Dance Vocabulary

2. A leap from one foot to the other
4. Spontaneous movement creation
7. A stylized walk with rhythm
8. Reaching or lengthening of a limb or the body.
14. Movement performed on or close to the floor, incorporating rolls,slides, and transitions.
15. A four-step movement creating a square
18. A kick followed by a quick weight shift
21. Freezing briefly after a fast movement
22. To stretch
24. A breath-like quality with weight held momentarily
25. Battement Large beating
27. Basic movement pattern that gives a feel to the dance
28. The positioning of body parts in relation to each other.
31. Creating a flowing wave-like motion through the body
32. Contracting muscles to create a "pop" in the body
35. A half turn on two feet
36. A pendulum-like movement
37. To chase
40. A rhythmic up-and-down movement
43. Moving one part of the body independently
44. A linking step
46. A smooth gliding movement
47. Includes top rock, down rock, freezes, and power moves
49. Twisting movement of the spine
50. To melt
53. Clarity and precision in how joints or body parts move.
54. How movement is structured and timed, like a sentence in dance.

1. Improvised dance movement
3. de jambe Circle of the leg
5. Letting go of tension to move freely; often contrasted with contraction.
6. The part of the body that starts the movement.
9. The pattern a movement or dancer follows through space.
10. Energetic, expressive street-style movement
11. A quick weight shift
12. Rapid shoulder shaking
13. A spinal articulation movement
16. Geometric arm and hand movements
17. To disengage
19. To glide
20. A swing-style jazz step
23. A turn on one leg
26. To strike
29. A sense of weight and connection to the floor.
30. Tightening of the muscles, often of the core; associated with Martha Graham technique
33. Letting the body fall with gravity
34. Mechanical, staccato movements
37. Focusing on core strength and control.
38. Movement between giving into gravity (falling) and regaining control (recovering); associated with Doris Humphrey.
39. To pass (often used in turning)
41. To assemble
42. A position with one leg extended behind
45. In the shape of a cross (front, side, back, side)
48. A position where the torso is bent forward at 90°
51. To bend
52. A kick that crosses the body in an arc
55. The central line around which movement occurs; balance and alignment.