Line Dance Terminology

Applejack(1 count) feet slightly apart with weight on the heel of one foot and the ball of the other foot, (1)swivel toe and heel respectively out, (&)both feet back to center ready to change weight. For example, Left Applejack – place weight on left heel and right toe, swivel left toe and right heel toward left side. Return feet to center.

Ankle Rock (2 counts) with feet crossed and ankles locked, (1)rock weight onto the forward foot. (2)return weight to back foot [aka Ankle Roll

Ball Change(1 count) (&)step onto the ball of the designated foot, (1)change weight onto the other foot. Often accompanied by a previous step, e.g. kick-ball-change.

Brush (1 count) (1)use the ball of the designated foot to brush the floor as the foot swings forward (or back) passing the other foot.

Cha-Cha (2 counts) three steps in place done to two beats of music. [aka Triple Step Similar to a Shuffle, however, it is done on the spot unlike latter which travels.

Charleston(4 counts) (1)step the designated foot forward, (2)kick the other foot forward, (3)step back with the kicking foot, (4)touch the first foot back.

Charleston Kick (4 counts) Same as Charleston except the order is kick, together, touch, together.

Chasse(2 counts) (1)step the designated foot to side, (&)step the other foot next to it, (2) step the first foot again to side. If starting with right foot, move toward right side and vice versa.

Close (1 count) (1)step the designated foot next to the other foot.

Coaster Step(2 counts) (1)step the designated foot back, (&)step the other foot next to it, (2)step the first foot forward. Sometimes may travel forward first and then backward.

Cross Shuffle(2 counts) (1)cross the designated foot over the other foot, (&)step the other foot slightly to the side, (2)again cross the first foot over the other foot.

Cross Unwind (2 counts) (1)cross the designated foot in front of (or behind) the other foot, (2)unwind on balls of feet and turn the designated angle(can be ¼, ½, ¾, or full turn) and finish weight onto the first foot.

Fan      Heel Fan (1 count) (1)move the designated heel outward pivoting on ball of foot, and (&)back.

  • Toe Fan (1 count) (1)move the designated toe outward pivoting on heel, and (&)back.

Grapevine(3 counts) (1)step the designated foot to the side, (2)cross the other foot at back, (3)step the first foot again to the side. Normally followed by a Touch, Close, Kick, Stomp, Scuff, etc.

Heel Grinds (2counts) (1)step designated heel forward, toe pointing to the opposite side, (2)grind the heel into floor, fanning toes from the opposite side to the matching side and taking weight.

Heel Jack(2 counts) (&)step foot diagonally back, (1) touch the other heel diagonally forward, (2)step down the heeled foot and touch the other foot together. For example, Left Heel Jack: Step diagonally back right foot. Touch left heel diagonally forward left. Step left into center. Touch/step right foot beside left foot.

Heel Pivot (1 count) normally on the spot, (1)pivoting the designated foot outward and (&)back.

Heel Splits (2 counts) keep weight on balls of feet, (1)move both heel out to opposite sides, and then (2)back together

Heel Swivels (2 counts) keep weight on balls of feet, (1)move both heels toward the same side, and then(2)back to center.

Heel Swivels(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.

Hip Bump (1 count) (1)bump hips to the designated direction.

Hitch (1 count) (1)lift the knee with weight on the opposite foot.

Hook (1 count) (1)lift one foot and cross it in front of the supporting leg.

Hop (1 count) (1)spring into the air taking off and landing with same foot.

Jazz Box(4 counts) For example, Right Jazz Box: step right foot across in front of left, step left foot back, step right foot to right side, step left foot next to right. Also can be done leading with left foot, i.e. start by crossing left foot in front of right

Jump (1 count) (1) jump forward or backward taking off and landing with both feet at the same time

Kick Ball Change(2 counts) As an example, starting with right foot, (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. Can start with either foot.

Knee Pops(2 counts) with weight on the other foot, (1)push the designated knee forward by lifting the heel off floor with the ball of foot remaining in contact with the floor, (2)straighten knee and drop the heel. Maybe done in syncopated fashion(&1).

Mambo Step(2 counts) (1)step the designated foot in the designated direction, (&)lift the other foot and replace it back down on the same place, (2)step the first foot back next to the other foot. Can start with either foot and toward front, back or to the sides.

Monterey Turn (4 counts) unless specified otherwise, Monterey Turn is always a ½ turn. But it may be ¼, ¾, or full. For example, Right Monterey Turn: (1)touch right toe to right side, keep weight on left foot. (2)make ½ turn over your right shoulder and step right foot next to left taking the weight onto right foot, (3)touch left toe out to left side, (4)step left foot besides right with weight on the left foot. Also can be done leading with left foot, i.e. start by touching left toe to left side

Paddle Turn (varies) a turn either left or right, using a series of ball changes with the weight staying over the turning foot.

Pencil Turn(1 count) with lead foot slightly forward, (1)turn in direction of lead foot while either dragging toes of opposite foot just behind heel of lead foot while turning (or holding the toes of the opposite foot just off the ground). turn ends with toes of opposite foot touching beside instep of lead foot. Turn can be any angle, even greater than a full turn. Usually completed within one beat, but sometimes done over two or more beats.

Pivot Turn (2 counts) unless specified otherwise, a pivot turn is always a 1/2 turn. (1)step the opposite foot forward, then (2)turn 180° on the balls of both feet in the designated direction and return weight to first foot. For example, Right ½ Pivot: step forward on left foot, make a ½ turn over your right shoulder, finish with weight on right foot facing the wall that was behind you.

Reverse Pivot Turn (2 counts) (1)touch designated foot behind, and (2)turn 180° in the direction of designated foot.

Rhonde(2 counts) (1,2)sweep the designated toe in half circle from front to back.

Rumba Box (8 counts) can be started with either left or right foot. As an example, starting with right foot, (1)step forward on right foot, (2)touch left toe next to right, (3)step left foot to left side, (4)step right foot next to left, (5)step back on left foot, (6)touch right toe next to left, (7)step right foot to right side, (8)touch left toe next to right

Running Man (2 counts) (1)step forward the designated foot, (&)hitch the designated knee and scoot the foot back, (2,&)repeat with the other foot.

Rock (1 count) (1)transfer weight from one foot to the other

Rock Recover (2 counts) (1)step the designated foot in the designated direction using a rocking-like motion, (2)rocking back onto the other foot.

Sailor Step(2 counts) (1)step one foot back behind the other foot, (&)step the other foot to the side, (2)step the starting foot down [CLDAA nick named Back-Side-Step

Shimmy (varies) fast, alternating shoulder movements, as left shoulder moves forward, the right shoulder moves back.

Scuff (1 count) as Brush but make contact with heel on floor

Shuffle(2 counts) (1)step the designated foot in the designated direction, (&)step the other foot besides the first, (2)step the first foot in the same direction again. [aka Chasse when done to the side

Slide (1 count) with the weight on the other foot, (1)drag or slide one foot toward the weighted foot. Can be done with longer counts.

Step (1 count) (1)place foot on floor and take weight onto it

Stomp (1 count) (1)stomp the foot on the floor to make a loud sound. Weight remains on the other foot (Caution: stomp too hard may hurt your foot)

Stroll(3 counts) (1)step the designated foot forward, (2)cross other foot behind, (3)step the first foot forward. Often done to the diagonal.

Strut     Heel Strut (2 counts) (1)place the designated heel forward on floor, then (2)drop toe onto floor. Maybe done in various directions.

  • Toe Strut (2 counts) (1)place toe forward or backwards on floor, then (2)heel onto floor taking weight onto foot

Sugarfoot(2 counts) (1)touch lead toe to instep of other foot, (2)touch heel of lead foot to instep of other foot.

Switches Heel Switches (2 counts) (1)touch the designated heel forward, (&)return the designated foot besides the other foot, (2,&) repeat with the other foot.

  • Toe Switches (2 counts) (1)touch the designated toe to side, (&)step the designated foot in place, (2,&)repeat with the other foot.

Touch (1 count) (1)touch toe or heel to ground but don’t put any weight on it [aka Tap

Twinkle Steps(2 counts) (1)step the designated foot across in front of the other foot, (&)step opposite foot to side, (2)step the first foot besides the other foot.

Unwind Turn(2 beats) (1)cross the designated foot in front of the other foot, (2)make a ¼, ½, ¾, or full turn in the opposite direction of whichever foot is crossed. Weight may end on either foot depending on the specific dance.

Weave(4 counts) as an example, Left Weave: (1)cross right foot in front of left, (2)step left foot to left side, (3)step right foot back behind left, (4)step left foot to left side.

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