Physical Fitness and Recreational Activities - Social Dance Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering common dance terms, positions, personalities, and Latin and Modern Standard disciplines.

Ballroom Dancing

A partner dance where couples, using step-patterns, move rhythmically, expressing the characteristics of music.

Smooth (or Standard) Style

A style of ballroom dancing focusing on elegance, grace, and fluidity of movement, where dancers rotate in a counter-clockwise direction moving around the entire floor in a fixed pattern.

Rhythm (or Latin) Style

A style of ballroom dancing focusing on a display of vibrant energy and personal flair, with syncopated dancing patterns performed usually in one spot on the dance floor.

Ballare

The Latin word meaning 'to dance', from which the term 'Ballroom dancing' is derived.

Fronting the State

An early court dance practice of performing while facing the throne, because turning one's back on a ruler was unacceptable.

Astor 400

The popular label applied to the invitation list for social leader Caroline Schermerhorn Astor's Patriarch Ball (c. 1872–91).

Cotillion

An elaborate type of german consisting of a series of short dances or dance segments mimicking social behavior, which by the end of the 19th century came to designate the ballroom dance event itself.

Professional Exhibition Ballroom Dancing

An early 20th-century subcategory of ballroom dancing in which a couple was paid to demonstrate in front of a paying audience.

Competitive Ballroom Dance

An early 20th-century subcategory of ballroom dancing in which amateur couples performed within strict regulations for prizes or titles.

Amalgamation

A combination of two or more patterns or movements.

Box Step

A basic step pattern often used in dances like the Foxtrot and Waltz, forming a square shape on the dance floor.

Center

The balance point of your body.

Change step

A three step sequence used to change weight from one foot to the other.

Chassé

A sliding step movement used in various dances to create a gliding effect.

Close

An act as simple as putting your feet back together.

Cuban Motion

Shaking the hips while alternately bending and straightening the knees.

Cucarachas

A pre-Bronze Rumba figure where each dancer steps to the side, then transfers weight back to the original foot, then closes the feet.

Dancing Position

Standing directly in front of your partner, only being a few inches apart.

Fan

A dance figure where one foot freely makes a circular motion.

Feet Apart

The position opposite to the Close position, separating both legs and feet.

Figure

A regulated pattern of the dance movement.

Flick

An act where the pointed toe and the flexed knee give a sharp kick backward.

Frame

Body posture or the way you carry yourself.

Freeze

To stop any movements.

Inside Turn

A turn in which the follower turns under the left or right arm of the leader.

Isolation

The technique in which dancers move one part of their body, and keep the rest of the body completely still.

Line of Dance (LOD)

The counter-clockwise direction of movement followed by Ballroom dancers on the dance floor.

Link Step

Steps that combine two or more figures.

Natural Turn

A dance step in which the partners turn around each other clockwise.

Open Break

A break step taken in open facing position, usually with the partners dancing in opposition.

Open-Facing Position

A variation of Open Position where man and lady stand apart, facing each other, usually with a one- or two-hand connection.

Promenade Position

A 'V' shaped dance position with the man's right hip and the woman's left hip in contact at the point of the 'V', and with the man's left side and the woman's right side slightly open.

Reverse turn

A dance step turning counter clockwise.

Rock

Forward-backward-forward movement of the body while having the feet apart.

Spotting

A spin technique used to maintain balance during turns.

Shine position

A dance position where the partners face each other without touching.

Two-hands joined position

A dance position where partners stand facing each other holding elbows by their sides with forearms extended, joining hands with palms facing down or up.

One-hand joined position

A dance position that is the same as two-hands joined position except that each partner uses only one hand.

Closed position

A position where partners face each other, man's left hand holds woman's right hand, man's right hand cradles her left shoulder blade, and her left arm rests on his right arm.

Semi-open position

A position where partners stand beside each other with bodies turned at a 45-degree angle, holding outside hands while inside arms rest on shoulder blade/arm.

Inside-hands joined position

A position where partners stand side by side, the man extends his right arm to the woman's left palm, and both place outside hands on their hips.

Fred Astaire

Iconic dancer in film and television history known for his impeccable style, charm, and grace in films like The Gay Divorcee and Flying Down to Rio.

Ginger Rogers

Talented partner to Fred Astaire, who mesmerized audiences with her elegance, quick footwork, and timing in films like Top Hat and Swing Time.

Pierre Dulaine

Celebrated ballroom dancer and choreographer renowned for his exceptional technique, artistic interpretations, and passion for teaching.

Yulia Zagoruychenko

Dynamic and charismatic Latin ballroom dancer known for her vibrant energy, precision, intense stage presence, and multiple World Latin Dance Championship titles.

Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis

A remarkable ballroom dance duo who dominated the circuit with their flawless technique, chemistry, and impressive showmanship.

William Pino

Ballroom dancer whose claim to fame was the sharpness of his choreography and nuanced movements.

Peter Eggleton

Three-time world champion in the 1960s who focused on small details and maximized the Quickstep with passion.

Kym Johnson

Australian dancer and judge known for her performances on Dancing with the Stars who began dancing at age 13.

Charlotte Jorgensen

Dancing specialist and child prodigy who began dancing at age two, excelling in both ballet and ballroom dancing.

Cha-cha-cha

A passionate, energetic, lively, and flirtatious Latin American dance originating in the 1950s after mambo, danced in 4/4 time signature.

Samba

An international Latin dance developed in Brazil during the 19th century in 2/4 time signature with a basic 'quick, quick, slow' rhythm.

Rumba

A Cuban Latin dance originating in the 16th century with African roots, considered the sexiest ballroom dance telling a story of love and passion in 4/4 time signature.

Jive

A lively style of dance in 4/4 time signature developed from the American jitterbug, popular in the 1940s and 1950s and performed to swing or rock and roll.

Paso Doble

A theatrical Spanish dance based on Flamenco where the man characterizes a matador and the lady characterizes his cape.

Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)

The organization that codified International Standard and International Latin techniques to establish a unified syllabus for ballroom dancing.

Foxtrot

An elegant Modern Standard dance named after American performer Harry Fox, premiered in 1914 in 4/4 time signature.

Waltz

A smooth, progressive Modern Standard dance in 3/4 time signature characterized by rise and fall action, considered the 'mother of present-day dances'.

Tango

A sensual Modern Standard dance in 2/4 time signature originating in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at Barrio de Las Rana during the early 20th century.

Quick Step

An up-and-down, rise-and-fall swinging Modern Standard dance performed at a fast pace in 4/4 time signature, developed during World War I in New York.

Viennese Waltz

A fast version of the ballroom waltz (rotary waltz) incorporating continuous rotary dance moves performed to music faster than 120 beats per minute.