Dance Terms used in Folk Dance

1. Amplified- more open positions on 1st or 5th positions.

2. Lateral- both arms raised at one side parallel to each other.

3. Hayon- Hayon- one arm bent in front at waist level. The other is bent behind also at waist level.

4. “T” position- both arms at sides and bent at the elbows so that the upper arms re at shoulder
level.

5. Reverse “T” position- both arms at sides and bent at the elbows so that the forearms are parallel
to the head, palms facing inwards.

6. Abresete- Girl at the right side holds R arm of partner with her L hand, free hands sown at sides.
This term is Spanish in origin and is used in rigodon and in other dances.

7. Arms in lateral position– both arms at one side, either right or left; at shoulder, chest, or waist
level.

8. 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.

9. Cabeceras- the couples occupying the width of the hall when dancers are in square formation
(head couple).

10. Clockwise- like the motion of the hands of the clock. R shoulder is toward the center of an
imaginary circle. When facing center, movement is toward the left.

11. Counter clockwise- the reverse direction of clockwise, L shoulders toward center. Movement is
toward right when facing center of circle.

12. Costados- the couple occupying the length of the hall when dancers are in square formation (side
pair).

13. 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.

14. Cut- to displace quickly one foot with other.

15. Do-si-do- partners advance forward, pass each other’s right (or left) side, step across to the right (or
to the left) move backwards without turning around, pass each other left (or right)side to proper places.

16. Free foot- the foot not bearing the weight of the body.

17. Free hand- the hand not placed anywhere, or not doing anything.

18. Hands on waist- place hands at the waist line, knuckles in, fingers pointing rear.

19. Hapay- to flourish or offer a handkerchief, hat, glass of wine to somebody as a sign of invitation.

20. Hayon-hayon- to place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist.
21. Hop- a spring from one foot-landing on the other foot in place or in any direction.

22. Inside foot- the foot nearer the partner when partners stand side by side.

23. Jaleo- partners turn around clockwise (with R L elbows almost touching) or counter clockwise (with
L elbows touching) using walking or any kind of dances.

24. Jump- a spring on one or both feet landing on both feet in any direction.

25. Kumintang- moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

26. Leap- a spring from one foot, landing on the other foot in any direction.

27. Masiwak-to turn the hand from the wrist halfway clockwise, then raise and lower wrist once or
twice.

28. Outside foot- the foot away from one’s partner when partners stand side by side.

29. Outside hand- the hand away from one’s partner, when partner’s stand side by side.

30. Opposite- the person’s standing across the set.

31. Panadyak- to stamp in front or at the side with R (L) foot and top with same foot close to the L (R)
foot. Weight of the body on L (R) foot. This is a tagalong term.

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

33. Patadyong- a kind of woven material usually of cotton, plaid, multi-colored skirt, popularized by
Miag-ao weavers of Iloilo.

34. Place- to put foot in a certain position without putting weight on it; the sole of the foot rests on the
floor.

35. Pivot- to turn the with the ball, heel, or whole foot, on a fixed place or point.

36. Point- touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the other foot.

37. Salok- swinging the arm downward-upward passing in front of the body as if scooping; the trunk is
bant forward following the movement of the arm doing the salok.

38. Saludo- partners with feet together bow to each other, to the audience, opposite dancers, or the
neighbors.

39. Sarok- cross the R(or L) foot infront of the L (or R) bent the body slightly forward and cross hands
down in front with the R (or L) hand over the L (or R)

40. Set- a dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or more pair.

41. Slide- to glide foot smoothly along the floor.

42. Stamp- to bring the foot forcibly and noisily on the floor. Step- to advance or recede by moving one
foot to another resting place with a complete transfer of weight from one foot to the other.

43. Supporting foot- the foot that bears the weight of the body.
44. Tap- to tap slightly with the ball of the foot or toe of the free foot keeping weight of the body on
the other foot. There is no transfer of weight.

45. Whirl- to make fast turns by executing small steps in place, right, or to left.