LINEDANCE TERMINOLOGY -A-

"&" - The ampersand symbol in dance descriptions is used to denote 1/2 (half) a beat of music or a quick count in between standard beats of music

45 - Feet together, weight on Left, touch Right heel forward at a 45 degree angle and replace together. The term "45" is widely used by Australian Choreographers

ACROBATIC - A move where a dancer's body, leg or foot passes over your partner's head

AERIAL - A move where a dancer's feet or foot is raised above your partner's shoulder or waist

ACROSS - Movement across the line of dance

ACROSS LEFT - Move your Right foot across in front of your Left foot

ACROSS RIGHT - Move your Left foot across in front of your Right foot
ADD - See TAG

ADVANCED - A dancer with the ability to perform intricate moves and patterns and improvise freely within them. See DIFFICULTY LEVEL

ALIGNMENT - The alignment of the body parts with respect to the torso. See FLOOR ALIGNMENT

AMALAGATIONS - a.k.a. Clusters, Combinations. A group or sequence of dance figures or patterns

AND - Also "&" Used when 2 movements are to be done simultaneously. For example,
1. Step forward and clap hands
A. Half of a quick count = "1&" or "&1"
B. A call, such as "ready and"

AND STEP - Signifies weight change with a movement. For instance, in describing the first three steps in a Grapevine right, the description would read:
1 - Step to the right with Right foot
2 - Cross Left foot behind Right and step
3 - Step to the right with Right foot.
Without the "and step," the Left foot would still be dangling behind the Right foot and, unless you can fly, executing Step 3 will be quite difficult

ANIMATION - To show life or spirit in the dancer's expressions and body movement, as opposed to a lifeless mechanical expression of movement

ANGLE - See DIAGONAL

ANKLE ROCK - Feet are crossed and ankles are in a locked position. Shifting weight one or more times from forward foot to trailing foot and back, maintaining the locked ankle position. Also called by ANKLE ROLL in Australia.

ANKLE ROLL - See ANKLE ROCK

APART - Movement away from you partner

APPLEJACKS - A foot swiveling movement in place as follows:
1 - With weight on Left heel and ball of Right foot, swivel Left toe to the left and Right heel to the left (feet are in a "V" position, toes pointed outward)
& - Swivel Left toe and Right heel back to center
2 - Weight on Right heel and ball of left foot, swivel Right toe to the right and Left heel to the right (feet are in a "V" position, toes pointed outward)
& - Bring feet together
Move can be done with opposite weight changes. Also see TRAVELING APPLEJACKS

ARABESQUE - The free leg is extended backward, forward or sideways; parallel to the floor

ARCH - A curvature of the torso initiated by lifting the ribcage. Also see PARTNER DANCE POSITIONS - ARCH on the Kickit website (click on Kickit link at top of page)
A - Partners raise joined hands to form a curve (ARCH) overhead
B - A curvature of the torso initiated by lifting the ribcage

ASSEMBLE` - Dancer springs up off the floor from both feet and lands on one foot

ATTITUDE - The free leg is turned out, and extended backward with a bent knee.
The free leg is lifted, bent and extended forward or backward with a bent knee
A - Forward: The knee and foot held in front of the hip, and the thigh is parallel to the floor
B - Backward: The knee and foot are held behind the hip, and the thigh is parallel to the floor