Dance Glossary terms - List of Words related to dance, dance styles

DANCE GLOSSARY

Dance and Dance >> International Dance Glossary

Glossary is a list of words related to a specific topic, with brief definitions, arranged alphabetically. Here, we have an illustrated list of words with their meanings in context of dance.

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Alignment:

The way a motif is positioned so that it is seen to its best advantage by the audience or The way you hold your body when you are dancing to create a graceful line.

Amalgamation:

A term used in a dance sequence which combines different kinds of steps.

Balance:

A dance term which describes both holding your body in a stable position and also the inner feeling that your body is working as a controlled whole as you move.

Centre Of Movement:

The dance term for the mid-point of your body from which dance movement start.

Centrework:

Usually the second stage of a class in Graham Technique, involving exercises done standing up.

Choreographer:

A person who creates dances.

Choreologist:

A person who writes down dances using a form of dance notation.

Choreology:

The art of writing down movements in dance notation.

Contration:

A dance movement which involves tightening the stomach muscles in order to help the pelvis and spine move more freely.

Demi-plie:

A dance movement which involves bending your knees while keeping your heels on the floor.

Directions:

Upwards/downwards, forwards/backwards, sideways, diagonally.

Duo:

Movements involving two people.

Elevation:

The ability to jump high into the air in dance.

Flexed Foot:

A position of the foot in which the ankle is bent and toes pulled back towards the knee.

Floorwork:

Usually the first part of a class in Graham Technique. It is done sitting, lying or kneeling on the floor.

Focus:

The point in space where the energy of the movement is directed. The eyes or any other part of the body can indicate focus.

General Space:

The whole dance space.

Gesture:

Any action done with any part of the body not taking the weight.

Hip-hop:

Any action done with any part of the body not taking the weight.

Historical Significance:

The whole dance space.

Improvisation:

Dancing or acting without having sets or steps or a script and with little advance preparation. Improvisation is used to explore different ways of expressing ideas in movement.

Isolated Body Parts:

Moving one body part, e.g. head only, elbow only, foot only at a given time.

Jitterbug:

The whole dance space.

Jumpy Hip Hop:

Any action done with any part of the body not taking the weight.

Keneral Space:

The whole dance space.

Kesture:

Any action done with any part of the body not taking the weight.

Links:

Transition from one movement to another.

Long:

A term used in dance to mean keeping a part of the body such as your neck or back stretched out straight, but not stiff.

Marking:

Going through the movements of a dance routine without dancing them fully, in order to familiarise yourself with the steps before performing. Dancers also mark steps in a technical rehearsal, to show the lighting and sound technicians which part of the stage will be used in the dance.

Motif:

Any movement that has development possibilities.

Nesture:

Any action done with any part of the body not taking the weight.

Nordic Polska:

The whole dance space.

Opportunity:

The whole dance space.

Opposite:

The dancer who is facing you.

Pathways:

If the feet had chalk on them the marks left on the floor would show the floor pathway. Air pathways are the routes traced in the air during a gesture by any body part. Pathways can be curved, angular, straight, or a combination of these.

Personal Space:

All the space around the body that can be reached into while standing still. Personal space goes with the dancer wherever (s)he moves.

Phrase:

Two or more movement ideas (motifs) linked together.

Posture:

The way the body is carried.

Quartet:

Four dancers.

Rhythm:

Rhythm is used in a general sense to describe the flow of time in music. In a more limited sense it is used to describe the way in which beats are divided to produce smaller units and joined to produce larger units.

RLOD:

Abbreviation of reverse line of dance.

Solo:

One person?s dance.

Start/Finish:

Still and quiet positions held at the beginning and end of the dance.

Tempo:

The speed at which a dance is performed or music is played.

Tilt:

A dance position where you hold your body at an angle to your supporting leg.

Timing:

The way the movements of a dance fit the accompanying rhythm or music.

Transition Steps:

Movements done in between different positions in a dance sequence or exercise.

Transitions:

The changes or links between one movement or phrase and another.

Travelling Step:

A step in which you move across the floor.

Travelling:

Moving across the general space in any way.

Trios:

Dances in threes.

Turned Out:

Term used to describe a dance position in which you stand with your legs and feet facing outwards. Your feet may be either together or apart.

Turns:

The whole body changes its front in order to face another direction.

Unison:

Dancers moving at the same time, with the same or different movements.

Varsouvienne Hold:

Alternative term for promenade hold.

Visit:

The lead couple take inside hands and walk round inside the set (anticlockwise), honouring each couple in turn, then return to their original place.

West Coast Swing:

The entire body is involved in the action.

Whole Body:

The entire body is involved in the action.

Xeneral Space:

The whole dance space.

Xesture:

Any action done with any part of the body not taking the weight.

Yemenite Right (Israel):

Step to the right with the right foot, bending the knee. Step on the left foot slightly behind the right foot with straight leg and on the ball of the foot. Step with right foot back to starting position. Hold (or close left foot). May be “repeated” with a yemenite left, ie. opposite footwork and opposite sideways directions.

Zweifacher:

A group of Bavarian (Germany) dances which alternate between waltz and dreher steps along with the music alternating between 3/4 (waltz) and 2/4 (dreher) rhythms.