15 WORDS AND PHRASES THAT MEAN SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO DANCERS

As dancers, we really do have a language of our own, so here are 15 words and phrases that mean something totally different to dancers. Like Leo (horoscope) and Leo (Leotard), Bun (for burgers) and (ballet hairstyle), Bar (places to get a drink) and Barre (Ballet Barre), and much more.

1. "Leo"

Everyone else: A horoscope sign, or possibly Leonardo DiCaprio.

You: A leotard, the dance attire you basically live in.

2. "Bun"

To everyone else: Dinner rolls and cheeseburgers.

To you: The perfect bun is a hairstyle that is also a science.☝🏼  

3. "Split"

Everyone else: Referring to a recent celebrity breakup, or a delicious ice cream dessert.

You: Straight up stretching muscles and sitting in your splits so you can have amazing leaps.

4. "Bar / Barre"

Everyone else: A place to grab a drink with friends.

You: Your spot to warm-up, and the foundation for everything you accomplish in ballet class.

5. "Attitude"

Your mom: “You need to check your attitude.”

You: “I already did that in ballet.”

JK don’t say that…😏

6. "Core"

Everyone else: Core of the earth? An apple?

You: Something to hold tight while turning, leaping, pointing your toes, looking graceful, AND smiling. All at the same time.  

7. "Spot"  

Everyone else: Thinks about helping their friend at the gym, or looks for a stain, or maybe a cute puppy.

You: Know that using your spot is key for your standing ovation-quality turns. 8. "Window" Disney / Pixar Everyone else: A glass wall you use to look outside when they are inside their home or a building. You: Use windows to make formations look flawless on stage.

8. "Window"

Everyone else: A glass wall you use to look outside when they are inside their home or a building.

You: Use windows to make formations look flawless on stage.

9. "Wing"

Everyone else: The things that make birds and airplanes fly.

You: Where you wait to go onstage before a performance. Or it is also a tap move.

10. "Box"

Everyone else: Those cardboard things people use for packing and moving.

You: The front end of pointe shoes that support your toes.  

11. "Cleaning"  

Your mom: *Jumps up and down because she thinks she’ll get to see the floor in your bedroom.*

You: Break the bad news to her that you’re “cleaning” your group dances at rehearsal tonight.

12. "Pull Up"

Everyone else: Bragging about how many chin-ups they can do at the gym.

You: Actually have to pull up AND push down through the floor at the same time.

13. "Turn Out"

Everyone else: “We had a great turn out at the party! There were a ton of guests!”

You: “Turn-out is a rotation of the leg which comes from the hips, causing the knee and foot to turn outward, away from the center of the body.” Duh.

14. "One More Time"  

Everyone else: It literally means means one.more.time… or singing along to Britney’s debut hit single.

You: In dance world, “one more time” means at least ten more times. Minimum.  

15. "Saturday"

Everyone else: Relaxation, sleeping in and a break from the monotonous weekly routine.

You: Performances, extra rehearsals, competitions, conventions and the exact opposite of resting. See: "Myth."