Alphabetical Index to Dance Figures, Actions, and Issues — A, B

Here, you can find a specific figure and jump directly to the section of the page that contains that description. For instance, if you want a description of the Aida, find the figure in the alphabetical list and click on the rhythm name in which you are interested (the Aida is a standard figure in Bolero, Cha, Mambo, and Rumba).

Having clicked on one of these links, if you don't immediately see the item you seek, you should need to page down no more than once or twice to find it.

Jump to a section of the alphabet:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Figures, Actions, Rhythms …	Rhythms In Which Each Figure Is Described (These links take you to the section of the page in which the figure or step is described. There, you might have to page down once to find the item.)	An Article or Photo Essay, a few Music & Video Clips (Article links take you to the top of the page — you may have to skim for the topic of interest. Music and video clips open in a separate page.)	RAL Phase Rating  (Any figure that is only slightly altered from a standard, phased figure usually carries the same phase rating as that standard figure, even if the exact name is not listed in the RAL manual.)
Abbreviations Of Dance Terms		Glossary
Acknowledge		Glossary
Across		Glossary
Action		Glossary
Adjust		Glossary
Advanced Alemana	Cha, Rumba		VI
Advanced Corte	American Tango, Argentine Tango, Tango		IV
Advanced Hip Twist	Cha, Rumba	Rumba Tips by Eum Is A Hip Twist Just A Fancy Half Basic? Hip Twist Figures	VI
Advanced Hockey Stick	Rumba
Advanced Rounds		Phase Rating System A Trend In Round Dancing	V, VI
Advanced Shadow Grapevine	Foxtrot
Advanced Sliding Door	Cha, Rumba		VI
Aerial Ronde		Glossary
Aerial Telespin		Unphased Figures by Stier
Ah (a)		Glossary And Uh? by German (PDF)
Aida	Bolero, Cha, Mambo, Rumba	Photo Essay Article	IV
Aida Line Position		Dance Position List Photo Essay
Aida With Continuous Locks	Cha
Alemana	Cha, Rumba	Photo Essay Rumba Tips by Eum An Alemana Is Not A Twirl Lead With Lead Hands Low To Close Or Not To Close, That Is the Question! by German (PDF) Under She Goes by Germa (PDF)	IV
Alemana From A Fan	Cha, Rumba	Photo Essay	IV
Alemana Surprise Check	Rumba	Photo Essay
Alemana Turn		Photo Essay
Alignment		Glossary
Alternating Underarm Turn	West Coast Swing		V
Alternative Basic	Cha, Rumba, Samba, Slow Two Step
Amalgamation		Glossary
American Back Spin	Jive
American Basic	Argentine Tango
American Spin	Jive	More Jive Tips by Eum	IV
American Style		The Two Major Schools of Dance -- International and American Rhythm Styles by Carlson
American Tango Rhythm		American Tango
Anchor	West Coast Swing	WCS -- Two-Count Figures WCS -- To Anchor or to Coaster by Cantrell (PDF)	IV
And (&)		Glossary And Uh? by German (PDF)
And I Love You So	Jive, West Coast Swing
Apart		Glossary
Apart And Together		Glossary	I
Appel	Paso Doble	One Figure, Paso Doble Appel	IV
Arch Turn	Hustle
Argentine Basic	Argentine Tango		IV
Argentine Tango Rhythm		Argentine Tango and the Flirtatious Ocho
Argentine Walks	Argentine Tango
Arm Check	Mambo		V
Arm Slide	Merengue		III
Arm To Arm	Slow Two Step
Armwork		Arm Work by Eum Arm Styling Tips by Cantrell (PDF) Using Your Hands by Rotscheid Wrist, Palm, and Finger Styling by Cantrell (PDF) A Few Notes On American Smooth Waltz by Finch Differences Between Men and Women by Woodruff
Around The World		Glossary Photo Essay
Astaire, Fred		Photo Album
Attack	Paso Doble		IV
Attitude Line		Dance Position List
Away		Glossary
Away And Together	Polka, Two Step, Waltz		I
Away Step Step	Two Step		II
Back	One Step, Two Step, Waltz	Glossary	I — top of pg
Back Back/Lock Back	Waltz	One Figure, Back Back/Lock Back	III
Back Basic	American Tango, Cha, Mambo, Rumba, Salsa		III
Back Box	Waltz		I
Back Break	Merengue
Back Chasse	Cha	Alternate Chasses in Cha Cha by Moore
Back Chasse Pivot	Waltz
Back Closed Change	Viennese Waltz
Back Corte	Argentine Tango, Tango	One Figure, Tango Back Corte	V
Back Curving Three Step	Foxtrot		V
Back Feather	Foxtrot	What About Feathers? by Stier Tim Eum Tips	IV
Back Feather 4	Foxtrot
Back Half Box	Foxtrot		III
Back Hitch Chasse	Cha	Alternate Chasses in Cha Cha by Moore
Back Hover	Foxtrot, Quickstep, Waltz		III
Back Hover Telemark	Foxtrot, Waltz		IV
Back Left Feather	Foxtrot	What About Feathers? by Stier Tim Eum Tips
Back Lock	Two Step		II
Back Lock Back	Two Step		II
Back Ocho	Argentine Tango
Back Open Promenade	Tango	Tango Helps & Figures by Rotscheid	V
Back Passing Change	Waltz, Viennese Waltz	The Feather Figures II by Stier	IV
Back Poise Chair	Waltz
Back Tango Close	Argentine Tango
Back Tango Draw	Argentine Tango
Back Three Step	Foxtrot		IV
Back Tipple Chasse	Foxtrot, Waltz		V
Back To Back	Two Step	Dance Position List	II
Back To Back Position		Photo Essay
Back Traveling Bota Fogos	Samba
Back Traveling Cross Chasses	Slow Two Step
Back Turning Whisk	Foxtrot, Quickstep, Waltz		V
Back Twinkle	Tango, Waltz		II, V
Back Two Step	Two Step		I
Back Walk	Cha	Ginger's Theme -- Walking Backwards and In High Heels Too by German (PDF)
Back Walk 4	Cha
Back Waltz	Waltz		II
Back Whisk	Foxtrot, Quickstep, Waltz	All About Whisks Phase IV Figures by Stier	IV
Backing Basic	Argentine Tango
Balance	One Step, Two Step, Waltz		I
Balance And Good Posture		Balance & Good Posture Posture and Balance by West Balance While Rotating by Cantrell (PDF) Oh My Aching Head by German (PDF) Dancing Posture by Lamberty
Balance Away	Two Step		II
Balance Forward And Back	Two Step, Waltz		I
Balance Left And Right	Waltz	Tim Eum Tips	I
Balance Together	Two Step		II
Ball Change		Glossary
Ball Of Foot		Glossary
Ballerina Wheel	Cha, Rumba	Wheel Around	VI
Banderillas	Paso Doble		V
Banjo Position		Dance Position List Dance Position and Connection Photo Essay Blend to Banjo
Bar		Glossary
Barefootin'	One Step
Barrel Roll	Hustle
Barrida	Argentine Tango
Basket Whip	West Coast Swing
Basic	American Tango, Argentine Tango, Bolero, Cha, Hustle, Lindy, Mambo, Merengue, Paso Doble, Polka, Rumba, Salsa, Samba, Slow Two Step, Tango	The Dynamic Duo [in Cha] by German (PDF) Tim Eum Cha Cha and Mambo Tips To Close Or Not To Close [in Rumba], That Is the Question! by German (PDF) Rumba Tips by Eum Toilet Paper Tricks [in Rumba] by German (PDF) Tim Eum Samba Tip Tim Eum Slow Two Step Tips Slow Two Step Is Smooth & Flowing A Few Notes on Slow Two Step by Finch	III, IV
Basic Ending	Slow Two Step		III
Basic Rock	Jive, Single Swing	Tim Eum Jive Tips	III
Basket Whip	West Coast Swing
Basketball Turn	One Step, Polka, Two Step		II
Beat		Glossary
Behind	Two Step, Waltz	Glossary	I
Bicicleta	Argentine Tango
Big Top	Foxtrot, Quickstep, Waltz	Finding Solutions for Common Problem Figures in Smooth Dancing by Finch Phase VI Figures by Stier	VI
Big Wheel	Two Step
Blend		Glossary
Blow A Kiss		Glossary
Body Investigate		Photo Essay
Body Lines		Matching Body Lines
Body Mechanics		see essays by Stier, parts I - V
Body Ripple		Glossary	VI
Body Rotation		Flight the Sequence
Body Roll		Glossary Tipples, Ripples, & Body Rolls	V
Body Swing		Finding Solutions for Common Problem Figures in Smooth Dancing by Finch
Boleo	Argentine Tango
Bolero Banjo		Glossary
Bolero Position		Dance Position
Bolero Rhythm		Bolero — "The Other Rumba" by DeChenne Bolero -- Rumba with a BIG Difference! by Nelson Teaching Bolero Styling by Woodruff Music Clip
Bolero Sidecar		Glossary
Bolero Walks	Bolero		III
Boogie Chasse	Lindy
Boogie Walk	Jive	Shall We Take A Walk? by Sears
Borrowing From A Beat		Where Should We Put the Slow? Musicality: Using the Motivation of the Music by Finch Inching Along -- The Timing Of A Step by German (PDF) Round Dancing Is a Partnership Playing With Waltz Timing -- Spin and Twist
Bota Fogo	Samba		V
Bounce		Glossary Foxtrot Bounce
Bounce Reverse Fallaway	Foxtrot	Foxtrot Bounce
Bounce Reverse Fallaway and Slip	Foxtrot	Foxtrot Bounce
Bow		Glossary Photo Essay	I
Box	Cha, Five Count, Foxtrot, Samba, Two Step, Waltz	Behold, the Box! by Stier	I - IV
Box Finish	Foxtrot, Waltz		III
Box Left Turning	Waltz		II
Box Right Turning	Waltz		II
Box the Crab	Cha
Break	Cha, Mambo, Rumba	Glossary	III
Break Back To Triple Cha	Cha		IV
Breakaway	Two Step, Hustle	Tim Eum Two Step Tips	II
Bridge		Glossary
Broken Box	Five Count, Two Step		II
Broken Chair	Foxtrot
Broken Sway		Glossary	IV
Brush		Glossary	II
Brush Tap	Tango	Tango Helps & Figures by Rotsheid	V
Bump		Glossary	I
Bunny Run	Quickstep	Animal Figures
Butterfly Banjo Position		Dance Position
Butterfly Position		Dance Position List Photo Essay
Butterfly Sidecar Position		Dance Position
Buzz		Glossary	III

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z