Basic
Line Dance Terminology
Most
dances fall into one of four categories –One step, Two step
, Cha cha or Waltz.
The first three are counted in groups of eight (8 beats to the bar
of music) whilst the waltz is counted in groups of six (6 beats
to the bar).
The steps of the dances are counted individually e.g. 1,2,3,4 or
in double time e.g. 1&2, 3&4 or with a waltz the count is
123,456.
Some
helpful hints to get you started--- Front is where your
nose is, back is where your nose isn’t. left is where your
right used to be and right is nowhere to be found!
Single beat steps:
Step
(1 count) place foot on floor and take weight onto it
Right vine (3 counts) step right foot to side,
step left foot behind right, step right foot to side
Left vine (3 counts) step left foot to side, step
right foot behind left, step left foot to side
Touch or tap (1 count) touch toe or heel to ground
but don’t put any weight on it
Brush (1 count) brush foot forward and upwards
past the foot you are standing on
Scuff (1 count) as brush but make contact with
heel on floor
Hook (1 count) (1 count) lift foot and cross in
front of supporting leg
Stomp (1 count) make a ‘stamping’ action
(don’t stamp hard to hurt your foot)
Toe fan (1 count) move the toe out while keeping
heel in contact with the floor
Heel fan (1 count) move the heel out while keeping
ball of foot in contact with floor
Heel splits (2 counts) keep weight on balls of
feet move both heel out at the same time and then back together
Hop (1 count) spring into the air taking off and
landing with same foot
Jump (1 count) jump forward or backward taking
off and landing with both feet at the sane time
Hitch (1 count) to lift the knee
Rock (1 count) to transfer weight from one foot
to the other
Slide (1 count) to draw one foot next to the supporting
foot
Heel strut (2 counts) place heel forward on floor
then toe onto floor taking weight onto foot
Toe strut (2 counts) place toe forward or backwards
on floor then heel onto floor taking weight onto foot
Left ½ pivot (2 counts) step forward on
right foot, keeping weight on ball of left foot make a ½
turn over your left shoulder so that you end up with your weight
on your left foot and facing the wall that was behind you
Right ½ pivot (2 counts) step forward on
left foot, keeping weight on ball of right foot make a ½
turn over your right shoulder so that you end up with your weight
on your right foot facing the wall that was behind you
¼ or ¾ pivot (2 counts) are executed
in the same way but make ¼ or ¾ turn to the appropriate
wall
weave left (4 counts) step right foot across in
front of left, step left foot to left side, step right foot back
behind left, step left foot to left side
weave right (4counts) step left foot across in
front of right, step right to right side, step left foot back behind
right, step right foot to right side
jazz box (4 counts) step right foot across in front
of left, step left foot back, step right foot to right side, step
left foot next to left. Also done leading with left foot i.e. start
by crossing left in front of right
½ Monterey turn (4 counts) touch right toe
to right side, on ball of left foot make ½ turn over your
right shoulder and step onto your right foot, touch left toe out
to the side, step left foot next to right. Also done leading with
left foot i.e. start by touching left toe to left side
¼ or ¾ Monterey (4 counts) are also
executed in the same way but make a ¼ or
¾ turn to the appropriate wall
hip bumps bump hips to the right, left, backwards
or forwards in time to the music
Syncopated
steps:
3
steps forwards, backwards, sideways or on the spot, executed within
2 beats of the music. The following instructions are all leading
with the right foot, but are also danced leading with the left foot
( just the same steps but read left for right an right for left!)
Confused? You ain’t tried dancing them yet! All counts
are 1&2
Cha
cha or triple step step(1) right (&) left (2)right
on the spot. Or (1) left(&) right (3)left on the spot
Forward shuffle (1) step forward on right foot,
(&) step left foot to right heel, (3) step right foot forward
Backward shuffle (1) step back on right foot, (&)
step left foot back to right toe, (3) step right foot back
Chasse (1) step right foot to right side, (&)
step left foot next to right foot, (3) step right foot to right
side
Coaster step (1) step right foot back, (&)
step left foot back next to right, (3) step forward on right foot
Sailor step (1) step right foot back behind left
foot, (&) step left foot to left side, (3)step right foot next
to left
Mambo step (1) step forward on right foot, (&)
lift left foot and replace it back down on the same place, (3) step
right foot back next to left
Back or side mambo are executed in the same way
but step(1) to the back or to the side
Kick ball change (1)kick right foot forward, (&)
step onto ball of right foot next to left foot and lift left foot
slightly off the floor, (3) replace left foot onto floor on the
same spot
Twinkle steps (1)step right foot across in front
of left, (&)step left foot to left side, (3)step right foot
next to left
the
smile Turn outside edges of the mouth in an upward direction.
You may also open your lips slightly to reveal your teeth if you
so wish!
The fun factor line dance is meant to be fun. Relax
and enjoy—you’ll make some great friends and keep fit
and young at heart at the same time!
Just
a few more!
All
examples leading with right foot but are also done leading with
left foot
Rumba
box (8 counts) (1)step forward on right foot, (2)touch
left toe next to right,(3)step left to left side, (4)step right
next to left, (5)step back on left foot, (6)touch right toe next
to left, (7)step right to right side, (8)touch left toe next to
right
Lock steps forward (3 counts) (1)step forward on
right foot, (2)step left foot behind right foot, (3)step forward
on right foot
Lock steps back (3 counts) (1)step back on right
foot, (2)step left foot in front of right foot, (3)step back on
right foot
Charleston steps (4 counts) (1)touch right toe
forward, (2)step right foot next to left, (3)touch left toe back,
(4)step left foot next to right
Rhonde turn (3 counts) (1,2)sweep right toe in
front of left as you make ½ turn left on ball of left foot
, (3) touch right toe next to left
Heel swivets (4 counts) (1)fan right toe to right
and left heel to left(2)return feet to place change weight to left
heel and right toe, (3)fan left toe to left and right heel to right,
(4)return feet to place
Toe switches (2 counts) (1)touch right toe to right
side, (&)step right foot in place, (2)touch left toe to left
side, (&)step left foot in place
Heel switches (2 counts) touch right heel to right
side, (&)step right foot in place, (2)touch left heel to left
side, (&)step left foot in place
Cross unwind (2 counts) (1)cross right toe in front
of(or behind) left foot, (2)unwind on balls of feet to take weight
onto right foot (can be ¼, ½, ¾, or full turn)
Scissor step ( 4 counts) (1)step right foot to
right side, (2)return weight to left foot, (3)cross step right foot
in front of left, (4) hold for one beat (can also be syncopated
– count is 1&2&)
Running man (2 counts) (1)step forward right foot
(&)hitch right knee and scoot right foot back, (2)step forward
left foot (&)hitch left knee and scoot left foot back Apple
jacks (2 counts) (1)with weight on right toe and left heel
turn right heel left and left toe left, (&)both feet back to
centre ready to change weight, (2)with weight on right heel and
left toe turn right toe right and left heel right, (&)both feet
back to centre ready to change weight
Rolling vine (3counts) (1)step right making ¼
turn right, (2)1/4 turn on the ball of right foot stepping left
to left side, (3)pivot ½ turn on ball of left foot stepping
right foot to right
Heel grinds (2counts) (1)step right heel forward,
toe pointing left, (2)grind right heel into floor, fanning toes
to right and taking weight
Knee pops (2counts) (1)with weight on left bend
right knee in towards left leg, (2)straighten right knee and bend
left knee in towards right leg
Don’t
forget— this is line dancing we are talking about –there
are lots of variations to the basic steps! Just as you thought you’d
cracked it!!!
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