95dc162e_Glossary_of_Dance_Terms__m_Dance_Dictionary_from_Webref
Châiné Turn (pronounced shin-ay)
Châiné turns are sharp, repeated half turns taken on alternating steps and so progressing across the floor, all turns to the left or all to the right, and so describing something like the links of a chain. The basic movement in ballet is done en pointe and with alternating forward and closing steps. Of course, round dancers will not be en pointe, but we certainly should make use of foot rise so our turns can occur comfortably on the balls of the feet. The chaine turn is something like a riff turn in bolero, sometimes like a quick, underturned spiral turn, and so is sharp and with less progression than a turn or roll that is spread more evenly over the three steps of a measure.Other combinations of forward and closing steps can also be used (e.g. close, close, forward).
Glossary of Dance Terms
Description Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations from BallroomDancers.com Dance Dictionary from Webref