CHAPTER 5

DANCE FUNDAMENTALS
 FEET
• Weight on both feet – weight is equally distributed on both feet while
standing.
• Transfer weight – shifting of weight from one to the other foot when
stepping or misaligning the waist like in doing hip-swaying
movements.
• Supporting foot – the foot carrying the weight of the body when there
is a shift of weight
• Free foot – the foot not carrying the weight
• Front foot – a foot that is placed forward
• Rear foot – the foot that remains on a spot when the other is placed in
front
• Crossed feet – one foot is placed in front and across the rear foot.
• Outside foot – of the dancer stands beside another dancer, this is the
foot away from the person
• Inside foot – in the same positions as the preceding, this is the foot
closest to the other person.
• On balls – to tiptoe or place weight more on the toes
• Balls – toes
• Tap – to tap the dance floor lightly with the ball of the free foot
• Brush – the floor is hit by the ball or heel of the free foot and after
which it is lifted.
• Stamp – to bring down the foot forcibly on the floor. The Tagalog term
for this is panadyak (Cebuano bundak)
• Spring – to quickly bend and straighten the knees so that there is a
bouncing movement of the body.
• Cut – a sudden or quick displacement of one foot by the other foot
accompanied by shifting of weight.
• Swing – to move free foot side to side like a pendulum
• Place – putting the foot in a desired position without putting weight on
it. The sole of the foot rests flat on the floor.
• Heel place – similar to the preceding but with the heel of the free foot
touching the floor and toes of that foot raised upward
• Touch (point) – to touch the floor lightly with the balls of the free foot
 ARMS
• Reverse T Position – arms are side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles,
forearms parallel to head palms forward or facing inward
• Forearm Turns – starting with arms in reverse T , move the arms
alternately from the elbow in an outward to inward direction as if tracing
imaginary circles. As one arm moves outward, the other is moved in. The
outward-inward movement of one arm is accomplished in one measure
• Salok – a Tagalog term which means a scooping motion with the arms. It
starts with bringing the arm 2nd position to downward, inward direction,
palm facing the direction of movement, and bringing it upward as it
crosses the chest and then raised to 5th position, and finally outward,
sideward.
• Hayon-Hayon – this is a Cebuano term which refers to a leisurely
swinging of the arms not carrying anything. Starting with arms hanging
loosely at the sides, swing the arms alternately forward and backward.
As one arm swings forward, the other swings backward.
• Lateral Position – both arms are at one side, either sideward right or left.
• Hapay – with one or both arms raised upward, move one or both
sideward right and left. This movement is done while holding offering
like flowers in welcome and courtship dances.
 WRIST, HAND AND FINGERS
• Free Hand – the hand that is not placed anywhere on the body or not
doing anything.
• Outside Hand – the hand away from the partner; that is, when partners
stand side by side.
• Inside Hand – the hand closest to the partner; that is, when partners
stand side by side.
• Komintang – moving the hand from the wrist either clockwise or
counterclockwise direction.
• Finger Flutter – with fingers stiff and a little distance from each other,
quickly move them forward-backward much like the movement of
butterfly wings. The fingers do not move in unison.
• Okkir – this is a characteristic hand gesture in Maguindanaon dances. It
is done like the komintang but with pronounced movement and fingers
held stiff.
• Flip – with fingers held stiff, move the hand from the wrist in a jerky
outward-inward or upward-downward manner. This hand movement is
found in many dances of the Cordillera.
• Kiwit – the thumb sticks out from a closed fist and the hand is moved
from the wrist outward-inward. The movement is common in
Pangasinan and Bondok dances.
 OTHER TERMS
• Saludo – also called curtsy or salute, the dancers bow to the audience, to
their partners, or to neighboring dancers. European dances and all those
influenced by these dances open and end with a curtsy.
• Set – two or more dancers as a group; it also refers to a group in a dance
formation.
• From the top – during the rehearsal, the command means from the first
figure.
• Clockwise – to move like the direction of the clock, arms as in moving in
circle formation or any part of the body.
• Counterclockwise – the opposite movement of the clock hands as in moving
in a circle formation or any part of the body.
• Dos-a-dos – with partners facing each other, both advance, pass each
other’s right side, step across to the right, move backwards without turning
FUNDAMENTAL
POSITIONS IN
DANCE
COMMON • fig – figure

ABBREVIATIONS USED • wt – weight

IN DANCE NOTATION • ctr – center

• R – right • CW – clockwise • cpl – couple or couples
• L – left • CCW – counter-clockwise • pos – position
• bwd –backward • upwd –upward • ptr – partner or partners

• swd – sideward • x – number of times a • opp – opposite

step is performed
• ct – count • hd – hand or hands
• LOD – line of direction,
• cts – counts • ft – foot or feet
counter-clockwise on the
dancing area • B – boy
• M – measure
• RLOD – reverse line of • G – girl
• diag - diagonal
direction, clockwise on
• dnwd – downward
the dancing area
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