| straight | Without sway to left or right. |
| Spot Turn | In American Rhythm, a step in closed position in which one partner walks forward in a tight circle, while the other partner moves back out of the way by hooking one foot behind the other, and stepping side alternately. (Known in International Latin as a Natural Top.) |
| standing foot | The foot which bears the majority of the body weight. |
| step | A pattern formed by a small group of steps or movements (short for "step pattern"). |
| supporting foot | The foot which bears the majority of the body weight. |
| swinging dances | Smooth dances characterized by swinging movements such as Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep. |
| Swing | A generic term to describe any form of Swing, such as East Coast, West Coast, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, etc. |
| syncopation | A deviation from the basic or expected rhythm. |
| Salsa | A popular Latin nightclub dance which evolved as a modified form of Mambo. |
| Samba | A rhythmical Brazilian dance in 2/4 time which has been adapted for modern Ballroom dancing and incorporated into the repertoire of the International Standard syllabus. |
| Samba bounce | Rhythmical bouncing motion of the Samba, achieved by the continuous flexing and straightening of the knees, as well as the usage of the feet and ankles. Samba is noted for it's distinct style of movement, which incorporates both Latin hip motion and the signature "Samba Bounce". |
| shadow position | Dance position where both man and lady face the same direction, with one partner either directly in front of the other, or slightly offset to the left or right. As the name implies, Shadow position is usually taken with partners shadowing each other's movement, on the same foot and in the same direction. Partners can be closed (in body contact), semi-closed (slightly apart but within arms reach), or completely apart. |
| shine position | Dance position where dancers stand apart, facing each other. The term "Shine Position" is usually associated with modern social Disco and Latin freestyle dancing, where dancers improvise and "show off" to their partners. |
| shoulder leading | Position of the body such that the shoulder (and usually the entire side of the body) corresponding to the moving foot is in advance of the other side. For example, when the right foot moves forward, the right side of the body moves forward in advance of the left side. Opposite of Contra Body Movement. |
| sickle | To roll the foot so that the top angles outward (outside edge to the floor). This is almost always considered poor technique. Also known as supination. 
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| side by side position | Dance position where man and lady stand side by side. They can have a one-arm or one-hand hold, or stand apart without a connection. |
| side leading | Position of the body such that the side of the body corresponding to the moving foot is in advance of the other side. For example, when the right foot moves forward, the right side of the body moves forward in advance of the left side. Opposite of Contra Body Movement. |
| Silver | The second complete level of the American Medalist System, representing intermediate to advanced patterns and concepts. Silver level is not a level associated with social dancing. |
| slow | A musical count which encompasses two full beats of music, exactly twice the time of a "Quick". |
| slow dancing | A free-form type of social dancing to slow ballad or blues music. Slow dancing has no pre-determined basic steps or stylistic interpretation, although it is typically characterized by a compact dance hold or even a full embrace, with dancers swaying back and forth in a slow, steady rhythm. |
| Slow Foxtrot | The International version of Foxtrot characterized by long, slow linear movements. |
| Slow Waltz | An International or American Style dance in 3/4 time which developed from the much faster Viennese Waltz. Slow Waltz is characterized by rise and fall and rotational movement. |
| slot | A narrow rectangular section of dance floor used in nightclub dances such as West Coast Swing and Hustle, making efficient use of dance floor space. |
| spin | A very fast turning action. |
| Spiral Turn | A turn which takes place after a forward step. With weight on the front foot a turn toward the free foot is made. The free leg then bends and wraps around the standing leg as one or more turns are completed. |
| Spot Run | A movement in which the man and lady run around each other in a small circle while in a dance position. |
| spotting | While turning, the action of focusing on a fixed point and turning the head at a different speed than the body. |
| Spot Turn | A turn consisting of three forward walks in one small area, usually completing one full turn over three steps. (Known in American Rhythm as a Walkaround Turn). |
| standing leg | The leg which bears the majority of the body weight. |
| step | A change of weight from one foot to the other. |
| stretch | To extend a limb or muscle to full length, or to increase the extension possible. |
| Sugarpush | The basic step of West Coast Swing. |
| supinate | To roll the foot to the outer edge. |
| supporting Leg | The leg which bears the majority of the body weight. |
| stride | The length or extension of a step. |
| sway | The inclination of the body to the left or right, usually away from the direction of movement. |
| swing dances | Group of dances including East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Balboa, Shag, and Charleston. |
| swinging action | The action of swinging the body weight from foot to foot as though suspended from an anchor point high above, like a pendulum. |
| swivel | The action of turning on a weighted foot. |
| syncopate | To deviate from the basic or normal rhythm. |
| syncopation | Any rhythm which contains notes or accents in between downbeats or primary beats. The more notes or accents that occur between beats, the more syncopated a rhythm is said to be. |
