Apart
Any dance position where the man and lady have no points of contact. Since there is no physical connection, the use of apart position is limited to visual lead and follow, or open choreographed dance routines.
Arabesque
A pose with one leg stretched straight out to the back and one arm usually stretched out to the front. The back leg may be on the floor or at 45, 90, or 135 degrees. These angles are measured from the vertical. So, 90 degrees means parallel to the floor.
Attitude
A pose. As with the arabesque, the working leg is raised. But unlike the arabesque, it is bent, not straight, and, also unlike the arabesque, it can be done to the front, the side, or the back. In attitude to the front or the back, if the angle is 90 degrees, the calf should be as nearly horizontal as possible.
Back to back position
Dance position where man and lady face away from each other.
Challenge position
A dance position where the man and lady are apart and without contact, facing each other.
Closed facing position
A dance position where partners face each other slightly apart, with the normal hold.
Closed position
Refers to the normal hold where man and lady stand facing each other. In the smooth ballroom dances, partners stand very close together in body contact, slightly offset to the left. In the Latin dances, partners stand a few inches apart, either directly in front of each other or very slightly offset.
Connection
A means of communication between partners, either visually, or as an actual physical point of contact.
Contra position
Dance position where man and lady are both moving toward each other’s left/right side, both using the same foot.
Counter promenade position
A V-shaped Dance Position with the lady on the man’s left side.
Cuddle position
A variation of the Shadow Position where the man and lady are in very close contact. Usually, the hands are connected in the following way: Man’s LH to Lady’s RH, and Man’s RH to Lady’s LH. Also known as Flirtation Position.
Dance position
The position of the man and lady in relationship to each other when dancing.
Fallaway position
A V-shaped dance position similar to Promenade Position, but with man and lady moving backward.
Fan position
Dance position where man and lady stand at right-angles, lady on man’s left side. Man holds lady’s right hand in his left.
Feet, positions of
There are five basic positions of the feet. First position: feet together (feet in line with heels together); Second position: feet apart (feet in line, heels apart, separated by about the length of one’s foot; Third position: heel to instep (feet touching, one foot in front of the other with heel to instep); Fourth position: normal walking step (feet apart, separated about the length of a foot, one foot in front of the other); Fifth position: feet touching, one foot in front, heel to toe and toe to heel.
Fifth position
Heel to toe. Often used in a rock-step.
Flirtation position
A variation of the Shadow Position where the man and lady are in very close contact. Usually, the hands are connected in the following way: Man’s LH to Lady’s RH, and Man’s RH to Lady’s LH. Also known as Cuddle Position.
Frame
Posture, body position, and arm position for the purpose of maintaining connection.
Lean
Often seen in theatre arts routines. One partner leans into or away from the other, and the non-leaning partner supports this figure.
Natural opposite
A term used in teaching to say that one partner will be dancing the same foot positions in a particular dance pattern except in the opposite direction and on opposite feet.
Open facing position
A variation of Open Position where man and lady stand apart, facing each other, usually with a one- or two-hand connection.
Open position
Any dance position where man and lady stand apart or slightly apart, without taking a closed position dance hold.
Outside Partner Position
A variation of the Closed Position where the tracking of the man and lady’s feet are slightly offset. When in Outside Partner Position, the person moving forward will step in CBMP, to the partner’s right or left.
Parallel position
Two of the most prominent American teaching systems define Parallel Position differently:School #1 defines Parallel as being the same as Outside Partner Position, with man and lady facing each other, slightly offset.School #2 defines Parallel as being the same as Shadow Position, with man and lady facing the same direction, slightly offset.
Picture line
A dance figure (e.g. Oversway, Contra Check) characterized by changing shapes in stationary position. Also known as line.
Pitch
The inclination of the body forward or backward.
Positions of arms
The five positions of the feet as defined in Ballet, such as First Position (arms down, at sides), Second Position (arms extended to side), and Fifth Position (arms raised above head).
Posture
The positioning of the different body parts relative to one another. Good posture is achieved by vertically aligning the different “blocks of weight” of the body (head, shoulders, abdomen, and hips), allowing for the natural curve of the spine with minimal distortions.
Promenade position
A V-shaped dance position where both man and lady move forward and in the same direction, toward the open end of the “V”.
Second position
Feet parallel, shoulder width apart.
Shadow position
Dance position where both man and lady face the same direction, with one partner either directly in front of the other, or slightly offset to the left or right. As the name implies, Shadow position is usually taken with partners shadowing each other’s movement, on the same foot and in the same direction. Partners can be closed (in body contact), semi-closed (slightly apart but within arms reach), or completely apart.
Shine position
Dance position where dancers stand apart, facing each other. The term “Shine Position” is usually associated with modern social Disco and Latin freestyle dancing, where dancers improvise and “show off” to their partners.
Side by side position
Dance position where man and lady stand side by side. They can have a one-arm or one-hand hold, or stand apart without a connection.
Third position
Heel to instep, or ball to heel. Used in rock steps, shuffles, polkas, triple steps, and basic swing.