COMMON DANCE TERMS:

1. Abrasete - This term is of Spanish origin. Girl at the right side of the Boy holds his R arm with
her left hand, free hands down at the side.

2. Arms at the side - The arms hang from the shoulders at the sides of the body.

3. Arms in "T" Position - Arms are at side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles, forearms
parallel to the body, facing backward.

4. Arms in lateral Position - Both arms are at one side, either right or left; shoulder, chest, or
waist level.

5. Arms in Reverse "T" Position - Arms are at side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles
forearms parallel to head, fists loosely closed.

6. Bilao - Hands in front, parallel to each other at waist level, elbows close to the waists, palms
down. Reverse the position of the hands with palms up and down alternately.

7. Bleking - heel-place, and close.

8 Brush - Weight on one foot, hit the floor with the ball or heel of the other foot, and lift that foot
from the floor in any direction.

9. Cabeceras - The couples occupying the width of the hall when dancers are in a square
formation (head couples).

10. Chasing - Execute successive close steps with one foot leading (1 step on
every ct.)

11. Clockwise - Like the motion of the hands of the clock. R shoulder is toward the center of an
imaginary circle. When facing the center, movement is toward the left.

12. Costados - The couple occupying the length of the hall when dancers are in a square
formation (side pairs).

13. Counterclockwise - The reverse direction of clockwise, L shoulders toward the center.
Movement is toward the right when facing the center of the circle.

14. Crossed arms - Partners facing each other or standing side by side join their L hands together
and the R hands together, either R over L or L over R hands.

15. Cross-Over - Two couples are opposite each other. Each couple proceeds to the opposite
place. The Girls pass by their L shoulders between the boys. Boys bow to each other when they
meet in the middle, then follow the girls to the opposite place. Partners turn upon reaching the
opposite place; girls stand at partner's right side.

16. Cut - To displace quickly one foot with the other.

17. Do- si - do (dos-a-dos) - Partners advance forward pass each other's right (or left) side, step
across to the right (or left), move backward without turning around, pass each other left (or right)
side to proper places.
18. Draw - The free foot is drawn toward the foot, which supports the body weight by pressing
the toes against the floor as the close is made with or without transfer of weight.

19. Free foot - The foot not bearing the weight of the body

20. Freehand - The hand not placed anywhere or not doing anything

21. Galop - Step R ( L) foot forward (sideward) (ct. 1). cut the R (L) with the L (R), thus
displacing it, taking the weight of the body with L (R) (ct ah).

22. Hands Holding Skirt - Arms at the side of the body, fingers holding skirt.

23. Hands-on waist - Knuckle of hands are placed at the smallest part of the waist.

24. Hapay - To flourish or offer a handkerchief, a hat, or a glass of wine. This is of Tagalog
dance term.

25. Haplik - leap sideward into R (L) (ct.1), step L (R) across in front of R (L) (ct.
and) quickly step the R (L) foot in place (ct.2).

26. Hayon-hayon - to place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist.

27 Hop - A spring from one foot landing on the same foot in place or in any direction.

28. Inside foot - The foot nearer the partner when partners stand side by side
29. Inside Hand - The hand nearer the partner when the partners stand side by side.

30. Jaleo - Partners turn around clockwise (with R elbows almost touching) or Counter-clockwise
(with L elbows touching) using walking or any kind of dance step.

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

32. Korriti - With one foot crossed in front of the other, take as many steps as desired.

33. Kumintang - Moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockWIse or
counterclockwise direction

34. Leap - A spring from one foot, landing on the other foot in any direction.

35. Masiwak - To turn the hand from the wrist half-away clockwise, then raise and lower wrist
once or twice. This is an Ibanag term.

36. Mincing - With feet in 5th position and heels raised, take as many tiny steps sideward (1 step
on every count).

37. Outside foot - The foot away from one's partner, when partners stand side by side.
38. Outside hand - The hand away from one's partner, when partners stand Side by side.

39. Opposite - The person stands in the opposite across the set.

40. Panadyak - With bodyweight on L (R) foot, stamp R(L) foot in the fourth position, in front,
then tap same foot close to L (R), arms in reverse “T” position, hands doing the Kumintang on the
stamp.

41. Patay - To bend the head down so that the forehead touches the R (L) forearm or the hook 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 R (L) foot pond lightly bent. This is an Ilocano dance term.

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

43. Place - to put a foot in a certain position without putting weight on it, the sole of the footrests
on the floor.

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

45. Rocking Step - Fall onto R (L) foot incline body slightly forward, raise L (R) in the rear
(ct.1), fall into L (R) foot in the rear, incline body backward, raise R (L) forward (ct.2). Rock may
be taken in place, forward and backward, or from side to side.

46. Salok - Swinging 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.

47. Saludo - Partners with feet together bow to each other to the audience, opposite dancers, or
the neighbors. Make a three-step turn and bow to partner or audience.

48. Sarok - Cross the R (L) foot in front of the L (R) foot, bend the body slightly forward, and
cross the hands down in front R ( L) over L (R). This is a
Visayan term.

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

50. Shuffle/Shuffling - To step right (L) foot in place count 1, left foot in place count ah, step
right (L) foot in place count 2, and step left foot in place count ah. With both feet flat on the floor,
make tiny slide steps forward (1 small slide on every cl)
51. Skip Step - Step R (L) in 4th in front (ct. 1), hop on R (L) in place ( ct. ah). This is executed in
any direction.

52. Slide - To glide foot smoothly along the floor.

54. Step - To advance or recede by moving one foot to another resting place with a complete
transfer of weight from one foot to the other.

55. Supporting foot - The foot that bears the weight of the body.

56. Tap - To rap slightly with the ball or toe of the free foot, keeping the weight of the body on
the other foot. There is no transfer of weight.

57. Touch - the same with point

58. Whirl- To make fast turns by executing small steps in place, to the right, or to the left.

REFERENCE:

• Amaranto, Esteban and Quipse., 2019. Rhythm and Dance, Physical Education 2 Mutya
Publishing House, Inc. page 17
• Fernandez, Ison, Quitos, Villanueva. 2012. Manual in PE 105. Rhythmic Activities page
38-45