Thursday 13 - Dance Edition
Posted: Thursday, November 15, 2007 by Travis Cody inI had such a wonderful experience last week with Peace Globes. A great benefit from that day is that I've met a lot of new bloggers. Of course, the side effect to that is there are many more blogs to visit.
I'm having a tough time getting to everyone. But it's not an option not to visit. So it may take me all week to make my rounds, but I'll get there.
Today I present 13 dance terms.
1. Allegro - A dance with a fast or moderate tempo.
2. Ballroom dances - social dances usually performed by couples, including the fox-trot, waltz, tango, rumba, swing, mambo, samba, and cha cha.
3. Carolina Shag - A very popular Swing style from Virginia down through the Carolinas into areas of Georgia. Most often danced to "Beach Music" performed by such groups as the Tams, The Embers, The Drifters and a wide range of "Motown" recording artists. The dance showcases the man and resembles West Coast Swing with the same slot movement, shuffles, coaster steps and pronounced lean resulting in role of the partner movement. The music tempo is slow to medium and can be danced comfortably by all ages.
4. Cuddle position - (also known as Varsouvienne or Skating Position) - Woman is at man’s left or right side, both facing in the same direction; one arm of man is across woman’s back, and position of other arm depends on method of arriving in cuddle position. Yum-OH!
5. Five positions - The basic positions of the feet. First position: feet in a straight line, heels touching. Second position: feet in a straight line, heels apart. Third position: one foot in front of the other, parallel to it, with heel of front foot in hollow instep of back foot. Fourth position: one foot in front of the other, parallel, but apart. Fifth position: One foot in front of the other, parallel, with heel in front foot touching toe of back foot.
6. Hoofer - A term used for a dancer of the 1920's, and later not just any dancer, but became specifically to refer to a tap dancer.
7. Jitterbug - A lively social dance popular during the 1930's. It is a toned down version of a Lindy Hop.
8. Line - The length and stretch of the body from head to toe.
9. Pas de Deux - A dance for two, usually a woman and a man. In its traditional form, it begins with an entree and adagio, followed by solo variations for each dancer, and a coda.
10. Phrasing - The fitting of dance figures to the rhythm and/or melody of the music. Phrasing may be adjusted in certain dances by the use of lead-in steps to bring the dancers in on a different beat.
11. Rise and Fall (ballroom) - a controlled raising and lowering of the body while dancing. The waltz is characterized by rise and fall.
12. Tour en l'air - A turn in the air, executed as the dancer jumps with the body held vertically straight. Males perform single, double or triple tours.
13. Viennese Waltz - With such wonderful composers as Johann Strauss and others, the Waltz became more and more refined. The steps became smaller with the turns smoother and more compact. Adding the graceful lilt of the flowing skirts we have today's Viennese Waltz.
These terms were all lifted from Centralhome.com, which is a website dedicated to information about all kinds of dance.
You're like the Cliff Clavin of the dance world! That was really cool info to check out.
Ah, to have a right and a left foot instead of two lefts. It'd be so nice.