| Basic | | | | left to front, step right beside left, step |
| | | | left to front. Done to the side works the |
| A basic is one repetition of the main dance | | | | same way, but it is more properly called a |
| from the first count to the last not | | | | chasse step. Shuffles can also be done while |
| including any tags or bridges. | | | | you are turning, eg through 180 degrees, and |
| | | | this is often called a half shuffle turn. |
| Variation | | | | |
| | | | Triple Step: Can have other names, but is |
| Dancers who have progressed beyond beginner | | | | basically a one-and-two step on the spot with |
| status will often replace a section of a | | | | alternating feet. |
| dance (say 8 beats) with a compatible set of | | | | |
| steps which is called a variation. This is | | | | Weave: To the left or the right. eg Step left |
| often required in competitive line dancing. | | | | infront of (over) right, step right to right, |
| | | | step left behind right, step right to right. |
| Count | | | | |
| | | | Other terms include: applejack, botafogo, |
| A dance will have a number of counts, for | | | | coaster step, dwight swivel, heel grind, |
| example a 64-count dance. This is the number | | | | hinge turn, jazz box, kick ball change, |
| of beats of music it would take to complete | | | | lunge, paddle, pivot turn, sailor step, |
| one sequence of the dance. This is not | | | | spiral turn, stamp, stomp, sugarfoot, swivet |
| necessarily the same number of steps in the | | | | and vaudeville. |
| dance as steps can be performed on an and | | | | |
| count between two beats, or sometimes a step | | | | Tag / Bridge |
| holds over more than one beat. | | | | |
| | | | A tag or bridge is an extra set of steps not |
| Restart | | | | part of the main dance sequence that are |
| | | | inserted into one or more sequences to ensure |
| A restart is a point at which the basic dance | | | | the dance fits with the music. The term tag |
| sequence is interrupted and the dance routine | | | | usually implies only a few additional counts |
| is started again from the beginning. Restarts | | | | (e.g. 2 or 4), whereas bridge implies a |
| are used to fit the dances to the music. | | | | longer piece (e.g. 8 or 16). The terms are |
| | | | generally interchangeable however. |
| Step | | | | |
| | | | Wall |
| A dance is made up of a number of movements | | | | |
| called steps. Each step is given a name so | | | | Each dance can be described to consist of a |
| teachers can tell dancers to perform this | | | | number of walls. A wall is the direction in |
| step when teaching a dance. The most | | | | which the dancers face at any given time, |
| well-known is the grapevine (or vine for | | | | which would be the front, the back or one of |
| short), a four-count movement to the side. | | | | the sides. A dance may contain many turns, to |
| There can be any number of movements in one | | | | either the left or the right: quarter turns |
| step. | | | | (90 degrees), half-turns (180 degrees), , |
| | | | three-quarter turns (270 degrees), and full |
| Step descriptions | | | | turns (360 degrees), . |
| | | | |
| These descriptions are for the typical way | | | | A one-wall dance would mean that at the end |
| they are danced; in particular dances they | | | | of the routine, the dancers would be facing |
| may have small variations, eg a stomp or a | | | | in the same direction as they had started and |
| point instead of a touch, as given in the | | | | so each sequence would repeat exactly the |
| vine. | | | | same. |
| | | | |
| Chasse: Is basically a shuffle (qv) done to | | | | A two-wall dance would mean the start of each |
| the side. eg Step right to right side, slide | | | | routine alternates between two walls (almost |
| left up to right, step right to right side. | | | | always the front and back walls). In other |
| Beat: One-and-two | | | | words the dancers have effectively turned |
| | | | through 180 degrees during one sequence. |
| Grapevine: Can be done to the left or the | | | | |
| right. eg Step right to right, step left | | | | A four wall line dance is one in which at the |
| behind right, step right to right and touch | | | | end of the whole routine of dance moves, the |
| left next to right. The name is sometimes | | | | dancers will have turned effectively through |
| abbreviated to vine. | | | | 90 degrees, so that they would face all four |
| | | | walls in turn during four repetitions of the |
| Lock step: Can be done to the back or the | | | | routine. |
| front, starting on either foot. Works like a | | | | |
| shuffle except that the second step locks the | | | | Step sheet |
| foot behind or in front of the first step. eg | | | | |
| Step left to the front, lock right behind | | | | Describes the dance step sequence. Each step |
| left, step left to the front. | | | | group (usually eight counts) is written out |
| | | | as calling cues that the instructor may use |
| Shuffle step: Done to the front or the back, | | | | to direct the class. Below each group appears |
| starting on either foot. Usually has a | | | | the individual foot or hand work required for |
| one-and-two beat, i.e. a triple step. eg Step | | | | each beat in the music. |