Vance's Fantastic Tap Dictionary
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Cake Walk Originally a form of entertainment among African Americans in which the prize of a cake was given for the best dance performance, the improvisatory "walk around" group dance became popular on the stage at the end of the 19th century. With a strutting attitude, the dancing couples made fun of people who think themselves important and superior.
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.
Charleston The twisting - kicking dance craze of 1925, said to be of African American origin from Charleston, South Carolina.
Charleston Twist With the weight on the baRs of both feet, heels raised, twist both heels in simultaneously and then outward simultaneously.
Chop A step backward with leg straight. The step takes weight.
Chug Sometimes referred to as a Buck:  With the weight on one foot, the free foot is raised; force the heel of the foot to the floor with exaggeration, moving the foot forward.
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
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 came into existence around 1870, first appearing in the industrial areas of Northern England, Southwest Scotland and South Wales. It is said 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 one leg extended out and circling beneath the supporting foot.
Cork Screw A twisting movement: the raised toe of one foot is twisted in and out. Also known as Tanglefoot.
Cramp Forceful, accented heel drops.
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 Waltz Clog Time Step in a crossed manner.
Cross Bar A traveling movement to the side with one leg crossing 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.
Cubanola Also 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-Out Also simply known as a "cut," 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
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.
Double Same as a Shuffle.
Double Ball Change Same as a "Shuffle - Ball Change."
Double Heel Click An old term for a Shuffle and a Bell.
Double Hop Same as a Shuffle, Hop.
Double Hop Step A basic "Irish" more commonly called a "Shuffle, Hop, Step." This movement is traditionally executed in one of two different rhythm patterns: "and 8 and 1" or "8 and a 1."
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 Shuffle and Leap forward to  the same foot.
Double Pickup Executed as follows:
8 Brush L bk
and a Pickup change R to L
1 Step R
Double Wings 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
Draw Also known as a "drag," it is a slide of the free foot on the floor in any desired direction.
Draw Back 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 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 Same as a "Drum flap":
and 8 Shuffle R fwd (to R side)
and Hop L
a 1 Flap R fwd
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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