Travel Steps Study Guide 2.3: Foundations, Single and Sequenced Steps

Foundation Concepts and Terminology: Individual Steps

A step describes a full transfer of weight from one foot to the other, in place, or moving the body to a new spot on the floor.

Step Out

Step Forward

Step Back

Step Side

Step Across Front

Step Across Back

A step out—forward, back, to the side, crossover to the front or crossover to the back--recenters the body over a new spot on the floor.

Step In | Step Together

A step in or step together brings the foot underneath the hip.

Step in Place

A step in place keeps the foot underneath the hip.

Ball-Change| Step-Ball-Change | “Cha-Cha-Cha”

A ball change is created by a step out to a new spot on the floor, quickly followed by a second step that takes the body back to the original location. A ball-change also describes a rebounding weight change, where the body is temporarily transferred to an unbalanced position. A step-ball-change (or, ball-change step) is a linked sequence of three steps that transfers weight right-left-right or left-right-left. When cuing choreography, the counts for quick step-ball-change sequences are sometimes verbalized as “cha cha cha.”

Foundation Concepts and Terminology: Steps in Even Succession

Time-Marking Steps

Time marking steps are rhythmic patterns of steps in place or combinations of steps in place, touches, holds, and ball changes.

Walk | Run

A walk or run describes a series of left-and-right alternating steps forward or steps back.

Step, Step-Together

Step, Cross-Behind

Grapevine

Push, Step Out, Pull, Step In

Belly Dance Chassé

Step-step together patterns take the body forward, back, or sideways, alternating between a step out on one foot and a step in place on the other . Using crossover steps in step-step together patterns allows the dancer to travel while maintaining a close spacing of the feet and legs. Movements like a weighted twist or undulation often travel on a step-cross behind pattern, starting with a step in place, and travelling with a crossover step to the back. The most common belly dance grapevine step is created from crossover steps and steps in place. A variation that crosses the stage more quickly combines crossover steps and steps out to the side. In belly dance, step-step together patterns that don’t use crossover steps usually push and pull the feet across the floor with sliding steps. A push sequence begins with the feet together. Slide the foot out, transfer weight, step together. A pull sequence begins with the feet apart. Slide the foot in, transfer weight, step out. A quick sequence of sliding steps creates a chassé. For continuing travel with chassé footwork, the pattern of the feet is: step out, step together, step out.

→ Next in the Travel Steps Study Guide: Turns 

←Previous: Breaking Down Footwork into Steps and Holds

↑      Travel Steps Study Guide Table of Contents 
↑↑    Travel Steps
↑↑↑  Autumn Ward Presents Artistic Belly Dance Student Resource Center