COMMON TERM AND TERMINOLOGIES

1. Set - A unit formation of two or more couples.

2. Free Foot – the foot not bearing the weight of the body.
3. Free Hand – the hand not placed anywhere or not doing anything.
4. Inside Foot – the foot nearest one partner, when partners stand side by side.
5. Inside Hand – the hand’s nearest one partner, when partners stand side by side
6. Outside Foot – the foot away from one’s partner, when partners stand by side.
7. Outside Hand – the hand away from one’s partner, when partners stand side by side.
8. Inside hand - The hand near one's partner when they stand side by side
9. Outside hand - The hand away from one's partner when they stand side by side.
10. “Abrasete” – girl at the right side, holds R arm of partner with her L hand, free hands down at the sides. This
term is so Spanish origin and is used in Rigodon and other dances.
11. “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.
12. “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.
13. Arms in Lateral Position – both arms are at one side, either sideward right or left. This
maybe done at shoulder, chest, or waist level.
14. Bilao – to turn palms of hands up and down alternately, hands at waist level in front elbows
close to the waist.
15. 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 in any direction.
16. Clockwise – like the motion of the hands of the clock. R's shoulder is toward the center of an imaginary
circle. When facing the center, the movement is toward the left.
17. Counterclockwise – the reverse direction of clockwise. L shoulder is toward the center of an imaginary
circle. When facing the center, the movement is toward the right. - The reverse direction of clockwise, the
hands of the clock moving to the right when facing the center of an imaginary circle when moving forward.
18. Cut – to displace quickly one foot with the other, thus completely taking off the weight of the body from the
displaced foot or it is a Quick change of weight from one foot to the other displacing the supporting foot.
19. Do-si-do (“Dos-A-Dos”) – the vis-à-vis (opposite) both advance forward, pass each other’s right (or left) side,
step across t the right (or left), move backward without turning around pass each other’s left (or right) side
to other places. This is of foreign origin and is used in many Philippine dances.
20. “Hapay” – to flourish or offer a handkerchief, hat, or glass of wine to somebody as a sign of invitation.
21. “Hayon-Hayon” – to place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist. This is a Visayan term
22. “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. a lively Spanish solo dance accompanied
by castanets.
23. “Kumintang” – moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This is
an Ilocano term.
24. “Masiwak” – to turn the hand from the wrist halfway clockwise, then raise and lower
25. Valse–waltz, the earliest Spanish-introduced step.
26. Step- With the weight on one foot, shift the weight into the other foot
27. Brush- Weight on one foot, swing the free foot in an arch so that the ball or heel strikes the floor at the
lowest point of the arch. This may be done forward, sideward, or backward.
28. “Salok” – to swing 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”. This is a Tagalog term.
29. “Saludo” – partners bow to each other, to the audience, opposite dancers, or to the neighbors with feet
together. This term is of Spanish origin and is used in almost all Philippine dances.
30. “Saroc” – cross the R (or L) foot in front of the L (or R), bend the body slightly forward
31. Pivot – to turn with the ball, heel, or whole foot on a fixed place or point.
32. Polka – Spanish-introduced dance from Germany.
33. Stamp – to bring down the feet forcibly and noisily on the floor (like doing a heavy step) with or without
transfer of weight.
34. Hop- Spring on the supporting foot, and land on the same foot.
35. Raise- Elevating leg or Raising foot L, R upward
36. Leap- Spring on the supporting foot and land on the other foot.
37. Place- To put the foot (flat) in any desired position without putting weight on it.
38. Point- Touch the toe or ball of the free foot on the floor and remain there briefly.
39. Slide - To glide one foot along the floor smoothly, with or no transfer of weight.
40. Change steps- In right changes, the man starts from the right foot, while in left ones the man starts from the
left foot. The figures are called "changes" because they allow dancers to change from natural turn to
reverse turn (i.e., left to right turn) and vice versa.
41. Partner- two persons who dance together (Set). A Girl to the right of the Boy and a Boy to the left of the
Girl.
42. Rigodon – Spanish rigodon, a walk dance usually performed for opening important social gatherings
featuring the who’s who in town.
43. Sway balance- a dancer's body position in which the entire body gracefully deflects from the vertical,
normally away from the standing foot and the direction of movement.