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THE LINE & COUNTRY &
WESTERN
DANCE & MUSIC FAQ
5.0 Some Basic Line Dance Step Descriptions
Note: While every effort is
made to ensure that the definitions in this section are commonly
acceptable, the author can accept no liability for differing
interpretations or descriptions of step moves.
KICK BALL CHANGE
You kick your right (or left) leg slightly
forward, step down on the ball of that same foot for one beat, then
quickly “change” weight to the opposite foot thus creating the
kick-ball-change.
GRAPEVINE & TOUCH
Step to the right (or left) with the appropriate
foot for the direction that you are going. So for a Grapevine Right –
step to your right with your right foot (putting your weight on your
right foot). Step behind your right foot with your left (putting your
weight on your left foot). Step again to the right with your right foot
(weight on right) and touch your left foot next to your right (with your
weight staying on the right foot). For a Grapevine Left, repeat the
above going left but switching to the other foot.
VINES
A VINE is generally a three count move though it
is often finished with a fourth count via a “TOUCH”, “SCOOT”, “BRUSH”,
“HEEL TAP”, “STEP”, “KICK” or a number of other steps. See Glossary Of
Terms. When writing up a dance, dance steps should be annotated as
either a “Grapevine” (ie. The Conventional 3 count step move) or, if
more than three counts are involved, as a “Four Count”, “Five Count”
Grapevine, etc.
HITCH
Right/take right heel and touch forward, take the
right foot and bring it upward in front of the right shin, touch right
heel down in front and return next to the left foot. Count: forward heel
–1; up to shin – 2; return heel – 3; return “home” – 4.
CHA CHA
There are two types of Cha Cha steps:
All Cha Cha steps are counted 1&2, 3&4 etc and
its basically a quick weight change from foot to foot. For example a
forward right foot (right-left-right) Cha cha (Triple Step) involves:
1 – Step forward on the right foot
& - Then on the ball of the left foot (placing your weight on the left
foot)
2 – Then immediately place your weight on the right foot moving forward,
backwards, or sideways.
Simply reverse the above for a left-right-left
forward left foot Cha cha.
Differences In Technique Between A Cha Cha & A Triple Step
A CHA CHA CHA can move forwards, backwards or
from side to side in either direction. A TRIPLE STEP will move only
forwards. Both the CHA CHA CHA and the Triple Step incorporate three
steps in two beats requiring one of the beats to be split. How the beats
are split gives the rhythm. The rhythm of a Cha Cha Cha and Triple Step
are differentiated as follows:
CHA CHA CHA ½ ½ 1 TRIPLE STEP 1 ¼ ¾ The footwork
of the forward moving Cha Cha Cha and Triple Step are similar:
Step 1 – Ball Flat
Step 2 – Ball Only
Step 3 – Ball Flat
However, in the first step of a Triple Step , the
standing foot may rise in preparation to give a downward impetus to the
first step. This never occurs in a Cha Cha Cha action which is entirely
flat.
Unlike the Triple Step, the Cha Cha Cha movement
may be danced backwards. This affects the footwork as follows:
Step 1 – Ball Only
Step 2 – Ball Flat
Step 3 – Ball Flat
When dancing a Triple Step, dancers often advance
the same side of the body as the moving foot giving a right side lead to
a right foot Triple Step and a left side lead to a left foot Triple
Step. In standard Cha Cha Cha, the body remains square to the line of
travel. However, it is possible, and often desirable, to adopt a similar
leading side as with the Triple Step. In this case, the dancer will
often choose to allow the foot to cross loosely on Step 2. When this
occurs in the Cha Cha Cha, the foot and knee will be turned out
slightly. In Triple Steps, the feet will tend to close or almost close,
in which case, the feet will remain parallel.
In sideways moving Cha Cha Cha, the footwork will
be ball flat throughout.
Hip action in the Cha Cha Cha will result from
the correct use of the leg and knee action with the knee tending to
straighten a little as the weight is transferred onto it. There is no
hip action in the Triple Step because the knees are flexed throughtout.
MILITARY PIVOT TURN
Right Pivot Turn
1 – Step forward on the right foot (weight is
forward on the right foot)
2 – ½ turn on the right foot to the left (weight is now on the left
foot)
3 – Step forward on the right foot (weight is forward on the right foot)
4 – ½ turn on the right foot to the left (weight is on the left foot)
This type of combination is done following OR
preceding 4 other counts to a total of 8 counts of a pattern.
Left Pivot Turn
1 – Step forward with left foot (weight is
forward on the left foot)
2 – ½ turn to the right (weight is on the right foot)
3 – Step forward with left foot (weight is forward on left foot)
4 – ½ turn to the right (weight is on the right foot)
Again this would follow 4 other counts or go
before 4 counts. For example the Ski Bumpus Line Dance has two sets of
these pivot turns.
The Military Pivot is also called by, Pivot,
Military Turn, Step Turn & Step-Pivot
JAZZ SQUARES
Right Jazz Square
1 – Step forward with the right foot
2 – Cross left foot over right foot (weight is on the left foot)
3 – Step straight back with right foot (weight is on the right foot)
4 – Bring left foot next to right (home position)
Most Jazz Squares are 4 counts and, as with pivot
turns, follow or go before 4 other counts. Just reverse the foot work
going to the left for a Left Jazz Square.
JAZZ SQUARES are also called by JAZZ BOX
THE SAILOR STEP
A three step sideways sequence in two beats of
music. Described in New England as the “Sailor Step” but sometimes
refered to as the “Sailor Shuffle” or “Cross-Ball-Change”.
Sailor Step to the Right – 1&2 = L,R,L
1 Step left foot behind right
& Step right beside left foot
2 Step left beside right foot
For Sailor Step to the Left, simply reverse the
foot order. Because the steps cause the dancer’s body to sway, some
people think this looks like a sailor trying to keep balance on a
pitching deck.
Variations of the Sailor Step Exist. Sometimes
the step is described as follows:
1 Right hook left (right behind left to left
side)
& Left step in place on ball of foot
2 Right step next to left
Beat Count
The beat value of the rhythm used in the Sailor
Step should be 3/4, ¼, 1 (Three quarters, one quarter, one) which is not
indicated by a simplistic count on 1&2.
HEEL SWIVEL/SPLITS
1. With your weight on the balls of your feet,
swivel heels apart
2. With your weight on the balls of your feet, swivel heels back
together again
Heel swivels do not necessarily mean that the
heels go apart and then together, it can mean that they both go in the
same direction:
1. With your weight on the balls of your feet,
swivel both heels left.
2. With your weight on the balls of your feet, swivel heels to the
center.
3. With your weight on the balls of your feet, swivel both heels right.
4. With your weight on the balls of your feet, swivel heels to the
center.
This move is also called by SWIVETTES.
The SHUFFLE STEP
The shuffle is three steps to two beats of music:
1. Step forward with your left foot
& Quickly bring your right foot next to your left foot and step down
2. Quickly step forward with your left foot
Just reverse these steps for a right foot lead.
This move is sometimes refered to as a steptogether-step or even a Polka
step. The shuffle step differs from the Cha Cha step in that there is NO
rocking motion involved.
The Shuffle Step is also called by TRIPLE STEP.
A Cautionary Note: In many
ways the shuffle step is similar to the Triple Step and Cha Cha Cha. The
main difference, however, is that it remains facing the line of travel
and does not have a side lead as may be used in the Triple Step. Ankle
action is not as pronounced as in the Triple Step with the feet being
slid along the floor hence its similarity to “shuffling”. The rhythm is
½, ½, 1 (Half, Half, One).
MONTEREY SPINS/TURNS
Right Monterey
Point right tow to right at 90 degrees, spin 180
degrees to right, change weight to right foot, point left toe out to
side at 90 degrees, step left back to home (bringing two feet together).
For a Left Monterey simply reverse the above.
WASHBOARD RUB
In the dance Dirty Laundry choreographed by
Sandra Mailman & Dawn Randall, there is a Washboard Rub. This movement
is critical to the correct rendition of that dance. Hands are placed in
front of the body, arms slightly bent at the elbows and an up and down
movement is made, as if you were scrubbing clothes on an old washboard.
SCISSOR STEP
1 Jump with feet about a shoulder width apart
2 Jump cross step right over left
3 Jump with feet about a shoulder width apart again
4 Jump bringing feet together
Many dancers do this as a variation to the first
4 steps of Slappin’ Leather, Locomotion and others.
VAUDEVILLE HOP
EXAMPLE: Vaudeville Hop to the Left
(Start with L heel to the left)
& Step ball of L behind R
1 Step R to the left
& Step Left to the left
2 Touch R heel to the right
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