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Step Terminology
As the originator and creative director of the
Step Reebok program, Gin has been contacted many times
over the years for clarification on what is the "right" or
"correct" terminology for all step patterns.
Several years ago, attempts were made to further
define patterns that had evolved beyond the basic movements.
At one point, we tried to come up with definitions based on
the original alphabetical convention of naming patterns.
But by that time,
it had become apparent that terminology was more a matter of
what made sense to those who were actively teaching step. In
that this terminology was already so ingrained and yet varied
(even regionally), it would be impossible to gain anything
close to a consensus on what anything evolved beyond
the basics would be called.
Upon closer examination of the evolutionary patterns,
we also realized that most "new" patterns were simply variations
and or combinations of the original basic movements.
Revolving Door or 'O Step', Mambo or Mamba?
A good example is a "Revolving Door", which Gin
wanted to name as an "O" step. The elements are: over the top,
travel, over the top, travel.
You will also find further discrepancies over
proper pronunciations: Gin, like Petra Kolber, pronounces a
step that rocks forward and back as a "mamba" and I call it
a "mambo".
Therefore, the best advice is 'when in Rome'
- check to see what most of your participants are used to hearing
in terms of terminology.
For those that insist on being right, best we
can offer is what we are used to using, starting with the basics
- from the
most common to the most controversial!
Step Terminology -
Pattern |
Movements |
Counts |
Basic |
Up, up, down, down |
4 |
V-step |
Up, Up wide, down, down, narrow |
4 |
Turn Step |
From side approach: up, up wide, turning to opposite
end, down, down tap |
4 |
U-turn |
a tight or tiny turn, stays on same end |
4 |
Over the Top |
The short distance from the front to back |
4 |
Across the Top |
The long distance - the full length of the step from
end to end |
4 |
A-step |
Up, Up center of step, down, down tap wide on the
floor - can be used as a 'cheat' for Across the Top |
4 |
Tap Up, Tap Down |
Up tap, down tap - used most in a side approach or
at the end of the step |
4 |
Lift steps |
|
|
Knee up |
most common lift |
4 |
Kick |
full leg extension |
|
Curl, ham curl |
use to balance movements for the back of the leg |
4 |
Glute lift, rear |
use to balance movements for rear hip extension |
4 |
Side leg, abduct |
outer hip or thigh |
4 |
Instep, adduct |
inner thigh - least used lift |
4 |
Hop Turns |
Hops on Lift steps to transition
to other approaches: up and hop, lift as you rotate -
generally in the same direction of the lead - to
execute properly, fully unload bodyweight during rotation |
4 |
Full Hop Turn |
Complete hop turn to the other side |
4 |
Quarter Hop Turn |
Partial turn off the end |
4 |
Reverse Hop Turn |
In the opposite direction of the lead foot |
4 |
Repeaters |
any levers |
|
2 repeater |
Tranistion for lunges - walk up on 7,
8 |
6 |
2 repeater march |
add march 4 for a full 8 count. option - 1 jack instead
of march |
8 |
3 repeater |
any levers or combination of levers |
8 |
5 repeater |
to teach on 8 count, add a basic in between.
with levers: knee, side, curl, side, knee, exit |
12 |
L-step |
up knee, down off the end,
tap, up, knee, down back to the front and travel - can
vary levers on lifts. Gin calls this “L-knee” |
8 |
Basic L - original |
Up, Up with a basic step, off the end,
and tap - most use the above with a lift for the L step. To
cue this one, use “basic L” |
|
Lunges |
starts from top, lunge on downbeat |
|
Rear lunges |
lunges performed facing front, touching
down to back |
2 |
Diagonal |
Lunges performed facing side, touching
down astride |
2 |
Straddles |
|
|
Straddle Downs |
starts from top, straddle down on downbeat:
down, down, up, up |
4 |
Straddle Ups |
starts down from astride, straddle up
on downbeat: up, up, down, down |
2 |
Alternating Lift Straddles |
any levers: up lift, straddle, down lift
straddle |
|
Transitions - for changes in movement patterns or
directional approaches
Pattern |
Movements |
Counts |
Tap Down |
a tap down to change lead: in tap free step, a lift
is used instead |
|
Tap Up Tap Down |
Used as a ‘filler’ 4 count
on turnsteps or across the tops during breakdowns - used
to even lead or transition to next move from a side
approach |
4 |
Travel |
Takes movement to the opposite end, other lead: most
odd patterns will naturally travel – lift steps,
L’s, repeaters. To go tap free, cue travel
on exits from lunges. |
|
Exits |
Transitions from on top lunges or from astride in
straddle movements. To
go tap free, cue travel on exits. |
|
Knee off end or half an L |
Transition from the front approach to the end of the
step. Gin cues this fully: L knee off the end. Some
use half an L. |
4 |
Knee home
or half an L home back to the front |
transition back to the front of the step,
or "home" -
see step orientation |
4 |
Diagonal - originally Corner to Corner |
over the top from one end, crossing diagonally
to the other end - original Step Reebok terminology called
this "Corner to Corner" - see holding patterns below |
4 |
transitions for lunges |
an even count move that leaves you on
top to lunge down on the downbeat. 2 knee repeaters or
other 6 count patterns are used most for this transition
- see transitions for lunges |
2 or 6 |
Common Holding Patterns - patterns used to keep class moving
during previews, or holds to get back to the top
of the phrase
Pattern |
Movements |
Counts |
Travel Lifts or Corner to Corner |
with any levers, or taps behind on step
and claps - aka "corner to corner" |
4 |
Basics |
can be used, but travel steps allow for
balance with alternating leads and increased intensity
during holds |
4 |
Tap Up, Tap Downs |
Mostly used at the end of the platform
facing front to preview next movement. |
4 |
Travel L's |
L steps with any levers that travel from
both ends |
8 |
Basics |
can be used, but travel steps allow for
balance with alternating leads and increased intensity
during holds |
4 |
Marches |
Low intensity - use only if recovery
is required |
|
Combination Patterns - patterns
that combine basic moves, names will vary and there's tons
more out there, so consider this a sampling!
Pattern |
Movements |
Counts |
Around the World |
Alternating lift straddles that travel
from one end to the other: knee straddle, knee travel,
knee straddle, knee travel |
8 |
T- Step |
from the end approach, up basic, straddle
down, up off the end |
8 |
Revolving Door |
Over the top, travel, over the top, travel
- this is a full circle: to teach start with travel
lifts and alternate with revolves - constant repeats
will make people dizzy! |
8 |
Basic Lunge or Split Basic |
Up, up, lunge, lunge, down, down |
8 |
K Step |
A tap up tap down from side approach,
starts at one end: up center, tap on top, down to other
end, return – if you are a no-tapper, skip this
one! |
8 |
I Step |
up up, one jack on top, down, down, jack
on the floor |
8 |
Y Step |
up up wide in a V, walk in in on top,
down, down |
6 |
Indecision |
up, up, straddle down down up, up, exit
other side and tap |
8 |
Rocking Horse |
same as a repeater 3, lever changes to
a knee and a curl to "rock" |
8 |
Flamingo |
up, knee, straddle down, down, up, up
exit tap |
8 |
Horseshoe |
turn straddle turn tap - works to the
other side of the step, can repeat back to the
front |
8 |
X step |
V on top, V back on the floor facing
the back of the room - rotate in the direction of the
lead, turns a full circle: like the revolving door,
this pattern can make people dizzy on repeats so alternate
with 2 regular V’s to teach |
8 |
Z step |
A Step touch Up on Top and back Down
on the floor: up, tap, step out wide tap, walk down wide
tap, step out wide, tap |
8 |
Weave or crossback |
used to take taps out on over the tops
- trailing leg lands first. similar to a hop turn in
that you need to unload with a hop, but you do not turn:
direction will remain the same as an over the top with
a tap. Petra Kolber calls it a "crossback" |
|
Dance Patterns - patterns derived from dance movements
Patterns |
Movements |
Counts |
Mambo |
Place foot, up, other foot down, lead
foot back on the floor, other foot down = 2 basics |
4 |
Mambo Pivot |
Pivot in opposite direction of lead foot,
full circle |
8 |
Mambo Cha-Cha |
add, cha-cha-cha on floor to change lead |
4 |
Mambo Chasse |
"chasse" - to chase: cha-cha-cha travels
the mambo to other end or back on the floor |
4 |
Side Mambo |
Out on the floor, leg swings back and
behind other leg. |
4 |
Samba* |
Place one foot up, then down, switch
to other foot up = 6 counts, (aka 6 count mambo*)
add up, up to transition to the top of the step for
lunges |
6
+
2 = 8 |
Chasse around |
a quick variation for
a march or turning step touch around the platform - turns
away from the lead foot |
8 |
Jazz Square |
Step, cross over, step wide
and together |
4 |
Charleston |
Up, kick, down lunge back
on the floor |
4 |
Pas du Bourree |
From floor, tap across open
tap other end (1, 2), swing same leg back and behind
(3 & 4) on the floor to change lead and turn to the
other corner. |
4 |
*Although this is often referred
to as a 6 count or "half" mambo, the mambo
movement is generally a 4 count movement of the same
leg front and back.
When done with just front with a press on top and a
close to switch, then other leg on top, there is no backward
movement of the same leg. Therefore, this six count pattern
more closely resembles the movement in dance known
as the samba. |
Floor Patterns -
used in warm-ups and as elements in mixed step & floor combinations
Pattern |
Movements |
Counts |
Step Touch |
Step out wide, touch, step
wide, touch |
4 |
Double Step Touch |
step out wide, step together,
step out wide, and touch - these can also turn in the
direction of the lead foot |
4 |
Grapevine |
step wide, cross leg behind,
step wide, touch |
4 |
Hamstring Curl |
step curl, step curl - variation
can curl over the step (astride) and back or in a full
circle around (8 cts). |
4 |
Double Curl |
repeat curl 2 times - often
used in floor patterns to change leads |
4 |
Walk Forward and Back |
Walk forward 3 and tap or
lift, walk back 3 and tap or lift |
8 |
Figure 8 |
On the above, add turns
on lifts - movement makes a figure 8 |
8 |
Chasses |
Like a cha-cha-cha, but
it travels distance: back leg 'chases' and replaces front
leg. |
1 & 2 |
March |
In place on the floor, alternating
feet |
|
V-Step Variations
Patterns |
Movements |
Counts |
V Jack |
Power leap in a V on top, jump both feet
together on top, walk down, down |
4 |
V Rock |
Up, Up wide in a V, rock
4 cts on top, down, down - EVEN same lead.
This can also turn on the rock into a straddle down. |
8 |
Sailor V |
Up, ham curl, out, curl,
out, curl, down, down - 3 curls up, walk down - ODD alternates
lead |
8 |
Reverse V |
step out wide on top and rotates to exit
opposite side of the step |
4 |
V Hold |
up, hold, up, hold, down,
down, up, up - another transition for lunges |
6+2 |
Funky V |
up, up, hold 2 counts with
shoulder shifts, down, down, up, up - another
lunge transition |
6+2 |
Turn Step Variations
Patterns |
Movements |
Counts |
Turn straddle exit |
Turn, straddle down, step
up wide and exit home |
8 |
Shuffle Turn |
shuffle - one foot on top
on, other on the floor (1 & 2) and turn (3, 4), aka chasse
turn |
4 |
Curb walk |
From a side approach, 1 set = 2 turn
steps: stomp one foot up, one on floor, moving to the
end, one foot down on floor, move backwards to put one
foot up, other down on floor, then lead foot back
on the floor |
8 |
Reverse turn |
turn step with a blind approach,
faces away from the step – use sparingly with
caution and alternative base move due to blind approach |
4 |
6 count turn |
up, up, down, up, up, down:
press back
on the floor or use to transition for lunges
with walk up on top
*use sparingly and with caution due to possible stress
on the Achilles tendon in repeats. |
6
+
2 = 8 |
Turn Straddle, Turn Straddle |
Instead of tapping on turns,
straddle the platform - full circle
Keep repeats to a minimum – can cause
torque of the knee and the full circle movement can make
people dizzy. |
8 |
L- Variations
Patterns |
Movements |
Counts |
L Power Pendulum |
Up, lift, power squat off the end, up
pendulum 2 on top, down, down |
8 |
L- Mambo |
Place foot on, off back
on the floor back on and travel - it's a traveling mambo
off the end |
8 |
L- Jazz Square |
up, lift, down off end,
cross leg over, walk to the other end |
8 |
Care to add
your 2 cents to this?
Last modified - 3/18/07
Download
pdf file of this page
Minding the Music - the
downbeat / musical phrase
ODDs & EVENs Method
Advanced Choreography
Challenge - The Big 64
Odds & Evens Chart
of Patterns & Transitions
Getting Up & Down for
Lunges
Step Orientation - Original
Step Reebok & Revised
Teaching Mirror and
Actual Image
Step Terminology - you are here
Cuing Step
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