Jazz Dance Vocabulary

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Across
  1. 1. Lifting and extending one leg sharply into the air, with control and straight posture.
  2. 7. A kick where the leg sweeps in a circular motion, crossing in front of the body and then opening out to the side.
  3. 9. Step to the side with one foot and bring the other foot to touch next to it, often done with rhythm or style.
  4. 10. A side-traveling step pattern: step side, cross behind, step side, cross front.
  5. 12. Standing with your feet side by side, toes facing forward and touching or close together.
  6. 13. A sliding step where one foot “chases” the other, step-together-step.
  7. 15. Stylized walks that travel forward or sideways with attitude, using turned-in or turned-out legs, and often rolling through the feet.
  8. 16. A series of quick, linked half turns done in a straight line or circle, on the balls of the feet.
  9. 18. A position where one leg is lifted, and the toe touches the knee of the supporting leg.
  10. 20. A large jump from one foot to the other, traveling through the air.
  11. 21. A traveling turn that takes three steps to complete one full rotation.
Down
  1. 2. Moving one part of the body (like the head, shoulders, ribs, or hips) independently from the rest.
  2. 3. A turn done by stepping forward and then swiveling the body to face the opposite direction while keeping one foot in place.
  3. 4. A full turn of the body on one leg, often in passé, using balance and spotting.
  4. 5. A two-part kick where one knee lifts and then switches mid-air to kick with the other leg.
  5. 6. Standing with your feet apart, toes facing forward and about shoulder-width distance.
  6. 8. A four-step pattern that makes the shape of a square on the floor, often stepping cross-front, back, side, together.
  7. 11. Stepping one foot across the other, either in front or behind.
  8. 14. A smooth gliding movement where one foot leads and the other slides along the floor.
  9. 17. A quick transfer of weight from one foot to the other, usually stepping back on the ball of one foot and then forward on the flat foot.
  10. 18. A quick three-step move (back, side, front) often used to transition or change direction.
  11. 19. A jump that opens the legs into a split position in the air.