Dance Step Glossary

A glossary of dance steps with the count, a timing strip that shows where each weight change lands, step-by-step instructions and common mistakes.

B

• Bachata Basic Step 1-2-3-tap, 5-6-7-tap
• Bachata Box Step 1-2-3-tap, 5-6-7-tap
• Ball Change and-1
• Basic Step (Step Aerobics) 1, 2, 3, 4 (up, up, down, down)
• Body Roll usually over 2 or 4 counts
• Bounce (Groove) on every beat (down on the beat or up on the beat)
• Box Step 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (waltz)

C

• Camel usually over 2 or 4 counts
• Cha-Cha Basic 2, 3, 4-and-1 (repeat)
• Chaine Turns and-1 per turn
• Charleston 1, 2, 3, 4 (step, kick, step, touch)
• Chasse 1-and-2
• Coaster Step 1-and-2 (back, together, forward)
• Country Two-Step Basic quick, quick, slow, slow
• Cross Body Lead 1-2-3, 5-6-7
• Cumbia Step (Salsa Side Basic) 1-2-3, 5-6-7

D

• Do-Si-Do about 6 to 8 steps

E

• East Coast Swing Basic 1-and-2, 3-and-4, 5, 6

F

• Flap and-1 (two sounds)
• Foxtrot Basic (Slow-Slow-Quick-Quick) slow (2 beats), slow (2), quick (1), quick (1)

G

• Grapevine 1, 2, 3, 4 (side, behind, side, touch)

H

• Hip Circle usually over 4 or 8 counts
• Hip Drop on the accent of the drum
• Hip Hop Two-Step 1, 2, 3, 4

J

• Jazz Box (Jazz Square) 1, 2, 3, 4 (cross, back, side, forward)

K

• Kaholo 1, 2, 3, 4 (side, close, side, touch)
• Kick Ball Change 1-and-2
• Knee Lift (Knee Up) 1, 2, 3, 4

M

• Mambo Step 1, 2, 3, 4 (forward, recover, back, recover)
• Maya usually over 4 counts
• Merengue March every beat: 1, 2, 3, 4…
• Monterey Turn 1, 2, 3, 4 (point, turn and close, point, close)

O

• Ocho one pivot and step per beat

P

• Paddle and Roll 1-e-and-a (four sounds)
• Palmas follows the palo (rhythm)
• Pas de Bourree and-1-and (or 1-and-2)
• Pivot Turn 1, 2 (step, turn)
• Plie often over 2 or 4 counts
• Pole Walk steps on the beat
• Port de Bras phrased with the music
• Promenade walking steps

R

• Releve often over 2 counts (up, down)
• Rock Step 1, 2 (or 5, 6)
• Rumba Box Step slow, quick-quick (repeat)
• Running Man and-1, and-2

S

• Sailor Step 1-and-2
• Salsa Basic Step 1-2-3, 5-6-7 (pause on 4 and 8)
• Salsa Right Turn 1-2-3 prep, 5-6-7 turn
• Samba Basic Bounce 1-a-2
• Sevens (Irish Dance) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7, hold 8
• Shimmy fast, continuous
• Shuffle (Triple Step) 1-and-2
• Step Touch 1, 2, 3, 4
• Sugar Push 1, 2, 3-and-4, 5-and-6
• Swing Out 1, 2, 3-and-4, 5, 6, 7-and-8

T

• Tango Walk one step per beat (or on slows and quicks)
• Tap Shuffle and-1 (two sounds)
• Tendu often over 2 counts (out, in)
• Thumka on the accent
• Triple Step 1-and-2
• Turn Step 1, 2, 3, 4

V

• V-Step 1, 2, 3, 4 (out, out, in, in)

W

• Waltz Balance Step 1, 2, 3

Z

• Zapateado follows the palo (rhythm)

Compiled by the Rhythm Desk. Counts can vary between teachers and styles. Last checked October 2026.