Dance Terms by Style | Definitions & Examples
Dance terms are specialized vocabulary used to describe specific poses, styles, and movements in different genres of dance.
- Choreography, improvisation, rhythm, tempo, formation, and freestyle
There are basic dance terms, which are used across styles, along with more specialized concepts that are distinct to certain genres like ballet.
- Tap dance, square dance, hip hop, jazz, ballet, ballroom dance
Basic dance terms
Basic dance terms are words used across many genres of dance. Examples include terms like choreography, improvisation, rhythm, and tempo.
Discover basic dance terms in other languages using QuillBot’s free Translator.
| Dance term | Definition | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Emphasis on a particular movement or beat. | Add an accent to the turn to give it more feeling. | |
| Choreography (choreo) | A planned sequence of dance movements. | The choreography for the beginner class was simple but fun. | |
| Formation | The spatial arrangement of dancers on the floor. | We start in a line formation but then move to a triangle during the chorus. | |
| Freestyle | Dance without a set choreography. | The teacher always plays one song for us to freestyle and explore our own moves. | |
| Improvisation | Spontaneous movement created in the moment. | She forgot the choreography so she used improvisation during the last part of the song. | |
| Phrase | A short and cohesive series of steps within a larger choreography. | Let’s start with the first phrase before adding the next 8 counts. | |
| Repetition | Practicing the same movements multiple times to gain mastery. | Through lots of repetition, the choreography came naturally to the students. | |
| Rhythm | The pattern of beats or timing of dance movements. | The teacher instructed us to follow the rhythm of the music. | |
| Tempo | The speed of dance movements. | The intermediate class uses music with a faster tempo. | |
| Transition | The movement that connects one step, phrase, or formation to another. | We need to find a smoother transition from the line to triangle formation. |
Dance terms divided by style
While dancers and choreographers use many basic dance terms across genres, different dance styles also have their own specific dance terminology. For example, distinct words are used in hip hop vs. ballet.
These are some of the main dance styles:
Visualize dance terms across styles using QuillBot’s free AI Image Generator.
Dance class terms
In addition to basic and specialized dance terminology, there are also several terms commonly used in dance class no matter the style.
| Dance term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Across the floor | A series of steps performed while moving from one side of the dancefloor to the other. | Next, let’s practice the transition across the floor. |
| Center stage | In the middle of the stage. | The principal dancer takes center stage. |
| Combo (combination) | A short section of choreography taught in class. | I always go to classes with that teacher because I love the combos she teaches us. |
| Conditioning | Exercises designed to help build strength, flexibility, and technique. | Before we begin working with the choreography, the teacher has us do leg raises for conditioning. |
| Cool down | Gentle movement and stretching done at the end of class to help the body recover. | We always finish the class with a 5-minute cool down to protect our bodies from strain. |
| Count | The musical timing used to structure movement. | We performed the choreography to a basic 8 count. |
| Floor work | Movements performed on the floor. | Contemporary dance involves a lot of floor work, so be sure to wear something comfortable! |
| From the top | From the beginning. | Let’s start from the top to make sure we remember everything. |
| Full out | Performing the choreography with maximum energy and technique. | We should go full out in the rehearsal so we’re ready for the performance tomorrow. |
| Marking | Practicing the steps with reduced energy to focus on memory or spacing. | They started by marking the choreography a couple times before going full out. |
| Stage left/stage right | To the dancer’s left/right when facing the audience. | This time, the backup dancers entered from stage left and stage right. |
| Upstage/downstage | Towards/away from the audience. | The dancers tried the routine from upstage and from downstage to get the spacing right. |
| Warm up | Exercises done at the beginning of class to prepare the body for dancing. | Each barre class begins with a 15-minute warm up. |
Tap dance terms
Tap dance is a style of dance that uses the sound of metal-reinforced tap shoes to create rhythm. It is related to jazz dance in the United States. Its origins and influences come from both West African and Irish dance traditions.
| Dance term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ball change | A quick shift of the weight from the ball of one foot to the other. | Use a ball change in preparation for the turn. |
| Ball drop | Hitting the floor with the ball of the foot—often after a heel dig or toe tap—as part of a rhythmic beat. | Use a quieter ball drop when creating the rhythm. |
| Brush | A sweeping motion with either the ball or heel of the foot—without fully shifting weight—to make a distinct shushing sound. | Make the brush light so it achieves the right sound. |
| Front Irish | A specific tap step involving a shuffle, hop, and step. | The Front Irish is an example of the connection between Irish dance and tap dance. |
| Heel dig | Striking the floor with the back edge of the heel to produce a sound. | Control the heel dig so it lands precisely on the beat. |
| Maxi Ford | A foundational tap step consisting of a step, shuffle, and jump followed by tapping the tip of the toe. | To properly execute the Maxi Ford, make sure to tap the tip of your toe behind you. |
| Riff | A quick sequence, often involving basic steps like heel digs and ball drops, used to create a rhythm. | Relax your ankle to execute the riff more smoothly. |
| Shuffle | A step that involves a brush forward and backward. | Keep the shuffle small so you can do it faster. |
| Stomp | A flat-footed strike with one foot that does not involve shifting the weight. | Add a quick stomp here for emphasis. |
| Tap | A single striking motion made with either the ball of the foot or toe to produce a percussive sound. | The tap on count 3 should be crisp and clear. |
Square dance terms
Square dance is a type of dance in which four pairs of dancers face each other in a square. They typically perform movements based on the instructions of a caller. It emerged in North America but has French and English folk dance influences.
| Dance term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Allemande Left | Facing the person at your corner, each person grabs the other’s forearm and moves counterclockwise in a circle. | When you hear the caller say Allemande Left, connect arms with the person at your corner. |
| Beau/belle | Beau refers to the left side of a couple and belle to their right side. | Beaus step forward while belles turn to face the center. |
| Caller | The instructor who stands on a stage and indicates what the dancers should do. | The caller said to swing your partner round and round. |
| Circle left/right | When partners walk side by side either toward the left or right, usually while holding hands. | The caller told everyone to link hands and circle left/right. |
| Corner | The person standing next to you on the side of the square that’s diagonal from your partner. | The caller instructed the dancers to link arms with their corner. |
| Do-si-do | When two partners move in a circle, each facing the opposite direction. | Next, do-si-do with the person on your right. |
| Forward and back | Lines or groups step toward the center and then back to their starting position. | Everyone forward and back until you hear the next call. |
| Hoedown | A lively gathering where square dancing takes place. | We are looking forward to square dancing at the hoedown this weekend. |
| Promenade | Partners hold hands and walk around the inside or outside of the square, usually in a counterclockwise direction. | The promenade is one of the funnest moments of any square dance. |
| Sashay | When partners swap positions via a sideways sliding step. | After swinging your partner, sashay to the next position in the square. |
| Square | The formation of four couples facing inward in the shape of a square. Each pair of couples forms one side. | At the start of the dance, the couples formed a square. |
| Square thru | Couples in the formation start by facing each other. Each dancer joins hands with the person to their right, pivots, and switches sides. | All the couples on the floor did a few rounds of square thru in rapid succession. |
| Swing your partner | Partners move around each other in a clockwise direction, usually in a ballroom hold. | Right after you finish the promenade, get ready to swing your partner. |
Hip hop dance terms
Hip hop is a style of street dance that evolved alongside the musical genre of hip hop. Many of the terms used in hip hop dance come from the African American Vernacular English (AAVE) dialect.
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking/breakdancing | A highly dynamic form of hiphop involving acrobatic moves performed on the ground. | Breaking is one of the most impressive and athletic types of hiphop dance. |
| B-boy/b-girl | A person who performs breakdancing. | The b-boy/b-girl struck a signature pose at the end of their performance. |
| Cypher | A group of hiphop dancers gathered in a circle taking turns occupying the middle to practice and improvise moves. | I’ve become friends with so many people from the cypher. |
| Dougie | A move where the dancer sways side to side with rhythmic movements. | The dougie gained mainstream notoriety thanks to the popular song “Teach Me How to Dougie.” |
| Groove | A dancer’s unique physical and stylistic expression of the music’s rhythm. | Just groove during the intro. |
| Krumping | Free, energetic, and exaggerated movements, often consisting of jabbing, stomping, and popping motions. | The dancers looked exhausted after krumping. |
| Locking | Holding a move for a brief moment in the middle of a faster dance sequence. | The dancer’s locking added a playful effect to her performance. |
| Moonwalk | When a dancer glides backwards across the floor while appearing to move forward. | No one does the moonwalk more smoothly than Michael Jackson. |
| Popping | The rapid contraction and relaxation of the dancer’s muscles to create a “pop” effect. | He is a master at popping because he has so much control over his biceps and triceps. |
| Tutting | Making sharp angular shapes—often with the arms and wrists—in the likeness of ancient Egyptian figures like King Tutankhamun. | The group performed a basic tutting combo as a warmup. |
| Twerk | Rapid hip thrusts and buttocks shaking, often done from a squat position or on the floor. | She learned how to twerk after taking a few classes. |
Jazz dance terms
Jazz is a style of dance associated with broadway stage performances. It emerged in the 20th century and draws influences from African American dance styles and jazz music.
Core jazz dance terms include isolations, contractions, fan kick, and forced arch.
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ball change | A transition where the dancer steps onto the ball of one foot before shifting their weight onto the other. | The choreography included a quick ball change. |
| Chassé | Stepping across the floor in such a way that the back foot touches the leading front foot in the air. | Chassé across the floor during the transition. |
| Contractions | When the torso rounds into a “C” shape. | His contractions were especially expressive given the emotional tone of the music. |
| Fan kick | When a dancer sweeps their leg high in the air, moving from one side of their body to the other. | The dancers did a fan kick during the chorus. |
| Forced arch | A fundamental position where a dancer is high on the balls of their feet with their knees bent. | The forced arch looks great, but it sure does make my calves hurt! |
| Isolations | The technique of moving specific body parts while keeping the rest still. | We started with chest isolations before adding the hips. |
| Pivot turn | A move where the dancer shifts forward on the ball of their foot and turns to face the opposite direction. | The dancers added pivot turns for a more dramatic effect. |
Ballet dance terms
Dance terms in ballet consist of loanwords primarily sourced from French. This is because the 17th-century French monarchy made ballet one of its official courtly arts and codified many ballet terms still in use today. In addition, ballet also has a strong tradition in Russia.
Tendu
Relevé
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adagio | Slow and expansive movement style. | The teacher has the students perform adagio movements for muscle conditioning. |
| Allegro | Fast and brisk movement style. | When the music’s tempo is fast, the dancers use allegro steps. |
| Arabesque | When the dance balances on one leg while extending the other straight behind the body. | Successfully doing an arabesque requires a lot of core strength. |
| Chaînés | A series of fast turns that happen on a diagonal trajectory. | Novice dancers often get dizzy when they first try chaînés turns. |
| Coupé | Transferring the weight from the ball of one foot to the other, sometimes involving a slight jump. | Doing a coupé will really test your balance. |
| En pointe | Dancing on the tips of the toes while wearing specially reinforced ballet slippers. | The choreography is more advanced because it requires her to dance entirely en pointe. |
| Fouetté | A series of energetic spins executed in succession without bringing the lifted leg down to the floor. | Incredibly, the ballerina did 32 fouetté turns in a row. |
| Grand jeté | A big leap through the air where both legs are fully extended. | The grand jeté requires both strength and flexibility to pull off. |
| Passé | Standing on one foot and touching the toes of the lifted leg to the side of the standing knee. | Be careful not to lift your hips when doing a passé. |
| Pirouette | To make a complete turn on one foot. | The dancer prepared for the pirouette from a plié. |
| Plié | A fundamental ballet position where the dancer bends their knees while maintaining a straight back. | She landed her jump in a plié. |
| Port de bras | Graceful, flowing movements of the arms added to accompany leg work. | Swan Lake features elegant swan-inspired port de bras. |
| Relevé | The act of rising onto the balls of the feet. | The dancer shifted gracefully from plié to relevé. |
| Tendu | Stretching one foot into a fully pointed position. | The barre class always starts with tendu drills. |
| Turnout | Externally rotating the legs from the hip joint so the dancer’s knees and toes face outward. | I could tell he was a dancer based on his excellent turnout. |
Ballroom dance terms
Ballroom dance is an umbrella term for partner dances originating among the upper classes of Europe during the 16th century. Today, ballroom dance is widely featured in popular culture and competitions. It also now commonly includes forms of Latin dance.
Some of the main ballroom dance terms include contra body movement (CBM), open position, box step, and underarm turn.
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic step | The core movement pattern for a given type of ballroom dancing. | The waltz has a basic step of 3 counts. |
| Box step | A basic step where dancers move their feet in a square or rectangular pattern. | Ballroom dance frequently uses the box step. |
| Closed position | When partners face each other with their bodies and arms touching. | They danced bachata in closed position. |
| Contra body movement (CBM) | Turning the torso slightly away from the stepping leg to create a gradual turning motion. | Dances like the foxtrot often involve CBM. |
| Follow | The partner who responds to the movements signaled by the leader. | It is just as difficult to follow as it is to lead in ballroom dancing. |
| Footwork | The specific technique for how the feet move across the floor. | Take note that this particular routine is known for its complex footwork. |
| Lead | The partner who initiates the movements. | I actually find it easier to lead when dancing tango. |
| Open position | When partners face each other with arms connected but space between their torsos. | After you complete the turn, finish in open position. |
| Underarm turn | A turn performed by one partner where the other moves underneath the other partner’s raised arm. | The dancing pair added their own spin on the underarm turn that the audience loved. |
Frequently asked questions about dance terms
- What is dance terminology?
-
Dance terminology refers to specialized vocabulary used to describe specific movements and techniques in different styles of dance.
- Example: Ballroom dance terminology includes terms like contra body movement. Meanwhile, Krumping and twerking are types of hip hop dance terminology.
Visualize dance terms using QuillBot’s free AI Image Generator.
- What are the main dance terms used in ballet?
-
The main dance terms used in ballet are tendu, plié, relevé, and pirouette.
You can find out more about these words by using QuillBot’s free Translator to discover their meanings in English.
- Why are dance terms French?
-
Many dance terms are French because the 17th-century French monarchy made it an official courtly art and codified many core ballet techniques.
Today, the French terms persist because they help ensure standardized dance techniques around the world.
Improve your French with QuillBot’s French Grammar Checker.
- What are jazz dance terms?
-
Jazz dance terms are ball change, isolations, pivot turn, and forced arch.
Visualize jazz terms using QuillBot’s free AI Image Generator.
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Cichanowicz, L. (2025, December 29). Dance Terms by Style | Definitions & Examples. Quillbot. Retrieved January 1, 2026, from https://quillbot.com/blog/sports-terms/dance-terms/
