Folk dance

• Types of Dances in Philippines

  • Ritual Dances
  • Life-cycle Dances
  • Occupational Dances
• Ritual Dances


  Connect the material world to the spiritual
• Life-cycle Dances


  Celebrate an individual's birth, baptism, wedding, and death
• Occupational Dances


  Transform defenses and livelihood activities to celebratory performances
• Fundamental Dance Positions of the Arms

  • Arms in 1st position
  • Arms in 2nd position
  • Arms in 3rd position
  • Arms in 4th position
  • Arms in 5th position
• Fundamental Dance Positions of the Feet


  • First position
  • Second position
  • Third position
  • Fourth position
  • Fifth position
• Arms in amplified 1st position


  Same as the 1st position, but the hands are slightly opened up
• Arms in amplified 5th position


  Same as the 5th position, but the hands are slightly opened up
• Arm positions


  • Arms at sides
  • Hands on waists
  • Hands holding skirts
  • One hand on waist and the other holding the skirt
  • One hand on waist or holding the skirt and the other raised overhead
• Bow or Saludo


  To honor partner, opposites or audience. This is of Spanish origin.
• Cabeceras


  Dancers in square formation, they are the couples occupying the width of the dance floor
• Costados


  Dancers in square formation, they are the couples occupying the length of the dance floor
• Clockwise


  Moving to the left when facing an imaginary circle. R shoulder is toward the center when moving forward.
• Counterclockwise


  The reverse direction of clockwise
• Do-Si-Do or Dos-A-Dos


  Two people walk toward each other, pass by the right shoulder, step sideward to the right, and return to position walking backward passing by the left shoulder
• Abrasete


  Girl at the right side of the boy holds his right arm with her left hand, free hands down at the sides. This is of Spanish origin.
• Bilao


  Hands in front, parallel to each other at waist level, elbows close to the waist, palms down. Reverse the position of the hands with palms up and down alternately.
• Free Hand


  The hand not doing anything
• Hapay


  Flourish or offer a handkerchief, a hat, or a glass of wine
• Hayon-Hayon


  To place one forearm in front and the other behind the waist. This is a Visayan term.
• Lateral Arm Position


  To place both arms on one side of the body, either right or left side. It can be done on chest, shoulder, and waist level.
• Outside Hand

  The hand away from the partner when standing side by side
• Salok


  To scoop the arm downward upward in front of the body; the trunk following the movements of the scooping arm. Free hand in 5th position or on waist, or holding skirt. This is a Tagalog term.
• Sarok


  Cross the right (left) foot in front of left (right) foot, bend the body slightly forward and cross the arms down in front right (left) over left (right). This is a Visayan term.
• Dance Techniques

  • Brush
  • Cut
  • Draw
  • Free Foot
  • Inside Foot
  • Outside Foot
  • Place
  • Pivot
  • Point
  • Slide
• Brush

  With weight on one foot, swing the free foot and hit, strike or touch the floor lightly with the heel or ball of the foot
• Cut


  A quick change of weight displacing the supporting foot with the free foot
• Draw


  The free foot is pulled along the floor close to the supporting foot with or without transfer of weight
• Free Foot


  The foot that does not support the weight of the body
• Inside Foot


  The foot near the partner when standing side by side
• Outside Foot


  The foot away from the partner when standing side by side
• Place

  To put the foot flat on the floor without putting weight on it
• Pivot


  Turning the ball, heel of one or both feet on the floor on a fixed place
• Point


  Touch toe or ball of free foot on floor and remains there briefly
• Slide


  To glide the sole of one foot along the floor with or without weight
• Inside Hand


  The hand near the partner when standing side by side
• Jaleo


  Partners stand side by side facing opposite direction
• Kumintang


  Turning the hand from the wrist either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. This is an Ilocano term.
• Kunday-Kunday


  Similar to Kumintang, but done twice for every movement on a faster beat.
• Types of Dances in Philippines

  • Ritual Dances
  • Life-cycle Dances
  • Occupational Dances