can do without being taught so that although its analysis is difficult it is generally not a problem to teach. The detailed time analysis of this step is difficult to show without using a dance notation system like Romanotation or Labanotation because the two feet move out of phase with each other.
grapevine:
Four steps sideways where the trailing foot alternates between
crossing in front and crossing behind. The four steps are;
- Step right with the right foot.
- Cross the left foot in front of the right foot.
- Step right with right foot.
- Cross the left foot behind the right foot.
The grapevine step may start on any of these four steps (1234, 2341, 3412 or 4123) but must include all four steps in order. The steps may be done with opposite footwork to the left . The steps are normally done on the whole foot but may be done on the heel in front and/ or the toe behind, and the steps may become leaps. The hips may swivel with the feet or remain ‘facing’ the front.
