Common Dance Terms Used in Folk Dancing

1. “Abrasete”- Girl at the right side, hold R arm of partner with her L hand, free hands down at the
sides.
2. Arms in Lateral Position –both arms at one side, either right or left; at shoulder, chest or waist
level.
3. Arms in Reverse “T” – arms are side horizontal, elbows bent at the right angles, forearms
parallel to head, palms forward of facing inward, fists loosely closed.
4. “Bilao” – to turn palms of hand up and down alternately, hands at waist level in front, elbows
close to waist.
5. Brush – weight on one foot, hit the floor with the ball or heel of the other foot and lift that foot
from the floor to any direction.
6. “Cabeceras” – the couples occupying the width of the hall when dancers are in square
formation (head couple).
7. “Costados” - the couples occupying the length of the hall when dancers are in square formation
(side pairs).
8. Clockwise – like the motion of the clock, right shoulder is toward the center of an imaginary
circle. When facing center, movement is toward then left.
9. Counter Clockwise – the reverse direction of clockwise, left shoulder toward center. Movements
are toward right when facing center of circle.
10. Crossed Arms – partners facing each other or standing side by side join their left hands together
and the right hands together; either right over left or left over right.
11. Cut – to displace quickly one foot with other foot.
12. 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.
13. Free Foot –the foot not veering the weight of the body.
14. Free Hand –the hand not placed anywhere, or not doing anything.
15. Hayon-Hayon – to place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist.
16. Hop – a spring from one foot landing on the same foot in place or in any direction.
17. Inside Foot – the foot nearest to one’s partner.
18. “Jaleo” – partners turn around clockwise (with right elbows almost touching) or counter
clockwise (with left elbows touching) using walking or any kind of dance step.
19. Jump – to spring on one foot or both feet landing on both feet in any direction.
20. “Kumintang” – moving the hand from the wrist either in clockwise or counter clockwise
direction.
21. Leap – a spring on one foot. Landing on the other foot in any direction.
22. Outside Foot – the foot away from one’s partner.
23. Outside Hand – the hand away from one’s partner stand side by side.
24. Place – a foot in a certain position without putting weight on it; the sole of the foot rests on the
place.
25. Pivot – to turn with the ball, heel or whole foot, on affixed placed or point.
26. Point – to touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body n the other foot.
27. “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”.
28. “Saludo” – partners with feet together bow to each other, to the audience, opposite dancers,
or the neighbors.
29. “Sarok” – crossing the right (left) foot in front of the left (or right) bend of the body slightly
forward and cross the hand down in front with the right (or left) hand over the left (or right)
hand.
30. Set – a dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or more pairs.
31. Slide – to glide foot smoothly along the floor.
32. Stamp – to bring the foot forcibly and noisily on the floor.
33. Star with Right Hand – four or more people; join right hand at the center and circle around
clockwise using walking or any kind of dance step.
34. Star with Left Hand – four or more people; join left hand at the center and circle around
clockwise using walking or any kind of dance step.
35. Step – to advance or recede by moving one foot to another resting place with a complete
transfer of the weight from one foot to the other foot.
36. Supporting Foot – the foot that bears the weight of the body.
37. Tap – to tap 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.
38. Whirl – to make fast turns by executing small steps in place, to right, or to left.

COUNTING AND EQUIVALENT NOTE OF RHYTHMIC PATTERN

1,2 2/4 time, one measure

1,ah,2,ah or 1,2,3,4, 6/8 time, one measure (used in cut and rocking)
1, and 2 2/4 time, one measure
1, ah 2/4 time, one measure
1,2,3 3/ 4 time, one measure
1,2 and 3 3/ 4 time, one measure
1, and 2 and 3 3/ 4 time, one measure

BASIC DANCE STEPS 2/4 TIME

DANCE STPES STEP PATTERN AND COUNTING NO. OF MEASURE

Bleking Step Heel–place, close 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Close Step Step, close 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Brush Step Step, brush 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Step Swing Step, swing 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Cut Step Cut or displace 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Hop Step Step, hop 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Touch Step Point, close 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Cross Step Cross step, close 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Slide Step Slide, close 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Rocking Step Fall & Raise, Fall & Raise 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Change Step Step, close, step 1
ct. 1 ct. 2
Heel and Toe change Heel in front, point toe backward. Step, close, 2
Step step ct. 1 ct. 2
ct. 1 ct. and ct. 2
 BASIC DANCE STEPS 3/4 TIME

DANCE STEPS STEP PATTERN AND COUNTING NO. OF MEASURE

Mazurka Slide R, cut R with L ct. 1 ct. 2 1
hop L and swing R bwd ct. 3 in front of
L
Redoba Slide R (diagonal fwd), cut R ct. 1 ct. 2 1
with L, cut L with R ct. 3
Waltz Step, close, step ct. 1 ct. 2 ct. 3 1
Cross waltz Cross step, step, step ct 1. ct .2 ct. 3 1
Contragansa Leap, cross, step ct 1. ct .2 ct. 3 1
Step–swing–hop Step R (any direction), swing ct. 1 L 1
cross R in front, hop on R ct. 2 ct. 3
Step–brush–swing–hop Step R (fwd/swd), brush L and ct. 1 ct. 1
2 swing fwd, hop R ct. 3
Waltz balance Step R (swd/fwd), close L to ct. 1 ct. 2 R 1
and raise both heels, heels down ct. 3