UNIT III - TERMS IN FOLK DANCE

Many of the so called native dances are of Spanish origin. Others show French, English,
Malayan influences. Our forefathers have performed them for so long, giving them their own
interpretation, execution and expression that they have become traditionally Filipino.
 Abrasete – Girl at the right side, holds R arm of partner with her L hand, free hands
down at the sides. This term is of Spanish origin and is used in Rigodon and in
other dances.
 Arms in Lateral – Both arms are at one side, either swd right or left. This may be
done at shoulder, chest or waist level.
 Bilao – To turn palms of hands up and down alternately, hands at waist level in front,
elbows close to waist.
 Hayon-hayon – To place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist.
 Hapay – To flourish or offer a handkerchief, hat or glass of wine to somebody as a sign
of invitation.
 Reverse - T – Arms are side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles, forearms parallel
to head, palms fwd or facing inward, fists loosely closed.
 T - Position - Arms are at side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles, forearms parallel
to body, facing bwd.
 Kumintang – Moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counter
clockwise direction.
 Forearm Turn – 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 accomplish in one
measure.
 Masiwak – To turn the hand from the wrist halfway clockwise then raise or lower wrist
once or twice.

 Jaleo – Partners turn once around clockwise (with R elbows almost touching) or
counterclockwise (with L elbows almost touching) using walking or any kind
of dance step. The hands near each other are on waists.
 Salok – To scoop or swing the arm downward upward in front of the body, the trunk
following the movement of the scooping arm. Free hand in fifth position or
holding skirt.
 Cross-arm – Partners are facing each other or standing side by side, girl at the right of
boy. They join their L hands together and their R hands together,
either R over L or L over R hands.
 Saroc – Cross the R (L) foot in front of the L (R) foot, bend the body slightly fwd
and cross the hand down in front R (L) over L (R).
 Patay – To bend the head down so that the forehead touches the R (L) forearm or the
crook of the R (L) elbow while the L (R) hand supports lightly the palm of the
R (L) hand. This is usually done with the L (R) foot pointing in rear and knees
slightly bent.
 Grand Chain – Partners join right hands facing each other. Boys all move counter
clockwise and girls clockwise. Each boy in starting passes his partner on her
right anf drops her hand, joins left hand with the left of the next girl, who
advances to meet him, and passes her on her left, and drop hands.
 Brush – With weight of the body on one foot, hit the floor with the ball of the foot after
which the foot is lifted from the floor to any direction.
 Point – Touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the
other foot.
 Tap – Toe or ball of free foot is placed momentarily on floor and lifted again
immediately.
 Stamp - To bring down one foot forcibly on the floor with or without transfer of
weight.
 Leap – Spring from one foot, landing on the other foot in any direction (fwd,
swd, bwd or oblique.)
 Panadyak – To stamp in front or at the side with R (L) foot and tap with same foot
close to the L (R) foot, weight of the body with L (R) foot.

 Jump – Spring on one foot or both, landing on both in any direction.

 Place – To put the foot (flat) in any desired position without putting weight on it.

 Pivot – Turning on ball, heel, of one or both feet on a fixed place.

 Slide – To glide one foot along the floor smoothly, with or no transfer of weight.
 Cut – Quick change of weight from one foot to the other displacing the supporting foot.
 Do-Si-Do – Two people walk toward each other, pass by the right shoulder step
swd to the right and return to position walking bwd, passing left
shoulder.
 Cabeceras – The couples (head pairs) occupying the width of the hall in a square
formation.
 Costados – The couples (head pairs) occupying the length of the hall in a square
formation.
 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.
 Hop – Spring on the supporting foot, and land on the same foot
 Whirl – To turn fast by executing small steps in place to right or left
 Saludo – Partners bow to each other to opposite dancers or to the audience.

Abbreviations and Signs Used

L --------------------------------- Left (foot, arm or hand)

R --------------------------------- Right (foot, arm or hand)
ct. --------------------------------- count
cts. --------------------------------- counts
M --------------------------------- measure or measures
X --------------------------------- boy
O --------------------------------- girl
fwd --------------------------------- forward
swd --------------------------------- sideward
bwd --------------------------------- backward
--------------------------------- direction where going or facing