Ball Change:
Two quick changes of weight from one ball of the foot to the other.
Brush:
Striking of the ball of the foot or the toe tap against the floor. This is usually done in a direction. A backward brush is called a spank.
Buck / Chug:
Forward movement emphasizing the heel drop with weight on the same foot.
Buffalo:
Step consisting of a step, shuffle, and a small jump (with shuffling foot going behind)
Cincinnati:
A spank with one foot, drop the heel of the opposite foot, shuffle and a step. This step is performed traveling backwards and alternates feet.
Cramp Roll:
Step using toe and heel drops in a specific pattern.
Dig:
Digging of the heel into the floor without weight transfer.
Draw:
Pulling of the free foot from an open to a closed position with a sliding motion.
Essence:
Basic movement associated with soft shoe dancing.
Flap:
Brush and step with transfer of weight.
Heel / heel drop:
Forceful dropping of the heel on the floor, with the weight placed on the ball of the same foot.
Hop:
Jump into the air, landing on the same foot and keeping the heel lifted.
Irish:
Movement adopted from Irish folk dances, which consists of a shuffle, hop, and a step. This can be done traveling forwards or backwards and the shuffling foot usually crosses when stepping.
Jump:
Spring into the air from both balls of the feet and landing on the same.
Maxie Ford:
Step named for a famous dancer. Consists of a step, shuffle, jump, toe tip behind.
Pick-ups/Pullbacks:
Hop on one foot with a back brush in the air, landing on the same foot. Can be done as singles, doubles, or alternating. Shuffles and taps can also be added.
Riff:
Movement combining a brush and a scuff on the same foot.
Riffle:
Riff combined with a spank.
Scuff:
Forward movement hitting the heel of the foot on the ground.
Scuffle:
Scuff followed by a spank.
Shim-Sham:
Stomp, spank, step. Alternating feet.
Shuffle:
Brush followed by a spank.
Slap:
Flap without weight transfer.
Soft Shoe:
Type of dance, originally done without shoes consisting of a step, brush (cross foot in foot), ball change .
Spank:
A backward brush of the ball of the foot.
Stamp:
Step onto the entire foot with weight transfer. (Like sticking a stamp to a letter)
Stomp:
Stamp without weight transfer.
Time Step:
An eight-measure movement, used to set the tempo.
Toe Drop:
Dropping the toe with weight on the foot.
Toe Stand:
Movement in which the dancer stands on the tips of the tap shoes: “en pointe”.
Toe Tip:
Striking the tip of the tap shoe against the ground.
Triplet:
Three sounds, usually a shuffle step.
Waltz Clog:
A dance in 3/4 time.
Wings:
With weight on one foot, a hop into the air while scraping the edge of the tap shoe on the ground. A brush is then done before landing on the same foot.