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