Dance Jargon

Dance; For a couple millenniums, it was known as any physical movement to music or rhythm. However, in the past century it went through the process of redefinition by different dance groups in the world. Specially the ones that developed an elitist attitude. They belonged to a special group and they danced according to their rules They knew when they are dancing "correctly." Those other people over there, are not really dancing. Social dancers understand that these people wish to be different from us - and we acquiesce.

Dance Fever: A benign illness that hits most social dancers at different times and in varying degrees. "Just Gotta Dance." There is no known cure, you just gotta dance it out.

Dance Floor: In Night Clubs and Restaurants it is a designated place where people can dance. In our regular dance functions, it is THE FLOOR.

"Good social dancers do not forget small kindnesses and do not remember small faults."

Dance Instructor: An experience dancer who teaches in a systematic way such as dance classes in dance clubs, studios and privately. They can provide the students with knowledge of the proper styling and the history of the dance. The students have the opportunity to know, understand and appreciate the particular dance in its context.

Dance Teacher: Not quite synonymous with Dance Instructor. All you have heard, "Anyone can teach anyone a dance step". or another quote, "Anyone can learn a dance step." The proper styling? Now that is quite a different matter. However good dance teachers usually help good dancers.

Dance Workshop, Amateur: A modern form of street dance club. A social gathering of dancers roughly the same level of expertise to help each other in perfecting the steps and patterns which they already know. They may also use DVDs to introduce new movements to their repertoire. They can develop into some of the best of the social dancers.

"Fly Me To The Moon" by Jimmy Borges

Dance Workshop Pro: A Professional will review the better way of moving to music to regular dancers for a fee.

Demonstration: An explanation by example to show a particular pattern or style of dance. Very effective by those that are not very good teachers but have a history of being good dancers.

Disco: Evolved from Latin Challenge position in dancing in the US. The young dancers separated and stayed that way doing their own thing. At the time Records were used in Night Clubs and Disco means Record in Spanish. It has since evolved into several genres for the young and not considered as part of our recreational partner dancing.

Discography: The systematic study and cataloguing of phonograph records, albums, Cassettes and/or CDs. Ranges from the small collector to the Big Time DJs.

"Social dancers know that there are two ways of spreading light:

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."