DANCE TERMS COMMON TO PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES

1. Abrasete - Girl at the right side, holds R arm of partner with her L hand, free
hands down at the sides. This term is a Spanish origin and is used in Rigodon
and in other dance.
2. Arms in Lateral Position - Both arms are at one side, either sideward right or
left. This may be at done at shoulder, chest, or waist level.
3. Arms in Reverse “T” - Arms are side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles,
forearms parallel to head, palms forward or facing inward, fists loosely closed.
4. Bilao - To turn palms of hands 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
(the free foot) after which that foot is lifted from the floor to any direction.
6. Cabeceras - When dancers are in square formation, the couples occupying the
width of the hall are called “cabeceras” or head couples. This is of Spanish
origin.
7. Costados - When dancers are in square formation, the couples occupying the
length of the hall are called “costados” or side pairs. This is of Spanish origin.
8. Clockwise - Like the motion of the hands of a clock. R shoulders toward the
center of an imaginary circle. When facing center, the movement is toward the
left.
9. Counterclockwise - The reverse direction of clockwise. L shoulder is toward
the center of an imaginary circle. When facing center, the movement is toward
the right.
10. Crossed Arms - Partners are facing each other or standing side by side, girl
at the right of boy. They join their L and R hands together; either R over L or
L over R hands.
11. Cut - To displace quickly one foot with the other, thus completely taking off
the weight of the body from the displaced foot.
12. Do-si-do (“Dos-A-Dos”) - The vis-à-vis (opposites) both 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’s left or right side to proper
places. This is a foreign origin and is used in many Philippine dances.
13. Draw - To pull one foot along the floor close to the other which has the
weight of the body. The weight may or may not be transferred.
14. Free Foot - The foot not bearing the weight of the body.
15. Free Hand - The hand not placed anywhere or not doing anything.
16. Hands on waist - Place hands on waist line (at the smallest part of the
trunk). Knuckles in, fingers pointing in rear.
17. Hayon- hayon - To place one forearm I front and the other at the back of the
waist. This is a Visayan term.
18. Hop - A spring from one-foot landing on the same foot in place or in any
direction. The other foot may be raised in any direction.
19. Inside Foot - The foot nearest one’s partner, when partners stand side by
side.
20. Inside Hand - The hand nearest one’s partner, when partners stand side by
side.
21. Kumintang - Moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counter
Clockwise direction. This is an Ilocano term
22. Outside Foot - The foot away from one’s partner, when partners stand side
by side.
23. Outside hand - The hand away from one’s partner, when partners stand side
by side.
24. Place - To put foot in a certain or desired position without putting weight on
it. The sole of the foot rests on the floor.
25. Pivot - To turn with the ball heel, or whole foot, on a fixed place or point.
26. Point - Touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on
the other foot.
27. Saludo - Partners bow to each other, to the audience opposite dancers, or to
the neighbors with feet together. This term is a Spanish origin and is used in
almost all Philippine dances.
28. Set - A dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or
more pairs.
29. Stamp - To bring down the foot forcibly and noisily on the floor
(like doing a heavy step) with or without transfer of weight.
30. Step - To advance or recede by raising or moving one foot to another resting
place. There is a complete transfer of weight from one foot to another.
31. Supporting Foot - The foot that bears the weight of the body.
32. Tap - To rap slightly with the ball or toe of the free foot, flexing the ankle joint
keeping weight of the body on the other foot. There is no change or transfer
of weight.
33. Whirl - To make fast turns by executing small steps in place to right or left.
Other Distinctive Steps of SAMBA

1. Solo Samba

a. “Samba No PE”- The rhythm is 2/4 with three steps in every measure.

This dance can be seen often in carnival parades and other carnival celebrations.

b. “Samba Axe”- the musical rhythm starts out slow and the rhythm
increases to a faster tempo.

Basic Solo Samba Steps

Count: “one- uh- two”- step L foot forward at the count of “one.”
Lift up R foot on “Uh”
Place it next to the L on “two”
Going back the same step is repeated
Step R foot back ct. one
Lift L foot at ct. uh
Place it next to the R on “two”

2. BotaFogas (Botafogo) comes from the Botafago place in Rio De Janeiro,

Brazil
Count one- step L foot forward slightly, diagonal across the body
Count ah- step sideways with partial weight transfer (make a quarter turn)
Count 2- replace the full weight onto the L foot end the figure facing
diagonally to the center.

3. Traveling Voltas
Leader/Mans part traveling volta to left
1. Ct.1 cross R foot in front of L foot
2. Ct.a L foot side and slightly back with partial weight
3. Ct.2 cross R foot in front of L foot
4-7 Ct.a1a2 repeat steps 2-3 twice
Basic Steps Variations in ZUMBA:

Teachers demonstrate the dance steps, students observe and follow.

1. Merengue March- a style of Dominican dance and music

-Begin by marching
-Cross your arms over your chest from one side to the other.
-Keeping arms crossed over your chest, and march by taking single step at
a time.
-Marching position should have your legs crossed.

2. QueTeMueve- means “what moves you”

-You move side to side, 2 steps on each side.
-Now, as you move to the side open your hips and get on the balls of your
feet.
-Then add your arms like you are twisting.

3. Booty Circle- Basically, a hip- circling motion

-Begin in a standing position, with legs about shoulder- distance apart.
-Place your hands on your hips
-With your feet stable on the floor, tilt your right hip up to your right side.
-Tilt your hips to the back. Then lift your left hip to your left side.
-Finally tilt your hips to the front while contracting your abs with a crunch
basically you are making a circle with your hips: right side, back, left side,
front with a crunch. Do not be afraid to stick out your “booty”.

4. Cuban Salsa- This is a dance in a rotational pattern.

-The man and woman move as if dancing around the edge of a circle with
the axis between them.
-Sometimes the man becomes the axis and the woman moves around him.
-Accentuated hip-movement is caused by pumping of the knees.
-Please refer to a variety of Cuban styling.
(www.salsa-dancer.com>cuban-style-salsa)

5. Sabor Step (Flavour)-This step is used with the Salsa rhythm with hip shakes
1.) Tap R (foot). Tap L(foot), tap R (foot)
2.) Step R sideward, L cross over R, step R sideward
3.) Repeat (1) tap L(foot), tap R(foot), tap L (foot)
4.) Step L sideward, R cross over L, step L sideward(repeat all)

6. Basic Cumbia- Cumbia is derived from the African “Cumbe” which means “Dance”.
It represents a blending of cultures both musically and rhythmically.
Basic Waltz Steps

Box Step: This pattern resembles a box. The partners perform opposite
movements. When the leader (Boy) moves forward the follower (Girl)
moves backward.
The Underarm Turn:
To initiate this turn, the leader raises his left hand in the air, which is a cue for
the follower to turn underneath. The follower will take six walking steps forward in a
small circle returning to her original place.

Note: The leader will continue dancing the Box step (How to waltz underarm
turns monkeysec.com)

Hesitation Step:
The Hesitation waltz is usually performed to fast music and includes the usual
waltz steps. The major difference is that dancers will pause on certain beats instead of
dancing through them.
Body sway- gives couples a pendulum like look, swinging and swaying their upper
bodies in the direction they are moving. These actions are smooth and confident,
making the waltz a simple, yet elegant and beautiful dance. (TREVA Bedinghaus, 2016)

Movements found in Belly Dance

1. Percussive movements: Staccato movements, most commonly of the hips, which

can be used to punctuate the music or accent a beat.

Typical Movements Include: Useful Websites:

Shimmy Expert Village
Hip Drops Expert Village
Vertical Hip Rocks Neon World Dance, New York
Circles Howcast.com
Hip Lifts Expert Village
Hip twists Neon World Dance, New York
Undulations Howcast.com

Percussive movements using other parts of the body can include lifts or drops of the
ribcage and shoulder accents.

2. Fluid Movements: Flowing, sinuous movements in which the body is in continuous

in motion. This movement require a great deal of abdominal muscle control.

Typical Movements Include:

(a) Horizontal and vertical figures of eight (8) or infinity with the hips.
(b) Horizontal or tilting hip circles.
(c) Undulations of the hips and abdomen.

3. Shimmies, shivers and vibrations- small, fasts, continues movements of the hips or
ribcage, which create an impression of texture and depth of movement.

Shimmies Includes:
(a) Relaxed up and down shimmies
(b) straight- legged knee- driven shimmies
(c) Fast tiny hip vibrations
(d) Twisting hip shimmies
(e) Bouncing “earthquake” shimmies
(f) Relaxed shoulder or ribcage shimmies
In addition to these torso movements, dancers in many styles will use level
changes, travelling steps, turns and spins. The arms are used to frame and accentuate
movements of the hips, for dramatic gestures and to create beautiful lines and shapes
with the body.

Basic Bollywood Dance Moves

1. Hip shake:
Starting Position: R foot in front, both knees slightly bend. Put R hand behind the
head L hand on waist.

(a) move hip (R – up)…………………… ct.1

(b) move hip (down)……………………. ct.2
(c) repeat ( a – b) 3x…………………… cts.3 – 4
cts.5 – 6
cts.7 – 8
2. Lotus hands:
Starting Position: Palms straight out, spread fingers
(a) bring arms overhead (fifth position)
Shake hands sideward, bringing it downward to second position. cts.1,2,3
(b) bring up …………………………………………………………….………….. ct.1
(c) repeat (a)………………………………………………………………….……. ct.1,2,3

3. Horse Move
Starting Position: One foot front, facing front
(a) make a gallop step with R foot leading without leaving your place
(This is done in place………………………………………..cts. 1 & ah 2 & ah 3 & ah 4

Note: You can do any variations e.g. moving forward, turning clockwise in place,
turning counter clockwise in place moving sideward R or L

4. Shoulder Shake: (Forward and Back )

Starting position: One foot front (forward) both knees slightly bent with body’s
weight forward. Arms sideward
(a) Shake shoulder forward by bending trunk slightly forward……… cts. 1,2
(b) Shake shoulder backward……………………………………………………. cts. 3,4
(c) Repeat (a) and (b)……………………..…………………………………… cts 5, 6,7,8

Note: Other Variations

Positions: R hand in front of L shoulder, Feet same as forward and back
(a) each count hit your R hand with your Left shoulder……………… cts. 1-8
(b) Repeat (a) Reverse position…………………………………….…………. cts. 1-8

5. Windshield Wiper
Starting Position: Same feet position with shoulder shake, bring hands at waist
level
(a) move arms like a windshield wiper while bending trunk forward. cts. 1,2
(b) move arms upward head level……………………………………….……… cts. 3,4
(c) Repeat (a) and (b)…………………………………………………..……… cts.5,6,7,8