Dance Terms Common to

Folk Dances
1. Arms in lateral position

-Both arms are extended to the right or left at

shoulder
2. Arms in reversed “T” position

- arms sideward, elbows bent at shoulder level,

hands upward, palms facing inward
3. Bow or Saludo

- to honor partner, opposite dancers or

audience. Partners bow to each other to
opposite dancers or to the audience. This term is
of Spanish origin.
4. Brush

- Weight on one foot, swing the free foot in an

arch, so that the ball or heel strikes the floor at
lowest point of the arch. This may be done
forward, sideward, or backward.
5. Clockwise

- a direction of movement like a motion of a

clock moving to the left facing an imaginary
circle
6. Counter clockwise

- a reverse direction of clockwise

7. Cut

-Quick change of weight from one foot to the

other displacing the supporting foot.
8. 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.
9. Do-si-do or dos-a-dos

- Two people walk toward each other, pass by

the right shoulder step sideward to the right and
return to position walking backward, passing left
shoulder.
10. Free foot

- the foot that supports the weight of the body

11. Free hand

- the hand not doing anything

12. Hayon-hayon position

- one arm in front, the other at the back of the

waist level
13. Hop

- Spring on the supporting foot, and land on the

same foot.
14. Inside foot

- the foot near the partner when standing side

by side
15. Inside hand

- the hand near the partner when standing side

by side
16. Jaleo

- Partners are facing opposite directions, hands

on waists, elbows near or almost touching one
another
17. Jump

-Spring from one or two feet and land on both

feet.
18. Kumintang

- the turning of the hand from the waist either

clockwise or counterclockwise
19. Leap

- Spring on the supporting foot and land on the

other foot.
20. Outside foot

- the foot away from the partner when standing

side by side
21. Outside hand

- the hand away from the partner when standing

side by side
22. Opposite

- the person standing in opposite position across

the set
23. Partner

- girl to right of boy and boy to left of girl.

24. Place

- to put the foot flat on the floor without putting

weight on it
25. Point

- touch toe or ball of free foot on the floor and

remains there briefly
26. Pivot

- turning the ball, heel of one or both feet on the

floor on a fixed place.
27. Set

- a unit formation of two or more couples

28. Slide

- To glide one foot along the floor smoothly,

with or no transfer of weight.
29. Stamp

- to bring down the forcibly on the floor with or

without transfer of weight
30. Step

- a simple transfer of weight from one foot to

the other foot
31. Supporting foot

- the foot that carries the weight of the body

32. Tap

- toe or ball of free foot is placed momentarily

on floor and lifted again immediately
33. Whirl

- To turn fast by executing small steps in place

to right or left.