Physical Education 2: Rhythm and Dance
Lesson 3: FUNDAMENTAL DANCE POSITIONS, STEPS AND DANCE TERMS
FUNDAMENTAL DANCE POSITIONS AND STEP
FEET POSITIONS
FIRST POSITION
Feet close and toes and heels parallel
Touching toes at 45 degrees
PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2/RST
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SECOND POSITION
Open parallel stride sideward
THIRD POSITION
Feet closed-crossed
Heel in-step touching knees locked
PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2/RST
FOURTH POSITION
Feet open-crossed
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FIFTH POSITION
Feet close-toes
ARMS POSITIONS
FIRST POSITION
Arms encircled in front at chest level,
relaxed, fingers slightly apart
PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2/RST
SECOND POSITION
Arms raised sideward a liitle
below shoulder level
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THIRD POSITION
One arm encircles overhead in the other raised sideways
FOURTH POSITION
One arm encircles like first position; the other arm overhead
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FIFTH POSITION
Both arms overhead
COMBINATION OF ARM AND FEET POSITIONS
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The dance steps listed below are the fundamental or basic steps most commonly used
in Philippine folk dance. In some cases the names of the steps are the same as those
found in foreign dances, but the manner of execution is entirely different. Dome dance
steps have no English equivalent names, so the native names are retained, such as
“Kurandang,” “Bacui,” “Engano,” etc.
DANCE STEPS
TIME SIGNATURE
COUNTING
STEP PATTERN
BLEKING
2/4
3/4
Spring 1 (R) heel-place close
Heel-place close (step)
1,1,2
1,2,3
CHANGE STEP
2/4
Step close step
1 and 2
CROSS STEP
3/4
Step cross & slide
1
CROSS CHANGE
2/4
Cross-step-close-step
1 and 2
CONTRA GANZA
2/4
Leap cross-step step
1 and 2
CHANGING STEP
2/4
Jump 1 foot & other in rear
1
CLOSE STEP
2/4
Step Close
1 2
CUT STEP
2/4
Cut or displace
1
GALLOP
2/4
Step cut step cut
(There are 2 Galop steps to
1 measure)
1 ah 2 ah
6/8
Step
Cut
Step
Cut
1, 2
3
4, 5
6
HABANERA
2/4
Step close step
1,2 and
HEEL & TOE
CHANGE STEP
2/4
Heel-place toe-point/
Step close step
1,2/
1 and 2
KURADANG
2/4
Step close step cross-step/
Step close step point
1 and 2,3/
1 and 2,3
MAZURKA
3/4
Slide cut hop
1,2,3
PLAIN POLKA
2/4
Step close step pause
1&2&
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2,3
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HEEL AND TOE
POLKA
2/4
Heel-place toe-point/
Step close step pause
1,2
1&2&
HOP POLKA
2/4
Hop & step close step pause
1&2&
SLIDE POLKA
2/4
Slide close slide close
Step close step pause
1&2&
1&2&
SWAY BALANCE
WITH A POINT
3/4
Step cross-step step point
1,2,3
SWAY BALANCE
1,2,3
WITH A BRUSH
3/4
Step cross-step step brush
1,2,3
SWAY BALANCE
1,2,3
WITH A CLOSE
3/4
Step cross-step step close
1,2,3
SWAY BALANCE
1,2,3
WITH A HOP
3/4
Step cross-step step raise hop
1,2,3
SWAY BALANCE
1,2,3
WITH A RAISE
3/4
Step cross-step step raise
1,2,3
SWAY BALANCE
1,2,3
WITH A WALTZ
3/4
Step cross-step step close step
1,2,3
PIVOT TURN
2/4
Step step step step
On ball & turn on ball & turn
1&2&
WALTZ
3/4
Step close step
1,2,3
WALTZ BALANCE
3/4
Step, close L, Raise heel
Heels down (both)
1,2,3
CROSS WALTZ
3/4
Cross-step close step
1,2,3
CHASING
2/4
Step close (step)
1 and
ESCOTIS
4/4
Step close step hop
1,2,3,4
KORRITI
2/4 or
3/4
(same as mincing step but
one foot across in front)
1 and 2
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DANCE TERMS
ABRASETE- Girl at the right side, holds RIGHT arm of partner with her LEFT hand,
free hands
down at the sides. This term is of Spanish origin and is used in Rigodon and other
dances.
ARMS IN LATERAL POSITION- both arms are at one side, either sideward right or
left. this maybe done at shoulder, chest, or waist level.
ARMS IN REVERSE “T”- arms are side horizontal, elbows bent at right angles,
forearmsParallel to head, palms forward or facing inward, fist loosely closed.
BILAO- to turn palms of hands up and down alternately, hands at waist level in front,
elbows close to waist.
CLOCKWISE- like the motion of the hands of the clock. R shoulder is toward the
center of an imaginary circle. When facing center, the movement is toward the left.
COUNTER CLOCKWISE- the reverse direction of clockwise. L shoulder is toward the
center of an imaginary circle. When facing center, the movement is toward the right.
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 of foreign
origin and is used in many Philippine dances.
FREE FOOT- the foot not bearing the weight of the body.
FREE HAND- the hand not placed anywhere or not doing anything.
HAPAY- to flourish or offer a handkerchief, hat or glass of wine to somebody as a sign
of invitation.
HAYON-HAYON- to place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist.
This is a Visayan term.
HOP- a spring from one foot landing on the same foot in the place or in any direction.
The other foot maybe raised in any direction (in front, in rear, sideward or across).
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KUMINTANG- moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counter
clockwise direction. This term is an Ilocano term.
MASIWAK- to turn the hand from the wrist half way clockwise, then raised and lower
wrist once or twice. This is an Ibanag term.
PIVOT- to turn with the ball, heel, or whole foot, on a fixed place or point.
POINT- to touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the
other foot.
POLKA- Spanish-introduced dance from Germany.
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.
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.
“SALOK” (or “SAROK”)- cross the R (or L) foot in front of the L (or R), bend the body
slightly forward and cross the hands (forearms) down in front with the R (or L) hand
(forearm) over the L (or R). This is a Visayan term.
SARONG- a short version of the malong usually worn by Subanon and other
Mindanao men.
SET- a dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or more
pairs.
SLIDE- to glide foot smoothly along the floor. The movement may be finished with or
without transfer of weight.
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.
VALSE- waltz, earliest Spanish-introduced step.
WHIRL- to make fast turns by executing small steps in place to right or left.
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TEST I. I-MOVIE: create your own video performing the Fundamental Dance
position and steps.
The aim of this activity is to:


Provide an overview of creating and using videos with students
Help get you started using video or get more out of using videos
Examine
TEST II. COMPLETION TYPE: Below are basic folk dance steps in 2/4 time
which are usually used in folk-based dancing. Supply the missing step pattern
and counting of each basic step enumerated.
BASIC STEPS
STEP PATTERN
COUNTING
Waltz
Mazurka
Heel & toe change step
Sway Balance in Brush
Sway Balance in Hop
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