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"AABB" - Traditional dance tunes are mostly combinations of 8 bar phrases or parts. "AABB" means play the "A" part twice followed by the "B" part twice giving 4 x 8 = 32 bars.
"AABBB" "AAABB" or "AABBC" are ways of achieving 40 bar figures, the choice should fit the dance.

abc format - A language designed to notate tunes in an ascii format. Very effective and simple  method of exchanging and playing tunes. See the links on the Bushdance Links page

Advance and Retire - starting with right foot, take steps forward, usually 4 steps and return.

Anti-clockwise - As viewed from above, result is left shoulders will be towards the centre of the room or set. This is also referred to as the line of dance. The way horses race in Victoria.

Arch - Couple face each other and join both raised hands in an arch, other dances pass through as in Oranges and Lemons.
or -  Lines or couples hold nearest hands raised for others to pass through as in Thread-the-Needle.

Arm Turn - Partners hold fore arms parallel and hold each other's elbows with palm.

Balance - Step on the right foot and swing left foot. Repeat with other feet.

Ballroom Hold - Man's left hand supports ladies right just above waist level. Man's right hand on ladies waist, ladies left arm rest on man's arm.

Barn Dance Hold - Men slightly behind the ladies left shoulder, left hand in left, right in right, hands slightly above shoulder height.

Basket - Men's arms joined around outside of ladies waists, ladies rest arms on men's shoulders, all lean out slightly and step sideways to rotate to the left. Many dances only basket in one direction. If needed basket in reverse direction. always leave enough time to return to place.

Bottom Couple - Couple at other end of the set from the top couple. For sets up and down the room the couple farthest from the band, in sets across the room its to the right as the band views the set. 

Cast off - Leading dancer goes down the set and returns around the outside of the line. Alternately, all dancers turn outwards at the top of the set and return down the outside of the line.

Chasse - Gliding step, slide one foot forward bring other foot up in a scissor action.

Chain - see Grand Chain and Ladies Chain.

Clockwise - As viewed from above the way a clock hand rotates, result is right shoulders will be towards the centre of the room or set. The opposite to anti-clockwise and hence against the line of dance. 

Corner - Person opposite your partner.

Cross - When referring to foot movements, step diagonally in front or behind the other foot.

Cross Over - Change places with the person opposite you. If not instructed otherwise pass by the right shoulder, taking a slightly curved route to the other side of the set.

Curtsy - Ladies start with feet together, then touches her left foot behind her right. Keeping the upper body straight bend the knees. In some dances ladies hold their dresses with one hand.

Double été - Couples advance and retire and cross over, passing by the right shoulders. They then turn anti-clockwise to face into the set, but do not change places. Advance and retire again and cross back.

Do Si Do - Couple move towards each other and pass by right shoulders, move to right back to back and return to place moving backwards. If done twice reverse shoulders on second pass.

Ends - In some quadrille dances the couple facing the band and the couple with their backs to the band are the ends. The other couples are Sides.

Figure of Eight - Dance a figure of eight around stationary people. This is NOT the Reel of Three.

Figure - Part or section of a dance, sometimes done between  choruses (a repeated figure).

Galop - Usually done with partner, slide one foot forward bring other foot up in a scissor action.

Gay and Lesbian dancers - The caller should discuss with the organizers if they would prefer alternative terms for Ladies and Men. Any pair of terms works fine Town and Country, Lions and Christians

Grand Chain - Partners face and give each other right hands, passing by the right shoulders they move on offering alternate left and right hands to the oncoming dancers until all have completed a circuit.

Grapevine - Alternate diagonal steps forward, step outwards with the right foot, cross the left foot in front of the right, swing the right foot around the left and step right, cross the left foot behind the right. Repeat pattern as required. Usually done by couples in the promenade hold. Old timers use a coordinated body swivel and up and down movement as well.

Half right and left - The couples change places with 8 steps. Pass the opposite couple by the right shoulder, ladies advance and move in front and to the left of their partners. The men allow the the ladies to get ahead and move to the right. When on the opposite side of the set, all turn around clockwise to face inwards.

Handicapped Dancers - Traditional dances can be enjoyed by everyone. Liaise with someone who understands the group's special needs and make any necessary adjustments.

Honour - Curtsey, bow or balance left and right.

Irish Pivot Turn - Partners stand close, outsides of right feet touching. Left hands clasped, right hands on partners waist. Pivot on right foot by pushing with left. 

 Jig - a bouncy tune in 6/8 time. Slip Jigs are in 9/8 time and good for Strip the willow. 

Ladies Chain - Ladies change places taking right hands as they pass, then taking the opposite man's left hand, he puts his right hand on her waist and turns her around him anti-clockwise. Ladies usually then chain back.

Lady Turns Under - Holding nearest hands, man's right, ladies left, man raises his arm and the lady pivots under. Done once as a means of turning around as in Thady You Gander and Waves of Tory or man walks forward as lady continues turning as in Gay Gordons.

Line of Dance - Anti-clockwise path around the hall taken by dancers. The way the horses race in Victoria.

Long Arm Spin - Partners stand with right feet advanced, outside of right feet touching or close. Arms crossed, hands joined, holding each other’s wrists. Lean slightly outwards. Pivot on the right feet and push around with the left. Rotation is usually at a moderate rate, slower than used in a short arm spin

Long Sevens - Step sideways on the side you want to move to, bring up the other foot up slightly behind, continue for 7 beats. On 8th beat bring feet together. Usually followed by Short Threes

Longways Set -3 to 8 couples in two lines, ladies face the band, men face the ladies. Top couple on band's left. If up and down the hall, ladies on band's left, top couple nearest the band.

Levels - The dance instructions here have been allocated a number 1-4 in the top left corner.

1 - INTRODUCTORY, anyone can do these. Provided a few people on the floor have understood the instructions, all can have a good time. Example Galopede.

2 - EASY, anyone who can understand basic instructions will be able to enjoy the dance. Example Thady You Gander.

3 - INTERMEDIATE, Longer or more involved dances that require concentration or experience, but not beyond the keen dancer with a clear patient caller. Example Cumberland Square Eight.

4 - ADVANCED, Require experienced dancers or practice before hand. Dancers don't usually want to spend 50 minutes learning a dance that lasts 5 minutes. Example Lancers   

March - Tune with a steady rhythm, few notes to the bar and suitable for marching. 

Minor Set - Groups of 2 or 4 couples from a longer line who dance together for one or more figures.

Old-fashioned Waltz Hold -Man's left hand holds lady's right at slightly above waist level and extended away from bodies.

Pas-de-basque - Setting step used in many dances with a Scottish origin. Spring off the left foot and move the right foot with a circular motion to the side, transfer weight to the right. Bring the left heel up to the middle of the right foot. Tap the right foot on on the spot and pause. Repeat to the left.

Pass Through - Lines advance moving slightly to the left to pass the other line  by right shoulders to face a new line. If arches are used the couples moving towards the band arch, the others drop hands.

Piece-of-cake - Dancers move diagonally into the centre of the room or set and diagonally out, as in the Manchester Galop.

Poussette - Holding both hands, alternately push and pull.

Promenade - Couples side by side in skaters hold, left hand in right in front or allemande man slightly behind lady right hand in right, left in left in a vee formation at shoulder height. 

Pin - Centre person in a set.

Polka - Tune in 2/4 or 4/4 time, distinctive uneven clap/clap - clap rhythm. 

Playford Dance - Dance in John Playford's The English Dancing Master editions between 1650 - 1728

Quadrille - 4 couples on the sides of a square, couple 1 have their backs to the band, the 2's face the band, the 3's are on the right of the 1's, the 4's face the 3's.
In some dances couples 1 and 2 are the Ends and 3 and 4 the Sides.

Reel - A rollicking tune in 4/4 or 2/4 time

Reel of Three - 3 dancers all follow a figure 8 path, the centre dancer starts by passing the person on their right by the left shoulder, then all weave alternating shoulders until all have completed a circuit.

Reel of Four - Four dancers passing alternate shoulders, centre 2 dancers start back to back, following a figure eight or 3 loop path.
In Dorset Four Hand Reel - All 4 dancers start by passing by the right shoulders, then left and right alternately.
In Foursome Reel - The path is a 3 loop pattern like the ABC logo. A loop in the men's line, a loop in the middle of the set and a loop in the ladies' line. Ladies pass by the left, men by the right. Ladies start, passing by the left. The men then join in passing the opposite lady by the right.

Right and Left Through - The couples change places with 8 steps. Pass the opposite couple by the right shoulder, ladies advance and move in front and to the left of their partners. The men allow the the ladies to get ahead and move to the right. When on the opposite side of the set, all turn around clockwise to face inwards.

Session Tunes  - The music played at sessions and at concerts, exciting and technically great it may be, is often not suitable for dancing. To make a dance enjoyable the music must fit the dance, be at a suitable tempo and have clear sections.

Set - Slight jump onto right foot, bring left foot up to right and transfer weight to left toes then fall back on to right foot. Repeat to the left.

Short Arm Spin - Partners stand with right feet advanced, outside of right feet touching or close. Left hands clasped, right hand under the left and on partners waist.  Lean slightly outwards. Pivot on the right feet and push around with the left. Speed should never be beyond what is safe and be within your partners comfort zone.

Short Threes - Lively version of setting. usually used after Long Sevens.

Sides - In some quadrille dances the couples facing sideways across the room are the sides. The other couples are Ends

Sicilian Circle - Couples facing each other at right angles to the line-of-dance around the room. Usually a progressive dance, so half the dancers will progress clockwise and half anti-clockwise. Double Sicilian is 2 couples, facing 2 couples. Also used with lines of three in some dances.

Skaters' Hold - Couples side by side hands in front of their bodies, left hand in left, right in right at waist level. Left hands on top.

Slip Step - Slide one foot to the side and then draw up the other foot. Keep hips square and level.

Spelling - If the word is in the Macquarie Dictionary, I used their version. If not I used the simplest version others use.

Star - 4 dancers place right hands into centre at shoulder level and skip forward , then turn to place left hands into centre and return. The hold can be hands placed on each other or each person holds the wrist of the person in front of them.

Strip the Willow - Swing with partner by the right arm then with person of opposite sex in the line by the left arm, with each swing progress down the line. Dancers in the line can help by offering their left arms when its their turn.

Thread-the-Needle -Line of dancers pass through an arch and go behind and in front of the others in the line.

Top Couple - Couple with their backs to the band in sets down the room, couple on bands left for sets across the room.

Tulloch Hold - For a right arm spin couples stand facing in opposite directions with right shoulders touching. Left arms behind their backs holding partner's right hand. Pivot on the right foot pushing with the left. For a left arm spin reverse hold and direction.

Turn single - Dancers turn on the spot clockwise (right shoulder retreating)

Update information - Glossary last updated 2 Nov 2001 by Alastair Wilson

Visit - Active couple hold inside hands, walk around the inside of the set and honour each couple in turn and return to their place.

Waltz - Tune in 3/4 time, noticeable 1-2-3, 1-2-3 beat.

Wash-the-dishes - Couples start in the skater's hold, left hands must be on top. The hand hold is never released. Raise the hands, the lady starts first turning in and around under the raised hands, then the man follows. They both rotate at one stage being back-to-back. Named after the children's game, wash the dishes, dry the dishes, turn the dishes over.