The Teach Fitness Network - Base Moves

According to Amanda Vogel's article entitled "Successful Stepping Without a Lot of Prepping" in the April/May 2001 issue of ACE Certified News, all step movements are derived from a base move. Most moves originate from a march, basic step or and alternating pattern. In order to breakdown and cue your choreography effectively, you need to be able to determine which base movement your move is derived from.

This chart was included in Amanda's article and is such a great idea that we are asking you to help us fill this out so that it can be used as a reference tool by all instructors.

Click here to add your move to the list!
Be sure to include the base move it is derived from, and any teaching notes you have to explain the choreography.

BASE MOVE (Note: your orientation to the step - horizontal or vertical)	COMPLEX MOVE (derived from Base Move)
March horizontal or vertical - on floor or step march R, L, R, L
Basic horizontal or vertical - up R on step, up L on step, down R to floor, down L to floor (legs hip width)	Tap Up: 4cts. up R, tap L on top of step, down L, down R Tap up/Tap down: 4cts. up R, tap L on top of step, down L, tap R on floor Lunges: 8cts. up R, up L, R toe taps floor behind step and returns to step, L toe taps floor behind step and returns to step, down R, down L Remember: 1 minute limit and heels do not touch floor Straddle Up (vertical only): 4 cts. up R, up L, straddle down R to floor on R side of step, straddle down L to floor on left side of step Straddle Down (vertical only): Starting on top of step, straddle down R to floor on right side of step, straddle down L to floor on left side of step, ,up R, up L
V-Step horizontal - up R wide on step, up L wide on step, down R hip width floor, down L hip width floor	Double-Tap V: (Count 1) tap right foot wide on step (2) tap right foot wide on step (3) tap left foot wide on step (4) tap left foot wide on step (5) right foot down (6) left foot down (7) right foot up (8) left foot up (9) lunge right foot back on the floor (10) right foot up (11) lunge left foot back on the floor (12) left foot up (13) lunge right foot back on the floor (14) right foot up (15) left foot down (16) right foot down. (submitted by Jennifer)
Turn Step horizontal - Facing L up R to step, up L to step (feet are wide apart), down R to floor - turning to face R, tap L to floor	Turn-Lunge: Complete half the turn step (i.e. facing left, begin on floor, horizontal bench: step right foot onto bench, then left foot as you turn to face the bench.) Lunge back onto floor with right foot, replace right foot on bench. Lunge back onto floor with left foot, replace left foot on bench. Finish the turn step (i.e. as you turn to face right, exit bench, place right foot on floor, then left. You are now on the floor, facing the opposite side of room from which you began.) (submitted by LaRue) U Turn: Very small Turn-Step, up R to step, up L to step, down R to floor, tap L on floor
Over-The-Top vertical- Facing L up R to step, up L to step, down R to floor on R side of step, down L to floor on R side of step	Diagonal Over: same as Over-the-Top except you are moving vertically on the step from the bottom to the top
Lift Step horizontal or vertical - hamstring curl, knee lift, side leg, hip extension, or kick
Repeater horizontal or vertical - a lift step that is repeated up to a maximum of 5 times on a single leg	Repeater Pulse: Count 1: R foot on step Count 2: L knee lift Count 3-5: L toe to floor - triple pulse Count 6: L knee lift Count 7: L foot to floor Count 8: R foot to floor (submitted by Laura)
A Step horizontal - L side of step 2 side steps: R up to center of step, L up next to R, down R to floor on right side of step, tap L on floor next to R vertical - L side of step over the top starting at end of step: R up to top of step, L up next to R, R down to floor at end, L down next to R
T Step (makes the letter T) vertical - L side of step up R, up L, straddle down R, straddle down L, straddle up R, straddle up L, and down R, down L off end again.
L-Step horizontal - up R, up L, down L off left side of step, tap R next to left OR up R, tap L, down L off left side of step, tap R next to left	Across-the-Top: (horizontal - starting on left side of step - traveling over length of step - long way) up R to center of step, up L to center of step, transferring weight off of R foot, down R to floor on right side of step, tap L next to right