Lesson 3:
Fundamental Dance Steps in 2/4 and 3/4
Time Signature
A. Traditional Folk Dance Steps In 2/4 Time Signature
The dance steps used in Philippine traditional dances are combinations of
the basic natural movements. Listed below are the dance steps in 2/4 time which
are grouped according to note patterns and their corresponding counts as
suggested by the number of movements.
A. Note Pattern I I = 1 measure
Count 1 2
1. Touch Step Point R (ct.1); close R to L (ct.2)
2. Bleking Step Place R heel forward R (ct.1); close R to L (ct.2)
4. Cross Step Step R (ct.1); cross step L across R (ct.2)
5. Hop Step Step R (ct.1); hop on R (ct.2)
6. Brush Step Step R (ct.1); brush L (ct.2)
7. Slide Step Slide R (ct.1); slide L to R (ct.2)
8. Swing Step Step R (ct.1); swing L across R (ct.2)
B. Note Pattern I I = 1 measure
Count 1 and 2
1. Change Step Step R (ct.1); close L to R (ct. and), step R (ct.2)
2. Cross Change Step Cross step R across L (ct.1); close L to R (ct. and); step R
(ct.2)
3. Contraganza Leap R to swd R (ct.1); cross step L across R (ct. and); step R (ct.2)
C. Note Pattern I I = 1 measure
Count 1 2 and
1. Habanera Step Step R (ct.1); close L to R (ct.2): step R in place (ct. and)
D. Note Pattern I I = 1 measure
Count 1 and 2 and
1. Plain polka Step R (ct.1); close L to R (ct. and); step R (ct.2); pause (ct.2)
B. Traditional Dance Steps In 3/4 Time
Listed below are the basic dance steps in 3 time that are grouped according
to note patterns and their corresponding counts as suggested by the number of
movements.
A. Note Pattern I I= 1 measure
Count 1 2 3
1. Waltz step Step R (ct.1); close L to R (ct.2); step R in Place (ct.3)
2. Cross Waltz Cross-step R across L (ct.1); close L to R (ct.2); step R in
place (ct.3)
3. Waltz Balance Step R (ct.1); close L to R and raise both heels (ct.2); heels
down (ct.3)
4. Redoba Slide R in second position (ct.1); cut R with L (ct.2); cut L
with R (ct.3)
5. Mazurka step Slide R (ct.1); cut R with L (ct.2); hop L and swing R
backward in front of L (ct.3)
6. Step-Swing-Hop Step R (ct.1); swing L across R in front (ct.2); hop on R (ct.3)
7. Step-Brush-Swing-Hop Step R (ct.1); brush L and swing (ct.2); hop R (ct.3)
B. Note Pattern: I I = 1 measure
Count 1-2 3
1. Touch Step Point R (ct.1-2); close L to R (ct.3)
2. Bleking Step Heel place R (cts.1-2); close L to R (ct.3)
3. Close Step Step R (cts.1-2); close L to R (ct.3)
4. Slide Step Slide L (cts.1-2); close L to R (ct.3)
5. Cross Step Step R (cts. 1-2); cross step L across R (ct.3)
6. Hop step Step R (cts. 1-2); hop on R (ct.3)
7. Brush Step Step R (cts.1-2); brush L (ct.3)
8. Swing step Step R (cts. 1-2); swing L across R (ct.3)
C. Note Pattern: I I I = 2 measures
Count 1-2 3 1 2-3
1. Sway Balance with a point Step R (cts.1-2);cross-step L across R (ct.3); step R
bckd (ct.1); point L in front (ct.2-3)
2. Sway Balance with a raise Step R (ct.1-2); cross-step across R (ct.3); step R bckd
(ct.1); raise and swing left L in front (ct.2-3)
3. Sway Balance with a brush Step R(ct.1-2); cross-step L across R (ct.3); step R bckd
(ct.1); brush L frd (ct.2-3)
4. Sway Balance with a hop Step R(cts.1-2); cross-step L across R (ct.3); step R
(ct.1); hop on R (cts. 2-3)
5. Sway Balance with a close Step R (cts.1-2); cross-step L across R (ct.1); step R
bckd (ct.1); close L to R (cts.2-3)
6. Engano with a close Step R swd (cts. 1-2); cross-step L across R (ct.3); step
R swd (ct.1); close L t R (cts.2-3)
D. Note Pattern I I= 1 measure
Count 1 and 2 and 3 and
1. Mincing Steps With feet in 5th position and heels raised, take as many tiny
steps. Swd. ( 1 step on every count)
2. Shuffling steps With feet flat on floor, make small slides frd. (1 slide on
every count)
3. Chasing steps With one foot leading, execute successive close steps to any
direction.
E. Note Pattern I I I =2 measure
Count 1 and 2 3 1 and 2 3
1. Kuradang step Step R (ct.1); close L to R (ct. and); step R diagonally fwd
(ct.2); cross-step L across R (ct.3); step R diagonally bkwd R
(ct.1); close L to R (ct. and); step R (ct.2); point L (ct.3)
