12

De Guzman, John Renzel E.

12 – ABM 7
Philippine Folk Dance Fundamental Steps
Folk Dance is a dance genre which is primarily performed for social functions by people
with little or no training usually to traditional music which is a product of inherited tradition
which is passed from one generation to another.
Basic Steps in Folk Dance
Folk Dance steps are classified into two. 2/4 and 3/4 time dance steps. 2/4 time dance steps have
the following basic counting:
• 1, 2
• 1 and 2
• and 1 and 2
• 1, 2 and
On the other hand, 3/4 time dance steps have the following counting:
• 1, 2, 3
• 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 for two measures

 2/4 TIME DANCE STEPS

STEP STEP PATTERN/COUNTING
Touch Step Step R sideward (ct. 1), Point L in Front of R (ct. 2)
Walk Step R forward (ct. 1), Step L forward (ct. 2)
Slide Step Slide R (ct. 1); close L (ct. 2)
Close Step L to R (ct. and), Step R in Place (ct. 2)
Hop Step Step R sideward (ct. 1), Hop R in place (ct. 2) Close Step Step R sideward (ct.
1), Close Step L to R (ct. 2)
Change Step R (ct. 1),
Step
Cross Step Step R across L (ct. 1), Step L sideward L (ct. 2)
Bleking R. in place (ct. 1), Heel Place L in front (ct. 2
Step
Cut Step Cut/Displace R with L (ct. 1)
Gallop Step Step R (ct. 1); cut L (ct. ah); step R (ct. 2); cut L (ct. ah)
Step Point Step R (ct. 1); close L (ct. 2)
Step Hop Step R (ct. 1); hop on R (ct. 2)
Step Swing Step R (ct. 1); swing L (ct. 2)
Mincing Point L in place (ct. and), Step R in place (ct. 1), Point L in place (ct. and), Step
R in place (ct. 2)
 3/4 TIME DANCE STEPS
*Some dance steps done in 2/4 time rhythm can also be done in ¾ time.
STEP STEP PATTERN/COUNTING
*Touch step Touch R (cts. 1,2); close R (ct. 3) or touch R (ct. 1); close R (cts. 2,3)
*Close step Step R (cts. 1,2); close L to R (ct. 3); step R (ct. 1); close L to R (cts. 2,3)
*Slide step Slide R (cts. 1,2); close L to R (ct. 3) or slide R (ct. 1);close L to R (cts. 2,3)
*Bleking Place R heel (cts. 1,2); close R to L (ct. 3) or place R heel (ct. 1); close R to L
step (cts. 2,3)
*Step Point Step R (cts. 1,2); point L (ct. 3) or step R (ct. 1); point L (cts. 2,3)
*Step Swing Step R (cts. 1,2); swing L (ct. 3) or step R (ct. 1); swing L (cts. 2,3)
*Step Hop Step R (cts. 1,2); hop R (ct. 3)
Waltz Step R sideward (ct. 1), Close Step L to R (ct. 2), Step R in place (ct. 3)
Cross Waltz Cross Step R over L (ct. 1), Step L sideward L (ct. 2), Step R in place (ct. 3)
Waltz Step R forward (ct. 1), Step L close to R and raise heels (ct. 2), heels down (ct.
Balance 3)
Waltz Turn Step R sideward (ct. 1), Close Step L to R and pivot turn R (ct. 2), Step R in
place (ct. 3)
Three-step Step R (ct. 1) turn and step L (ct. 2); turn and step R (ct. 3); close L to R (ct.
turn 1); pause (cts. 2,3)

Sway Balance – The first step is usually done obliquely forward, cts. 1,2, the cross-step is done
sideward (ct. 3). The succeeding step is done obliquely backward (ct. 2) and the last two counts
are done in front, in place. Arms open from the first position to the fourth position R or L arms
high. Kumintang R (L) hand when pointing with L (R) foot on cts. 2, 3 of the second measure.
STEP STEP PATTERN/COUNTING
Sway balance Step R, cross step L /step R, point L
with a point
Sway balance Step R, cross step L /step R, brush L
with a brush
Sway balance Step R, cross step L/step R, close L
with a close
Sway balance Step R, cross step L /step R, raise L, hop
with a hop
Sway balance
with a raise
Sway balance
with a waltz

• 26th National Folk Dance Workshop, A Classic Collection of Philippine Folk Dances, 2006
• Francisca Reyes-Aquino, Compilation of Philippine Folk Dances, Vol. 4