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Scandinavian Dance Terminology

Pivots: As in all turning couple dance, pivoting on the soles of the feet or the heels is important to allowing the dance to turn easily. It is especially important in many of the Scandinavian dances that use only three, two, or sometimes even one step per measure to complete one complete revolution of the dance.

Svikt: Svikt is the Swedish term referring to the characteristic rise and fall of the dances. Svikt can range from quite flat to deep and often mirrors the rhythm of the music. This is primarily effected by keeping the knee and ankle joints loose. Most of the regional dances from both Norway and Sweden have characteristic svikt patterns that are as important to the dance as the actual steps.