| Walk |
A step taken forward or backward. Forward steps are
heel to toe; backward steps are toe to heel. |
| Side step |
A step to the side with a change of weight from one foot to
the other. |
| Triple step |
A series of three consecutive steps, usually syncopated
within two beats of music. |
| Rock step |
A shifting of weight back and forth from one foot to the
other, in place. May be either forward or backward. |
| Touch step |
The toe touches the floor next to the weight bearing foot
but no weight is put on it. |
| Other Commonly
Used Step Patterns |
| Anchor step |
A type of triple step where the feet stay anchored in one
place, commonly used in the West Coast Swing. |
| Corté |
A lunge commonly used in the American Tango. In closed
position, the leader steps back and to the side, lowering into that knee and
swaying to the right leaving the free leg extended. |
| Cross body lead |
An American Style basic figure in which the man turns
perpendicular the lady, leading her to dance forward on a path which crosses
in front of his body. |
| Cross step |
A foot position that places the free foot in front of, and
over the weighted foot. |
| Grapevine |
A series of four steps, arranged in the following sequence:
forward, side, back, side. The sequence may begin with any one of the four
steps, and can repeat for any number of counts. |
| Crossover break |
A step to the side in which the leader and follower remained
connected on the side opposite of the direction they are moving, crossing
their arms in front of their bodies as they move into a side by side
position ending with a forward rock step. |
| Fifth position break |
A step to the side in which the leader and follower remained
connected on the side in the direction they are moving while opening into a
side by side position and ending with a rock step in fifth position. |
| Hook step |
A foot position where the free foot goes behind the weighted
foot and positions itself next to the outside arch of the weighted foot. |
| Hover |
A step taken high on the balls of the feet, for the purpose
of changing of direction and/or rotation, and allowing enough time for the
moving foot to brush toward (or to) the standing foot. |
| Lock step |
The moving foot approaches the standing foot, crosses in
front of or behind it in the direction of the approach, stops close to the
standing foot, and the weight is fully transferred to the previously moving
foot. |
| Open break |
A break or rock step taken in open-facing position, often
with partners moving in opposition. |
| Rondé |
A circling action of the free foot and leg. |
| Sugarpush |
Two walks with a touch step in one direction followed by a
long sliding walk in the opposite direction. The basic step of West
Coast Swing. |
| Sway |
The body leans or tilts from the ankle upward in a direction
to the side and away from the free foot. The hips lead the movement, and
then the upper body follows. The free side of the body stretches. |
| Tango close |
In American Smooth, the ending of most Tango patterns:
forward on the left foot, side on the right foot, and left foot closes to
right foot without weight. Timing: Quick Quick Slow. |
| Underarm turn |
An action where one partner turns while passing under joined hands. |
| Volta |
A cross step followed by back foot stepping slightly to side
and behind. Often done in sets of 3 1/2. Commonly used in
Samba. |
| Whisk |
A figure or pattern involving the crossing of one foot
behind the other. |
