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 SELECTED   SET    AND
TWO-HAND DANCE 
TERMS                          © 2008    Larry E.Taylor

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Only selected alternate names are listed parenthetically with the TERMS.  Click-on an underlined letter above to navigate on this page.

Learning the following terms is not the best way to learn Irish set dancing.   The text is generalized since many patterns with the same label are danced differently in multiple sets; note conditional words like usually, sometimes, vary, may, if, one or more and often used in the definitions.  Written language often is inadequate to define physical movements.  Attend a ceili where sets are danced and listen to the caller and watch the dancers.  Dance, dance, dance!  Enjoy!

 

ABBREVIATIONS — The following abbreviations are used in creation of textual documentation for Irish sets and two-hand dances.  No attempt has been made to create abbreviations for every name by which a pattern may be known.

More than one abbreviation may be joined in the documentation.  One of those joined may be italicized and/or made bold.  For example, see  LAXH   (Lead Around with Crossed Hands in front ) or A&ROW (Advance and Retire with Open Waltz  hold).

The bar-count is shown in bold for most patterns.  Thus for BTL2FH6, the dancers back-the-lady for two bars and house around (or inside) the set for six bars.

½ DIA Half diamond
½ DIAM Half diamond
1S First side pair (couple)
1SG First side gent
1SL First side lady
1T First top pair (couple)
1TG First top gent
1TL First top lady
2S Second side pair (couple)
2SG Second side gent
2SL Second side lady
2T Second top pair (couple)
2TG Second top gent
2TL Second top lady
3s Threes
7s Sevens              A   B  C   D   E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L   M  N  O   P  Q  R   S  T  U   V  W  X  Y  Z    
A&R Advance and retire
ACW Anticlockwise; dance  to the right                                                                              GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE
ADV Advance
ALT Alternate
ARD Around
ANO Another
BAL Balance, often precedes  I/O (In and Out)
B Back
B2B Back to back
BK Back
BK2BK Back to back
BK-2-BK Back to back
BKWD Backward
BTL Back the lady
BTM Back the man
B-XMAS Big Christmas; 8 dancers swing in a circle, with arms at backs
C Céilí (hold), for SWINGs, HOUSEs
CHG Change
CH Chain
CHN Chain
CK Circle
CORN Corner; plural:  CORNs
CTR Center
CW Clockwise; dance  to the left
D@H Dance at home; always with turns; may be at other than original home
DAP Dance around partner
DBL Double         
DIA Diamond          A   B  C   D   E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L   M  N  O   P  Q  R   S  T  U   V  W  X  Y  Z    
DIAM Diamond
DIO Dance it out, with no turns                                                                                             GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE
DIP Dance in place, with no turns
DO Dance out
E Elbow hold for swing (usually) or house
EA Each
EXC Except (usually) or Exchange – Note context
EXCH Exchange
E File, dancers behind one another facing the same direction
FC Face
FH Full house
FI, F-I Face in[to  the set ] (usually) or Figure in
FR From
FWD Forward
G Gent; possessive: G’s
Gs Gents; possessive:  Gs’
H Hand, Home or House – Note context
HG High gate
HHC Hand holding circle
HI House inside the set
HO Home; sometimes  H
Hs Hands or Homes – Note context
HSE House; sometimes  H
I In
I/O In and out
IP, I-P In place             A   B  C   D   E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L   M  N  O   P  Q  R   S  T  U   V  W  X  Y  Z    
K Kick
L CHN Ladies chain                                                                                                                   GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE
L Lady, Left or Lift – Note context
L PR Left pair (couple)
L-ARM Left arm
L2L Left hand or shoulder to left hand or shoulder – Note context
LA Lead around
LB Lead back
LDS Leads
LnL Left hand in left hand
LnR Left hand in right hand
LN Line; plural  LNs
LN-UP Line up
Ls Ladies or Lefts – Note context
LV Leave
L-XMAS Little Christmas; 3 or 4 dancers swing in a circle with arms at backs
M CHN Men chain
MID Middle
MIDL Middle
MV Move
NO TCH No touch
nSID Inside
O Out, Outside or Original – Note context
OPP OutsideOpposite
OR Original (usually followed by PART – partner)
ORIG Original (usually followed by PART – partner)
oSID Outside
PART Partner; plural PARTs
PL Place
OTH Other                   A   B  C   D   E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L   M  N  O   P  Q  R   S  T  U   V  W  X  Y  Z    
OTS On-the-spot, usually with no turns
OW Open waltz hold                                                                                                               GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE
POS Position
PR Pair, used in lieu of an abbreviation for Couple
PTH Pull the hand, usually the lady’s
P-THRU Pass through
PW Pinwheel (Star)
QH Quarterhouse
R Right
R PR Right pair (couple)
R2R Right hand or shoulder to right hand or shoulder – Note context
R-ARM Right arm
R4 / L4 Right (hands) for four bars then left (hands) for four bars
REL Release
RELSE Release
REV Reverse
RnL Right hand in left hand
RnR Right hand in right hand
RPT Repeat
SL Slide
SQ Square
SS Side pairs (couples)
SSG Side pairs (couples) gents
SSL Side pairs (couples) ladies
SWG Swing
SWGC Swing in Ceili hold
SWGE Swing in Elbow ceili hold
SWGW Swing in Waltz hold
SWGing Swinging
SWH Sweetheart hold
SxS Side by Side
T Tap                     A   B  C   D   E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L   M  N  O   P  Q  R   S  T  U   V  W  X  Y  Z    
TCH Touch
THRU Through                                                                                                                            GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE
TIL Until
TIO Tap it out
TLU Turn the lady under
TO-PL To place
TRN Turn; plural:  TRNs
TT