Glossary of dance figures facts for kids

Dance is all about moving to music, and just like building with Lego, you use different pieces to create something amazing! In dance, these pieces are called dance figures. They are like small, named sequences of steps that you put together.

A dance step is a single movement, often when you shift your weight from one foot to the other. Think of it as one small part of a bigger figure. You might also hear terms like dance patterns or dance movements, which are more informal ways to talk about how dancers move.

Understanding Dance Moves

What is a Basic Movement?

The basic movement (or basic figure or basic step) is the main move of any dance. It's the core pattern that helps you feel the rhythm and character of the music. If you can do the basic steps in time with the music, you're already dancing socially!

Most social dancers learn a few more figures than just the basic one. For example, in the Waltz, you'd learn basic steps that go forward and backward, plus turns to the right (natural turn) and left (reverse turn). You might also learn moves like the whisk and chassé.

Box Step

The box step is a dance figure named because your feet draw a square on the floor. It's used in some American-style ballroom dances, like the Rumba and Waltz.

Chassé

A chassé (pronounced "sha-SAY") is a smooth, flowing dance figure with three steps. Your feet move sideways in a "step-together-step" pattern. It was first used in the quickstep and the International Waltz.

Closed Change

The closed change is a basic move in the Waltz. The man steps forward on one foot, while the lady steps backward on her opposite foot. Then, they step to the side with the other foot, and finally, bring the first foot next to the second. Each step takes one full beat of the music.

Contra Body Movement Position (CBMP)

Contra body movement position (or CBMP) happens when your body is turned at a different angle than your feet. This makes it easier to turn or move in certain directions. You'll see it a lot in the Tango and in "promenade" figures.

Dosado

A dosado is a circular movement where two people walk around each other. They start facing each other, but as they move, they keep facing the same direction. They don't turn to face each other again until the move is finished.

Feather Step

The feather step is a basic figure in the Foxtrot. The man takes three steps forward. On the third step, his right foot moves outside the lady's feet. For the second and third steps, he leads slightly with his left shoulder.

What is a Figure?

In dance, a figure is a complete set of steps. It's a small sequence of movements that makes sense together and has a special name, like 'whisk' or 'spin turn'.

Dance Frame

The frame is super important in ballroom dancing. It's how partners hold each other, and it helps them move as one. The way you hold your frame changes depending on the dance.

In a close hold for ballroom dances, partners are slightly offset. The lady is a bit to the man's right, so their feet aren't exactly opposite each other. The lady's upper body leans slightly back and to the left, with her hips close to the man.

In the Tango, the lady is even further to the man's right. This dance uses a right-side lead from the man, and dancers don't rise up on their feet. Steps are often delayed, which gives the tango its special feel.

Your arms are also part of the frame. In ballroom dancing, the man's arm position should stay steady. Experienced dancers hold their frame wider and higher than beginners.

In Latin dances, partners are in a "closed hold" if their hands are on each other. If not, they are in "semi-open" or "open" positions. Most social Latin dancing uses a closed hold, but in competitions, you'll often see open positions.

Heel Turn

A heel turn is a ballroom dance move. You turn on the heel of your supporting foot while keeping the other foot close and parallel. At the end of the turn, you shift your weight to the other foot. A similar move is the heel pull, where your feet stay apart.

Hockey Stick

The hockey stick is a figure in Latin ballroom dances like the Rumba and Cha-cha-cha. It's called this because the lady's path looks like the shape of a hockey stick.

Kick

A kick is a movement of your foot and the lower part of your leg. It can be a small flick or a bigger, stronger kick.

Lock Step

A lock step is when your moving foot swings behind your standing foot instead of closing next to it. It's a basic move in the quickstep and is now used in all ballroom dances.

When moving forward, your right foot ends up behind and slightly to the left of your left foot. When moving backward, your left foot ends up slightly in front and to the right of your right foot. When doing this move, your body is held diagonally to the direction you're moving.

Latin dances also have their own versions of the lock step.

Moonwalk

The moonwalk is a famous dance technique that makes it look like the dancer is sliding backward while trying to walk forward. It's an illusion!

Natural and Reverse Turns

A natural turn is when a dance couple turns to the right (like a clock going forward). A reverse turn is when they turn to the left (the opposite direction of a clock).

Open Turn or Figure

An open turn or open figure in ballroom dance is when your moving foot passes your supporting foot, instead of closing next to it.

Outside Partner Steps

An outside partner step is when you take a step with your partner beside your moving foot. This means your feet don't step in the same tracks as your partner's feet.

Promenade Position

Promenade position (PP) is when the dance couple is set up so their inside feet (the man's left foot and the lady's right foot) can move across to the man's left. You'll see this in basic waltz figures like the whisk and chassé. When done correctly, the dancers' bodies form a slight V-shape. As they move into the chassé, their feet will point more towards the direction they are moving. This happens because of the contra body movement position (CBMP).

About half of the Tango figures are danced in promenade position.

Walk

The walk is probably the most basic dance step of all! It's used in almost every dance. Walks are similar to normal walking steps, but they change a bit depending on the dance style. For example, in Latin dance, the ball (front part) of your foot touches the floor first, not your heel. In most basic Latin dances, your heels should almost never leave the floor, and you rarely lead with your heel.