DANCE TERMS

Abrasete
 Girl at the right side, holds R arm of partner with her L hand, free hands down at the sides this terms is of Spanish origin and is
used in Rigodon and in other dances.

Arms in Lateral Position

 Both arms are one side, either sideward right or left. This may be done at shoulder, chest, or waist level.

Arms in Reverse “T”

 Arms are side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles, forearms parallel to head, palms forward or facing inward, fists loosely
closed.

Bilao
 Turn palms of hands up and down alternately, hands at waist level in front, elbows close to waist.

Brush
 Weigh on one foot, hit the floor with the ball or heel of the other foot (the free foot) after which that foot
is lifted from the floor to any direction.

Cabaceras
 When dancers are in square formation, the couples occupying the width of the hall are calle cabaceras  Or head couples.
This is of Spanish Origin.

Clockwise
 Like the motion of the hands of the clock. R shoulder is toward the center of an imaginary circle. Whenfacing center, the
movement is toward the left.

Counterclockwise
 The reverse direction of clockwise. L shoulder is toward the center of an imaginary circle. Whenfacing center, the
movement is toward the right.

Costados
 When dancers are in square formation, the couples occupying the length of the hall are called costados or side pairs.
This is of Spanish origin.

Crossed Arms
 Partners are facing each other or standing side by side, girl at the right of boy. They join their L hands together and their R
hands together; either R over L or L over R hands.

Cross-over
 
 Two couples (the vis a vis) are opposite each other. Each couple proceeds in a straight line to the opposite place. The girls
pass by their L shoulders between the boys. Boys bow to each other when they meet at the middle or about one third of the
way, then proceed to the opposite place. Upon reaching the opposite place, partners turnabout, girls stand at partner’s
right side.
 
Cut
 To displace quickly one foot with the other, thus completely taking off the weight of the body from the displaced foot.
Do – si – Do
(opposites) both advance forward, pass each other’s right (or left) side,step, step across to the right
(or left), move backward without turning around pass each other’s left (or right) side
to proper places. This is of foreign origin and is used in many Philippine dances.

Draw 
 To pull one foot along the floor close to the other which has the weight of the body. The weight may or may not be
transferred.

Free Foot
The foot not bearing the weight of the body.

Free Hand
 The hand placed anywhere or not doing anything.

Hands on Waist
 Place hands at the waist line (at the smallest part of the trunk), knuckles in, fingers pointing in rear.

Hapay
 To flourish or offer a handkerchief, hat or glass of wine to somebody as a sign of invitation.

Hayon-Hayon
 To place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist. This is a Visayan term.

Hop
 A spring from one foot landing on the same foot in place or in any direction. The other foot may be raised in anydirection
(in front, in rear, sideward or across)

Inside Foot
The foot nearest one’s partner, when partners stand side by side.
 
Inside Hand
The hand nearest one’s partners stand side by side.
 
Jaleo
 Partners turn once around clockwise (with R elbows almost touching) or counterclockwise (with L
elbows almost touching) using walking or any kind of dance step. The hands near each other are on waists. This is a
Tagalog term but of Spanish origin.

Jump
 Spring on one foot or both feet, landing on both on any direction.

Kumintang
 Moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This is an Ilocano term.

Leap
 A spring from one foot landing on the other foot in any direction (forward, sideward, backward, or
oblique)
Masiwak 
 To turn hand from the wrist half way clockwise then raise and lower wrist once or twice. This is an Ibanagterm.

Outside Foot
The foot away from one’s partner, when partners stand side by side.
 
Outside Hand 
The hand away from one’s partner, when partners stand side by side.
 
Panadyak 
 To stamp in front or at the side with R (L) foot and tap with same foot close to the L (R) foot, weight of
the body in L (R) foot. This is a Tagalog term.

Place
 To put foot in a certain or desired position without putting weight on it. The sole of the foot rests on the
floor.

Pivot
 To turn with the ball, heel, or whole foot, on a fixed place or point.

Patay
 To bend the head downward and to support the forehead with the R (L) forearm or with the crook of the R (L)elbow while the
L (R) hand supports lightly the palm of the R (L) hand. This is usually done with the L (R) foot pointingin rear and knees
slightly bent. This is an Ilocano term and the movement is commonly found in Ilocano dances.

Point
 Touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the other foot.

Salok 
 To swing the arm downward – upward passing in front of the body as if scooping, the trunk is bent
forward following the movement of the arm doing the salok. This is a Tagalog term.

Saludo
 Partners bow to each other, to the audience, opposite dancers, or to the neighbors with feet together. This term isof Spanish
origin and is used in almost all Philippine dances.

Sarok  (or Saroc)
 Cross the R (or L) foot in front of the L (or R), bend the body slightly forward and cross the
hands(forearms) down in front with the R (or L) hand (forearm) over the L (or R). This is a Visayan term.

Set
 A dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or more pairs.

Slide
 To glide foot smoothly along the floor. The movement may be finished with or without transfer of
weight.

(Philippine Folk Dances Volume 1 to 6, Francisca Reyes Aquino)

 DANCE STEPS

Count: 1,2 = 1 Measure

Touch step
POINT, CLOSE
Point Right foot (forward, sideward, or backward) (ct.1); close right foot to left foot (ct.2)

Bleking step
HEEL PLACE, CLOSE
foot (ct.2) Heel place right foot (forward or sideward) ct.1); close left foot to right

Close step
STEP, CLOSE
Step Right foot (any direction) (ct.1); close Left foot to Right (ct.2).

Cross step
STEP, CROSS-STEP
Step Right foot (ct.1); cross and step left foot to Right foot (ct.2)

Brush step
STEP, BRUSH
Step Right foot (any direction) (ct.1); brush Left foot (ct.2)

Hop step
STEP, HOP
Step right foot (any direction) (ct.2); hop on Right foot (ct.2)

Slide Step
SLIDE, CLOSE
- Slide right foot sideward or forward (ct.1); close Left foot to Right foot (ct.2)

Swing step
STEP, SWING
Slide Right foot sideward or forward (ct.1); swing left foot across right.

Count 1 and 2 =1 measure

Change step
STEP, CLOSE, STEP
Step Right foot any direction (ct.1); close left foot to right foot

Cross change step

CROSS-STEP, CLOSE STEP
Cross and step Right foot across Left (ct.1); close Left foot to Right foot (ct.and); step Right foot across
left (ct.2)

Contraganza
LEAP, CROSS-STEP, STEP
Leap Right foot to sideward Right (ct.1); cross and step left foot across right foot (ct.and); step Right foot
(ct.2)
 Count: 1 and 2 and = 1 measure
Plain polka
RAISE-STEP, CLOSE, STEP
Step Right foot any direction (ct.1) close Left foot to Right foot step Right (ct.and); raise Left foot

Hop Polka
HOP-STEP, CLOSE,STEP
Hop-step Right foot forward (ct. 1); close Left foot to Right foot step Right foot forward (ct.and); pause.

Count: 1 2 1 and 2 = 2 measures

Heel and Toe Change Step
Heel place Right in front, toe- point in rear, step Right, close left to right, step right forward

Count: 1 2 1 and 2 and = 2 measures

Heel and Toe Polka
Heel place Right in front, Toe-point in rear, raise-step right, close left to right, step right, pause

Count 1 2 3 = 1 Measure
Waltz Step
Step, close, Step
-Step Right foot forward / sideward/ backward/ (ct.1); Close Left foot to Right foot (ct.2); step Right foot
In place (ct.3)

Cross Waltz
CROSS-STEP, CLOSE, STEP
-Cross-step Right foot across Left foot (ct. 1); close Left foot to Right foot and raise both heels (ct.2);
heels down (ct.3).

Waltz Balance
STEP, CLOSE RAISE BOTH HEELS, HEELS DOWN
-Step Right foot sideward or forward (ct.1); close Left foot to Right foot and raise both heels (ct.2); heels
down (ct.3).

Mazurka Step
SLIDE, CUT, HOP
-Slide Right foot (ct.1); Cut (displace) Right foot with Left foot (ct.2) cut Left foot with Right foot (ct.3)

Redoba Step
SLIDE, CUT, CUT