For all dance acadmeies, we urge dance students to understand the proper terms, translations and definitions of each dance exercise as a top priority.We have found that grasping the meaning behind each term assists the student dancer in properly executing the steps which ultimately will be used in a variety of movements comprising classical technique and in the choreography that will ensue.

8-count: Music is often counted in 8s. An 8-count is a specific section of a combo that consists of… 8 counts (shocker)

Arabesque: Achieved by extending one leg to the back, usually lifted to 45 degrees or higher.

Ball Change: Transfer of weight from one foot to another, usually done by only putting weight on the ball of one foot before moving back onto the other. Used for transitions. 

Body Roll: To move through a body roll, start by pushing your chest forward and arching your back. Then, pushing your hips forward, allow your upper body to contract to create a rolling motion in your torso.

Contemporary: Style of dance that originated out of the more traditional ballet, modern, lyrical, and jazz styles. Characterized by expressive movements used to tell a story.

Contraction: Creating a C-shape with the torso by curling the tailbone under and activating the abdominals.

Dynamic: Refers to the execution of a movement. A routine is considered more dynamic if it varies in energy levels, speeds, levels, and textures, for example.

Fan Kick: A straight-legged battement that sweeps in front of the body from corner to corner in an arc-like motion.

First Position: A position of the feet with heels together and toes turned out.

Fixed Point: A part of your body, usually a hand, which you keep in one place in space while moving the rest of your body, creating an illusion that the body part is “locked” in that spatial location.

Flexed: Refers to hands or feet. With arms by your sides, a flexed hand would have fingers pointing away from your body and palms facing down. A flexed foot is the opposite of a pointed toe.

Focus: Where you are looking while you dance.

Forced Arch: A bent knee while on relevé.

Freestyle: Improvisational dancing that allows the dancer to express their individual style (i.e. a dance that is not pre-planned)

It’s the process of spontaneously creating movement that was not choreographed ahead of time

Full Out: Dancing with 100% of your energy with performance.

Fundamentals: Originating from 1970s hip hop culture, the fundamentals refer to the different styles of hip hop that emerged at that time: Since then, styles of hip hop have expanded to include breaking, popping, locking, house, punking/waacking, krumping, vogueing, and more.

Improv (Freestyle): Short for improvisation. Un-choreographed movement where the dancer spontaneously expresses themselves.

Isolations: The act of moving only one part of the body such as the head or shoulder while everything else is still.

Hip Hop: Style of dance stemming from the hip hop culture of 1970s New York City. Characterized by grounded movement with street style.

Hip Roll: While standing, isolate your hips so that they move in a circle (forward, side, back, side) in one smooth movement without pausing.

Hold: Pause in the current move for a designated amount of counts.

Krumping: Characterized by exaggerated, highly energetic movement consisting primarily of stomps, jabs, chest pops, and arm swings. This style originated from young dancers expressing themselves non-violently to escape gang culture in Los Angeles.

Levels: Utilizing the space above and below you versus only moving side to side.

Locking: Usually done in conjunction with popping, locking is a separate style where muscles contract to create dynamics.

Lunge: A position where one leg is bent while the other is straight when the legs are apart.

Lyrics: The words in a song that are sung to a melody. Lyrics don’t always follow the structure of an 8-count. Most choreographers will sometimes create based on the lyrics versus the music. Lyrics also help tell the story.

Mark: Practicing a combo using a lower amount of energy.

Milking: Extending or dragging out a move through the end of a count instead of stopping the move at the end of the count. 

Musicality: A dancer’s connection to the music. Good musicality refers to when a dancer can match the rhythm and mood of the music through their style or dynamics.

Pas du boureé: Three steps, usually stepping back, side, front.

Pirouette: “Whirl or spin.” Controlled turn on one leg while in relevé. The lifted leg is usually in a passe (or retiré) position during a pirouette.

Plié: Bending of the knee.

Popping: Style of dance created by Boogaloo Sam in 1970s Fresno California. Characterized by the quick tensing and releasing of muscles to create a pop effect.

Pose: Moving into a still position as if a photo is being taken to capture that moment in time.

Rhythm: Repetitive patterns within music. When counting music with the rhythm, dancers are able to measure our movements and stay in time.

Shimmy: Shaking your shoulders rapidly in an alternating pattern.

Tempo: How fast or slow a piece of music is. In dance, you will often learn choreography at a slower tempo before speeding it up to be performed “at tempo” of the actual music.

Transitions: Connector moves. A ball change is an example of a transition.