Vance's Fantastic Tap Dictionary
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Cabriole A beating of the calves of the legs together while in the air. Step forward on one foot, extending the free leg in the air to the front or rear, with the knee straight; jump into the air beating the calves of the legs together (legs are crossed below the knees) and land on the foot from which the movement originally started.
Cake Walk Originally, a form of entertainment among African - Americans in which a prize of a cake was given for the most accomplished steps and figures in walking; later, a stage dance developed from these movements.
Carryback Same as a Back Irish: A backward tap movement:
A. Measure Count Movement
and 8 Shuffle R fwd
and Hop L
1 Step R (XB of L)
and 2 Shuffle L fwd
and Hop R
3 Step L (XB of R)
Carryover Same as a Front Irish: A forward tap movement:
A. Measure Count Movement
and 8 Shuffle R fwd (to R side)
and Hop L
1 1 Step R (XF of L)
and 2 Shuffle L fwd (to L side)
and Hop R
3 Step L (XF of R)
Catch A movement wherein the toe or heel of one foot strikes the toe or heel of the opposite foot.
Catch Step Basically, a ball change with one foot forward of the other and starting with the back foot.
Chainé A series of small steps h'linked together as executed in turns.

Charleston A twisting movement turning the toes inward and then outward; dance craze of 1925, considered to be of African - American origin from Charleston, South Carolina. Performed both on stage and in social dancing; the dance has been revived numerous times.
Charleston Twist With the weight on the baRs of both feet, heels raised, twist both heels in simultaneously and then outward simultaneously.
Chassé A step ball change traveling in any direction.
Chop A step backward with leg straight. The step takes weight.
Choreography The art of dancing or arranging dances; first used with reference to ballet.
Chorus A standard chorus of music contains 32 measures which is divided into four 8 measure phrases.
Chorus Line A line of dancers performing a kick routine. This type of dance line  was originally called a Tiller.
Chug Sometimes referred to as a Buck:  A forward movement accenting the heel drop: With the weight on one foot, the free foot is raised; force the heel of the foot to the floor with exaggeration, thus moving the foot forward approximately 3 inches.
Cigarette Twist Same as the French Twist.
Cincinnati A backward movement alternating from one foot to the other.
A. Measure Count Movement
and Brush R bk
1 1 Hop L
and a Shuffle R (to R side)
2 Step R bk
and Brush L bk
3 Hop R
and a Shuffle L (to L side)
4 Step L bk
Clap Same as a Hand Clap: A striking of the palms of the hands together.
Click Heels With the weight on the balls of both feet, twist heels in, striking them together.
Click Toes With the weight on the heels of both feet (toes raised in the air), twist toes in, striking them together.
Clip A striking on the heel against the toe of the opposite foot or striking the toe against the heel of the opposite foot. A derivative of the Lancashire Clog.
Clog Clog dancing first appeared in the industrial areas of Northern England, Southwest Scotland and South Wales. This form of dancing came into existence around 1870 and is assumed to have originated in Lancashire.
Clogs Clogs refers to a wooden-soled shoe and heels and in their final form were made of hard maple. Originally, the sole was one solid piece of wood with the wooden heel attached thereto. This was a rather awkward combination of equipment to dance in and in later years, the split sole came into being. The wooden sole was attached to the welt of the sole and extended back to the instep of the foot. The wooden heel was separate and attached to the leather sole. With the development of the split sole, the dancer had the flexibility to execute much more complicated footwork.
Coffee Grinder A flash step that is executed from a squat position with the R leg extended forward and straight, R heel touches the floor. L hand is on the floor on the L side of the R leg and the R hand is on the floor to the R side of the R leg. Keeping R leg straight, start moving the R leg in a circle to the L. L hand is raised as R leg passes and L hand returns to the floor beside R. At this point, the L leg steps over the R (remaining in a squat position) R leg continues circle L and as the leg approaches the completion of the circle, the R hand is raised as the leg passes to forward position. R hand returns to floor on R side of R leg. Movement can be executed as many times as desired, in either direction.
Cluster Not a commonly used term but usually referred to a flurry or group of tap sounds performed in rapid succession.
Contrast The variation of rhythm patterns in relation to one another.
Cork Screw A twisting movement wherein the toe of one foot is raised from the floor with the heel remaining on the floor. The toe is twisted in and out. This movement is sometimes referred to as a Tanglefoot.
Counterpoint Complimentary rhythms.
Counts Refers to the number of beats to a bar or measure of music.
Cramp Usually is referred to as a forceful or accented heel drop.
Cramproll A movement employing steps and heel drops in specific patterns.
a Leap fwd to R ft
and Step L fwd
a Drop R heel
1 Drop L heel
Five-Sound Cramproll Executed traveling forward, backward or in place:
a Brush L fwd
1 Leap fwd to L ft
and Step R fwd
a Drop R heel
2 Drop L heel
Forward Cramproll Same as a Five-Sound Cramproll.
Receding Cramproll Same as a Forward Cramproll except the brush is executed back rather than forward.
Standing Cramproll: Cramproll with weight shift:
1 a 1 Shuffle R fwd (to R side) [A]
and Step R (to R side)
a Drop R heel
2 Heel tap l fwd (to L side)
a 3 Reverse A
and
a
4
Cross A term of the "old school" which consisted of five sounds. Basically, a Waltz Clog Time Step in a crossed manner.
Cross Bar A traveling movement to the side wherein one leg crosses over in front of the other.
Cross Leg Walk A basic movement executed in a quarter note rhythm which is one tap sound for each beat of music:
A. Measure Count Movement      
1 1 Step L (to L side)
2 Drop L heel
3 Step R (XF of L)
4 Drop R heel
Crossover Same as a Front Irish. A movement employing a crossing of one foot in front of the other.
Cubanola An old theatrical term more commonly known as a Traveling Time Step:
8 and Shuffle R fwd (to R side)
1 1 Step R (to R side)
and 2 Shuffle L fwd
and 3 Ball change L-R (travel R)
and 4 Ball change L-R (travel R)
2 5 Hop R
6 Step L
and 7 Shuffle R fwd
and Step R
Cut Same as a Cut-Out.
Cut-Out A swinging of the legs from one side to the other while striking the heels together:
and Extend R ft in the air (to R side),
Hit L heel with R heel,
swinging L ft in the air to L side
1 Land on R foot
and Hit R heel with L heel, swinging R ft
in the air to R side
2 Land on L ft
Da Capo A music term meaning: from the beginning.
Dal Segno A music term meaning:  a repetition from the "sign".
Dance Notation A method of writing out dances or routines, using dance terminology, in measures, counts and styling.
Diagonals Refers to the more commonly used stage directions such as Downstage R, Upstage R, Downstage L, Upstage L
Dig A dig is a forward movement with the free foot and can be executed with the ball of the foot or the back edge of the heel.
Dig Ball With the knee of the free foot flexed, strike the ball of the free foot forward in a forceful movement. This movement may or may not take weight.
Dig Heel A forceful striking of the heel of the free foot (toe up) in any direction. This movement may or may not take weight.
Dig Tap With the knee of the free foot flexed, strike the hall of the free foot forward in a forceful movement. This movement may also be executed with the toe turned in or turned out. This movement does not take weight.
Divertissement Amusement; entertainment. A fill in number to bridge the gap in a show or production.
Double An old term for a Shuffle. The term was derived from the fact that a Shuffle constitutes two sounds.
Double Ball Change An old term for Shuffle, Ball Change. This movement was Change usually executed in two different rhythm patterns: "and 8 and 1" and "8 and a 1." However, it can be executed in any desired rhythm pattern.
Double Heel Click An old term for a Shuffle and a Bell.
Double Hop An old term for a Shuffle, Hop.
Double Hop Step A basic "Irish" more commonly called a "Shuffle, Hop, Step." This movement was usually executed in two different rhythm patterns: "and 8 and 1" and "8 and a 1." However, it can be executed in any desired rhythm pattern.
Double Irish A basic "Irish" (Shuffle Hop Step) followed by a Shuffle Ball Change:
and 8 Shuffle R fwd [A]
and Hop L
1 1 Step R
and 2 Shuffle L fwd
and 3 Ball change L-R
and 4 Reverse A
and
2 5
and 6
and 7
Double Jump One of the many old terms which means Shuffle and Leap forward to  the same foot.
Double Pickup Throughout the years, there have been many different explanations and descriptions for the execution of this movement. The following is the generally accepted approach:
8 Brush L bk
and a Pickup change R to L
1 Step R
Double Wings The proper execution of "Wings" has almost become a lost art. When a Double Wing is executed properly, it consists of six distinct sounds:
a Roll R ft in air to R
8 Roll L ft in air to L 
a Brush R bk
and Step R
a Brush L bk (to R)
1 Step L
Downbeat The primary accent of a bar or measure of music. In dancing, we count in two measure phrases or a "Count of 8." The counts 1, 3, 5 and 7 are all downbeats but the primary accent is on the counts of "1" and "5."
Downstage Direction toward the audience.
Drag Same as a Draw.
Draw A drawing of the free foot on the floor in any desired direction. The foot is kept in contact with the floor until the sliding movement is completed.
Draw Back A "Draw Back" is an unconventional term. The movement is somewhat like a "Double Pickup" but consists of only two sounds. Rocking back on the heels of both feet, simultaneously brush both feet back, landing on the balls of both feet at the same time.
Draw Backs A superfluous term that has come into being in recent years. Same as a back brush, heel drop and step.
Drop Heel Same as a Heel Drop.
Drum Roll Sometimes called a "Military Cramproll."
8 Hop L
and a Shuffle R fwd
1 Hop L
and Brush R fwd
2 Brush R bk (XF of L)
and Step R (XF of L)
3 Step L (XB of R)
Drum Slap A "flap" was  once called a "slap", thus the "Drum Slap."
and 8 Shuffle R fwd (to R side)
and Hop L
a 1 Flap R fwd
Duple Time A type of musical time so constructed rhythmically there are two principal beats to the measure; most commonly, 2/4 time.
Eccentric A old form of character dance; usually comedy.
Eighth Note Rhythm Two even beats per count, within a measure. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...
Essence A basic movement associated with Soft-Shoe dancing, and containing many and varied rhythm patterns:
Single Essence
1 1 Step L (to L side)
and a Flap R fwd (XF of L)
2 Step L
3 Step R (to R side)
and a Flap L  fwd (XF of R)
4 Step R
Back Essence
1 1 Step L (to L side)
and a Brush step R (XB of L)
2 Step L
3 Step R (to R side)
and a Brush step L (XB of R)
4 Step R
Virginia Essence
1 and 1 Brush step L bk (to L side)
and Brush R fwd (XF of L)
a Dig R heel fwd (XF of L)
2 Step L
and 3 Brush step R bk (to R side)
and Brush L  fwd (XF of R)
a Dig L  heel fwd (XF of R)
4 Step R
Double Essence
1 and 1 Brush step L bk (to L side)
and a Flap R fwd (XF of L)
2 Step L
and a Brush step R bk (to R side)
3 Step L
and a Flap R fwd (XF of L)
4 Step L

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