BASIC DANCE TERMINOLOGY

A la second: In the second. This is a position of the leg.

Adagio:  A slow carefully controlled movement.

Allegro:  A cheerful, brisk type of movement.

Ball Change: A changing of the weight on the balls of the feet from
one foot to the other.

Battement: To beat. Also known as a kick.

Blades:  Fingers closed, hand forms a "cutting" edge.

Box:  Arms out to the side with the elbows up.

Bump:  The hitting of similar body parts (knees, hips, elbows, feet).

C Jump: A jump arching the back and creating the image of a letter C with the body.

Cabriole:  A step where one leg is beaten against the other in mid-air.

Chaine's:  A series of small turning steps, three step turn.

Charleston:  Step forward on right foot, kick with left foot, step
back on left foot, extend and touch right foot in back, then repeat.

Alternate hands in opposition with each changing of the foot.

Chasse':  Step to side, bring your other foot alongside, changing
weight to second foot (one foot "chases" the other).

Contraction:  To reduce size by tightening the muscles, usually in
the abdominal area.

Contagion:  One group starts the move while another group will start
the same move a few beats later.

Crouch:  Body is pulled into a ball, both knees and arms in tabletop
position on ground.

Demi Plie':  A half bending of the knees, also called flexing of the
knees.  Foot may or may not be turned out.  Knees extend over the
toes and heel remain on the floor.

Dig:  Placement with no weight.  Can be a heel dig or a toe dig.

Degage:  To disengage the foot from a closed to open position.

Developpe':  An unfolding of the leg.

Extended Tabletop:  Arms extended straight out in front.

Fist:  To have the hands closed with thumbs inside.

Fouette’: To Whip. Turns with leg performing rond de jambe on lair.

Glissade: To glide. A slow, sliding step.  Slide foot out to the side, other
foot comes in to meet it, keeping in contact with the floor.

Grapevine:  Step to the right, left foot crosses in front, step to
the right, left foot crosses behind.  Keep repeating.

Guide:  To turn your head and look for the purpose of keeping a line
straight.

Hitch (passe') :  Foot is placed at the knee of the supporting leg.

Hook:  To connect arms at the shoulders.

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Hyper Extension:  To extend past the correct position, i.e. shoulder
level... "T" arms too high.

Isolation:  A movement separating one part of the body from the other

parts (most common are rib isolation).

Jazz Hands (fans):  Hand with fingers spread out.

Jump:  Leaving the floor with both feet and landing on both feet.

Jete':  Basic jump from one leg to the other

Kicks:
    Fans: Swing kick from one side to the other making a circular
motion.  Can be done from the inside to the outside.
    Straight:  Legs aim for the 12 o'clock position.
    Open:  Kick right leg angling right/kick left leg angling left.
    Close:  Kick right leg angling left/kick left leg angling right.

Kick Back Run:  A travel step in which you kick your legs back
hitting your rear.

Knee Roll:  A circling of the knees.

L-Arms:  One arm extended above the head while the other arm extends
to the side or to the front to form an "L".

Leap:  To leave the ground on one foot and land on the opposite foot.

Lunge:  Weight evenly distributed on both feet, slide one foot to the

side with the knee bent (making sure the knee is directly over the
ankle). The other leg is kept straight.

Marching:  Begin marching with left foot down.

Mirror:  Instructors do the routines facing the dancers with the
opposite hand or foot.

Muscle:  Arms out from shoulders, elbows bent up.  A rounded box,
muscle flex.

1/2 Muscle:  Only one arm up.

Park Hands:  Fingers together with thumb in a "C".

Pas De Bourree':  A three step weight transfer.  Step behind right,
step out left to side, step right to side.

Pencil:  Feet together, arms above head and palms of hands together. 
Body forms a pencil.

Pique’: To prick. To step up on to a straight leg.

Pirouette:  Whirl or spin.  A complete turn of body on one foot
either on pointe or demi-pointe.

Pivot:  Point your right foot out in front.  Turn your body on your
left foot leaving your right foot where it is.

Plie':  To bend at the knees.

Point (tendu’):  Point toes, foot stays in contact with floor.

Prep:  A bounce step that prepares you for a jump, leap or kick.

Prisoner:  Elbows touching in front of chest.

Question:  Arms in a box with hands flat.

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Releve':  To rise. Lifting of heels so you are on half toes.

Renverse’: To reverse. Essentially, a fan kick done with a full revolution and jump.

Ripple or Peel:  The repetition of a movement from one person to the
next.  The domino effect.

Rond de Jambe:  Circling of the leg.  Front side back and close to
front.

Round:  One group performs a series of moves then the next group
repeats the same moves.

Saute':  Jumped, jumping.

Sissonne:  A take off from two feet and finishing on one foot.

Slice:  To have one arm up and the other arm by your leg.

Shelf:  Arms close to chest.

Spaz:  A small sharp jolt.

Squat:  Body pulled into a ball, both feet and palms on ground.

Table:  Elbows near waist with arms extended forward.

Three- Step Turn:  A full turn requiring 3 steps to complete.

Tilt:  A head movement in which the ear touches the shoulder.

T-Arms:  Arms extended out to the sides.  Body forms "T".

Tut:  Hands clapped above head resting on the head.

Wing:  Fists touching shoulders, elbow out.  (Also called a half T.)

Wonder Woman:  Hands in fists on hips with legs apart.

X-Body:  Arms up in a "V" with legs apart.

Z:  One arms circles around the head while the other is around the
stomach.