A.

COMMON DANCE TERMS

1. Arms in Lateral Position – both arms are at one side, either right or left; at shoulder, chest, or waist
level.
2. 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.
3. Bilao – to turn palms of hands up and down alternately, hands at waist le- vel in front, elbows close to
waist.
4. Cabeceras - the couples occupying the width of the hall when the dancers are in square formation (head
couple).
5. Clockwise – like the motion of the hands of the clock. R shoulder is toward the center of an imaginary
circle.
6. Counterclockwise – the reverse direction of clockwise, L shoulders to- ward the center. Movement is
toward right when facing center of circle.
7. Costados – the couple occupying the length of the hall when dancers are in square formation (side pairs).
8. 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.
9. Cut – to displace quickly one foot with the other.
10. 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 backwards without turning around , pass each other left (or right) side to
proper places.
11. Free Foot – the foot not bearing the weight of the body.
12. Free Hand – the hand not placed anywhere, or not doing anything.
13. Hayon – Hayon – to place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist.
14. Hop – a spring from one foot landing on the same foot in place or in any direction.
15. Inside Foot – the foot nearer the partner when partners stand side by side.
16. Jaleo – partners turn around clockwise (with R elbows almost touching) or counterclockwise (with L
elbows touching) using walking or any kind of dance step.
17. Jump – a spring on one foot or both feet landing on both feet in any direction.
18. Kumintang – moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counterclockwise
direction.
19. Leap – a spring from one foot, landing on the other foot in any direction.
20. Outside Foot – the foot away from one’s partner, when partners stand side by side.
21. Outside Hand – the hand away from one’s partner when partners stand side by side.
22. Place – to put foot in a certain position without putting weight on it; the sole of the foot rests on
the floor.
23. Pivot – to turn with the ball, heel, or whole foot; on fixed place or point.
24. Point – touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the other foot.
25. 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.
26. Saludo – partners with feet together bow to each other, to the audience, opposite dancers, or the
neighbors.
27. Sarok – cross the R (or L) foot in front of the L (or R) bend the body slightly forward and cross the
hands down in front with the R (or L) hand over the L (or R).
28. Set – a dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or more pairs.
29. Slide – to glide foot smoothly along the floor.
30. Stamp – to bring the foot forcibly and noisily on the floor.
31. Step – to advance or recede by moving one foot to another resting place with a complete transfer of
weight from one foot to another.
32. Supporting Foot – the foot that bears the weight of the body.
33. Tap – to rap slightly with the ball or toe of the free foot keeping weight of the body on the other foot.
There is no transfer of weight.
34. Whirl – to make fast turns by executing small steps in place, to right, or to left.

COMMON DANCE STEPS

Dance Steps/Time Counting Step Pattern No. of
Signature Measures
Polka Series – 2/4
• Plain Polka 1&2& Step, close step (pause) 1
• Hop Polka Ah, 1 & 2 & Hop, step, close step pause 1
• Heel and toe 1, 2, & 2 & Heel-place, toe-point; step, 2
Polka close step (pause)
• Slide Polka 1 & 2 &, 1 & 2 & Step, close step (pause) 2
Waltz Series – ¾
• Native waltz 1, 2, 3 Step, close, step 1
• Waltz 1, 2, 3 Step, close and raise heels 1
balance Up, down
• Cross waltz 1, 2, 3 Cross-step, close, step 1
Sway Balance
Series – ¾
• With a point 1, 2, 3 1 2, 3 Step, cross-step/Step, point 2
• With a waltz 1, 2 3 1 2 3 Step, cross-step/Step, close. 2
step
• With a hop 1, 2 3 1 2 3 Step, cross-step/Step, raise, hop 2

• With a brush 1, 2 3 1 2, 3 Step, cross-step/Step brush 2

• With a raise 1, 2 3 1 2, 3 Step, cross-step/Step raise 2
• With a close 1, 2 3 1 2, 3 Step, cross-step/Step close 2
• Double sway 1, 2 3 1 2, 3 1, 2 Step, cross-step/Step point/ 4
balance 3 1, 2, 3 Cross-step, step/point
• Bacui – ¾ 1,2 3 1,2 3 1,2 3 Cross-point step/Cross-step 4
1,2,3 (rear) step/Cross-step(front)
Step/Close (pause)
• Bleking 2/4 12 Heel-place, close 1
or 3/4 1,2 3 Heel-place, close 1
• Change Step 1&2 Step, Close, Step 1
– 2/4
• Cross Change 1&2 Cross-step, close, step 1
Step – 2/4
• Contra-ganza 1&2 Leap (sideward), cross-step 1
– 2/4
• Habanera – 2/4 12& Step, close, step 1
• Haplik – 2/4 12121&212 Step, step, hop, hop, step, step, 8
1 & 2 1 2 1 2 1, 2 step (turning), hop, hop, step,
step, step (turn- ing) hop, hop,
step, step, close (pause)

• Mazurka – 3/4 123 Slide, cut, hop 2

• Redoba – 3/4 123 Slide, cut, cut 1
Engaño Series – ¾
• With a waltz 1,2 3 1 2 3 Step (sideward) cross; step, close, 2
step
• With a close 1,2 3 1 2, 3 Step (sideward); step, close 2

Dance Steps/Time Counting Step Pattern No. of

Signature Measures
• Paso Español 123123123 Step, close heels up, (for- 4
- 3/4 123 ward) down; step, close, and
heels up, down (backward);
Step, brush-swing hop, step,
brush-swing, hop
• Sangig – 3/4 123 Step, close, circle in air 1
• Escotis – 4/4 1234 Step, close, step, hop 1