We often use and come across a lot of dance terms that can’t be defined specifically. But at the same time, we are able to understand what it means.
This article includes commonly used dance terms and definitions. Familiarize yourself with the meaning of such terms and gain a clear understanding of dance.
8-Count: This is how we break down and count the music. Most of the dances are choreographed to 8 counts at a time or two 4 counts back to back.
Ball Change: A 2-step move where you transfer the weight of one foot behind or by the other foot. This is basically you are stepping twice. The kick ball change, as the name implies, is when you kick or scuff your foot before the ball change.
Bass: Bass is the lowest of the standard four voice ranges – bass, tenor, alto, soprano. The lowest melodic line in a musical composition, that supports harmony. There are different instruments that can produce a bass sound, such as drums, guitars. Dancers often describe the drum bass sound as the onomatopoeia “boom”.
Cipher: A cipher is where a group of dancers in a circle and take turns dancing in the center. It could also be referred to as a freestyle circle. This has long-standing cultural roots attached to hip-hop dance.
Dynamics: It refers to the different types of execution of movements. Dynamics depend on how much and fast your energy is distributed. Contrasts in dynamics make a piece look more “dynamic.”
Focus: Focus means where you are looking while you dance. Common ones are: right, left, up, down, and the 45s which means the diagonals between those sides.
Freestyle: A dance that is not pre-planned (improvised) that allows the dancer to express their individual style. It’s the process of spontaneously creating movement that was not choreographed ahead of time.
Fundamentals: Also known as foundation styles refer to the different dance styles developed from the hip hop, street, and funk styles. It includes Breaking, Popping, Locking, House, Punking, Waacking, Vogueing, and more. The hip-hop fundamentals refer to the 4 pillars of its culture – Emceeing, DJing, Graffiti, and Breaking. It originated in New York in the 1970s.
Full Out: Giving your 100% energy and performance to the dance.
Groups: This is when the class is divided into smaller sections, and each group will take turns performing the piece as the other students watch. Even though groups can be intimidating, it’s also an integral part of your growth. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone and just go for it.
Hi-Hat: A sound produced by a hi-hat cymbal. Dancers often describe this sound as “tss tss”.
Holds: When you hold a move/pose and not move during a count.
Isolation: When you isolate one part of your body without moving any other parts.
Levels: Levels are referred to how high or low your body gets. Low levels require you to bend your knees or plie. High levels may involve getting on your toes in releve.
Mark: Dancing a piece of choreography with less energy, usually for practicing musicality, timing, and other tools. The choreographer might use percentages to indicate how much energy you should be putting into your mark.
Musicality: In dance, the matching of movement to the rhythm, sounds, and mood of the music.
Lyrics: The words of a song that singers sing, often sync with melody. They are probably the easiest to distinguish, but hardest to count and dance to since vocals don’t always match the strict structure of 8-counts. In such situations, choreographers use wordplay that is miming actions that relate to the lyrics.
Plie: A smooth and continuous bending of the knees outward with the upper body held upright.
Rhythm: The repetitive patterns within the music. It’s how we count the beats and measure the movements.
Snare: The sharp, staccato drum sound you hear, like the sound you make when you clap your hands. Its described as “ka” by the dancers.
Strings: The segment of music created by stringed instruments like guitars, violins among others.
Switching lines: When a class rotates from the front to back and vice versa to give everyone a chance to be in the front.
Synth: The sound from a sound synthesizer, is produced by electric signals converted to sound through amps and loudspeakers.
Tempo: The speed of the music.
Transitions: In a performance set, these are the movements that are used to connect 2 different pieces. The music will change, and there will be dancers transitioning on and off the stage or switching their position on stage.
Keep these terms in mind and recall them next time you step onto the dance floor.
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