23 Words That Have A Totally Different Meaning When You're A Dancer

Let's take it back to the barre.

1. "Spotting"

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What it normally means: Getting a stain on something; seeing something far away.

What it means to a dancer: The answer to the question, “How do you spin around so much and not throw up?”

2. "Split"

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What it normally means: Going halfsies on a check for dinner or drinks.

What it means to a dancer: Touching your junk to the floor at will while everyone looks on with extreme jealousy.

3. "Competition"

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What it normally means: A friendly contest for some prize, honor, or title.

What it means to a dancer: A style of dance wherein one learns to split one's legs in the air, wear fishnets on stage, and snarl sexily at an audience by the time one is 7 years old.

4. "Carriage"

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What it normally means: The pumpkin Cinderella rode in on.

What it means to a dancer: The single most important quality to develop in ballroom. Prepare to get taped to a broomstick.

5. "Isolation"

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What it normally means: When you’re all alone with no one there besides you.

What it means to a dancer: When a popper or an animator moves only one part of his/her body and you doubt reality is even a thing anymore.

6. "Leo"

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What it normally means: The fifth sign of the zodiac, represented by a lion.

What it means to a dancer: Short for "leotard," a treasured piece of fabric that is the essence of you. Basically your Horcrux with all the sweat it's absorbed over the years.

7. "Class"

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What it normally means: Something you go to so that you can hopefully learn stuff.

What it means to a dancer: Same, but everyone there knows what your B.O. smells like and also probably don't mind it.

8. "Bar(re)"

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What it normally means: A place where you have drinks and hang out with people.

What it means to a dancer: Your lifeline at the beginning and end of every ballet class. Sometimes also a place where you have drinks and hang out with people.

9. "Bun"

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What it normally means: A kind of bread best served warm from the oven.

What it means to a dancer: A fully cemented round brick of hair that is shellacked to the top of your head at all times for your own good.

10. "Bobby pins"

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What it normally means: A beauty accessory used to keep stray hairs in place.

What it means to a dancer: A tool rammed into your skull to keep your bun looking perfect. Often found scattered all over your bathroom, your pillow, your room, your car...

11. "Attitude"

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What it normally means: A certain feeling toward something; when "giving attitude," it is often negative.

What it means to a dancer: A leg bent in the air as though on an invisible table, often positive.

12. "Partner"

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What it normally means: A gender-neutral term for a significant other; someone you do lab experiments with.

What it means to a dancer: Half of your body, half of your own mind. Usually in a non-romantic way, but don't be surprised if they're your actual soulmate.

13. "Breaking"

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What it normally means: The process of an object falling apart or ceasing to function.

What it means to a dancer: The coolest dance in the world because omg seriously how do they do all that spin-on-their-head stuff?

14. "Marking"

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What it normally means: Designating a certain spot or location.

What it means to a dancer: Half-assing it in rehearsal; what your teacher accuses you of doing when you’re really just tired.

15. "Sickle"

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What it normally means: A tool with a curved metal blade attached to a handle used for cutting grass and grain.

What it means to a dancer: As in a "sickled foot;" signifies one's status as #basic.

16. "Point(e)"

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What it normally means: To use your finger in order to gesture at something.

What it means to a dancer: The inhumanely metal act of jamming your feet into silken brick cases and floating across the stage like you're a goddamn fairy princess.

17. "Travel"

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What it normally means: What every twentysomething wished he or she could do with their free time.

What it means to a dancer: Moving across the floor in the exact same way for the millionth time; making each step take you five feet forward instead of one.

18. "Car"

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What it normally means: A vehicle that has four wheels and an engine and that is used for carrying passengers on roads.

What it means to a dancer: Your combination dressing room/makeup studio/mess hall/wardrobe center, from which all good things flow forth.

19. "Tights"

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What it normally means: Tight-fitting fabric worn to cover the legs to give the appearance of smoother, suppler skin.

What it means to a dancer: Your second skin.

20. "Double"

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What it normally means: Someone you share a role with for the purpose of splitting the work and avoiding exhaustion over eight performances a week.

What it means to a dancer: Your best friend/rival/competition/evil twin whom you might murder in a psychotic rage because IT'S YOUR TURN.

21. "Company"

New York City Ballet / Via youtube.com

What it normally means: A corporate unit that sells or manages a product.

What it means to a dancer: Getting into one is the ultimate validation of your dreams as a dancer.

22. "Injury"

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What it normally means: A minor inconvenience that causes some discomfort but inevitably heals.

What it means to a dancer: Something that could take it all away.

23. "Audition"

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What it normally means: A trial performance to appraise an entertainer's merits.

What it means to a dancer: Where it all begins*~*~*~