DANCE TERMINOLOGIES
1. Dance- elegant and regular movement
harmoniously composed of beautiful body
attitudes and contrasted grateful posture of
body with accompaniment of music
2. Dance- an art form expressed in movement.
It attempts to convey ideas or feelings
through carefully selected patterns which are
arranged in a form judged to be the best to
meet the needs of particular communication
3. Choreography- art of creating dances
4. Design- patterns in shape and time
5. Dynamics- variations, changes and contrasts
within an existing time space, bringing about
excitement and heightened interest.
6. Energy- strength, power of force for action
7. Ethnic- coming from or belonging to the
distinctive cultural or aesthetic traditions of
a particular country or people
8. Folk- originated among or representative of
common people
9. Folk Art- traditionally typically anonymous
art of people that’s an expression of
community life
10. Folk Dance- traditional dance of given
country that evolves instinctively and
spontaneously in conjunction with daily
activities and experiences of people
11. Gesture- movement use to emphasize idea
and emotions
12. Improvisation- simultaneously compose or
perform to extemporize
13. Measure- grouping of beats
14. Modern Dance- theatrical dance of
contemporary approach, technique or style,
emerging from and reflective of 20th century.
15. National Dance- folk dance which is
popularized dance in most parts of specific
country
16. Set- dance unit or formation
Dance Terms
• Abrasete- Girl at R side holds the R arms of
partner and her L has free hand down at sides
• Arms in Lateral Position- both arms are at
one side, either R or L
• Arms in reverse “T” position- arms are
horizontally sideward, elbows are at right
angles forearms parallel to head, elbows are
at shoulder level and slightly closed, facing
each other.
• Bilao- bend elbows close to waist, hands, in
front fingers point forward palms down. Turn
hands up and down alternatively.
• Brush- to hit the floor with ball or heel of one
foot after it is lifted from the floor in any
direction
• Cabacceras- dancers are in square formation
• Cast off- Dancers are in longway formation
• Clockwise- following direction of the hands of
a clock
• Costados- Dancers are in square formation
• Conter clockwise- reverse direction of
clockwise
• Cross- over- two people are opposite to each
other and proceeds in a straight line to the
opposite.
• Curtsy- point the R foot in rear of the L foot
• Cut- to display quickly one foot with the
other.
• Do-si-Do- partners are facing and starting
with R foot take 3 walking steps forward the
partners and without turning around , take 3
walking stes backward to proper place. Close
to L and R.
• Folded Arms- bend arms in front of the
chest and put one forearm on top of the
others
• Free foot- the foot is not bearing any body
weight.
• Free Rand- hand not placed anywhere
• Hapay- offers handkerchief or glass of wine
to somebody for invitation

• Hayon- Hayon – places one forearm in front

of waist and other at back of waist.

• Inside Hand/ Foot- hand or foot nearest

one’s partner when standing side by side.

• Jaleo- R hand on waist, elbows almost

touching, partners turn around once clockwise
using any kind of dance steps.

• Kewet- fist slightly closed, thumb sticking

out turn the wrist outward

• Kumintang- moving the hand from the wrist

either in clockwise or counter-clockwise
direction

• Link Elbows- known as hook elbows

• Masiwak- turns hand from the wrist counter-

clockwise then raises and lower wrist once or
twice; known as Ibanag

• Outside hand/foot- hand or foot away from

one’s partner when standing side by side

• Panadyak- to stamp in front or at the side

with the R foot and tap with the same foot
close to the L foot

• Place- to put sole of the whole foot in a

desired position without putting weight on it.

• Point- to touch floor lightly with toes, no

weight

• Salok- to swing arm downward upward to

fifth posittion passing in front og the body as
if scooping.

• Saludo- with feet together partners bow to

each other, to the audience or opposite
dancer

• Sarok- with weight on the L foot, point R

foot across the L foot in front, bend the body
slightly toward the pointing foot and cross
the R arm over the L arm.

• Stamp-bring down foot forcibly and noisily on

the floor

• Tap- flexing the ankle joint, rap lightly with

the ball or toe of the free foot.

• Whirl turn- rise on toes and make fast turns

by executing mincing steps in place.