Glossary

Terms used in clog dance notation

Step –
(1) transfer of weight from one foot to the other
(2) Any combination of beats, moves etc. lasting 16 bars
NB It is useful to know steps off both left and right as you may need to start off either foot when a step is part of a routine. In the video of the whole sequence of steps for Alex Woodcock's Waltz, steps 1 3 5 & 6 start with the left foot, but steps 2 & 4 start with the right.

Spring – transfer of weight from one foot to the other with slight elevation. Lighter quality of movement than a ‘step’

Tap – the ball of the foot hits the ground and immediately comes away again

Heel tap – heel drops to the ground and immediately comes away again

Toe beat – ball of the foot hits the ground and stays there

Heel beat (heel drop) – heel drops to the floor and stays there.

Forwards brush – a moving toe tap, from slightly behind the body to slightly in front

Backwards brush – reverse of the above

Shuffle – forward brush followed by backwards brush, executed in less than one count (&1, 1&, &a etc.)

Tap spring (lazy shuffle) – forwards tap with transfer of weight and slight elevation

Jump – elevation from the balls of the feet without transfer of weight – two feet to two feet or two feet to one foot

Hop – elevation from the balls of the feet without transfer of weight, one foot to one foot

Click – hitting any two parts of the feet together. Toe to toe, heel to heel, toe to heel, can be done with or without elevation

‘Tip’ tap (toe tap) – very tips of the toes hit the floor and immediately come away again

Ball Change – step on to the ball of one foot and then back to the flat of the other foot in less than one count (&1). Accent on the second beat (&1).

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