Lesson 4:
DANCE- is an art consisting of movements set to music or rhythm where there is organization,
structure, and pattern.
FOLK DANCE - It is a cultural art form handed down from generation to generation. It implies
the customs, beliefs, rituals and occupations of the people in a particular place.
Folk dances are traditional dances of a country which evolved naturally and spontaneously in
relation to the day-to-day activities and experiences of its people who developed them.
In our country each region has a very distinct way of expressing these traditional social
expressions inherent to the growth of its culture. These folk dances may be done in pairs or in
groups. After being handed down from one generation to another, these dances have
undergone changes in essence and style. But despite these, the basic dance steps and
movements have remained the same.
MOVEMENT - is made up of a succession of body changes, which take place one after the
other.
LOCOMOTOR - movement which carries the body from one place to another through space.
NON-LOCOMOTOR - movement of the body on a stationary or fixed base.
COMMON DANCE STEPS
1. Touch step - touch, close
2. Bleking step - Heel-place, close
3. Close step - step, close
4. Cross step - step, cross-step
5. Brush step - step, brush
6. Slide step - slide, step
7. Change step step, close, step
8. Contraganza - leap, cross-step, step/pause
9. Plain Polka - step, close step (pause)
10. Mincing step - step, step, step, etc.
11. Shuffling step - slide, slide, silde, etc.
12. Sway balance with a close - step,cross-step, step,close
13. Sway balance with a raise - step, cross; step-raise
14. Sway balance with a point - step,cross; step point
15. Sway balance with a hop - step cross; step-hop
16. Sway balance with a brush - step, cross; step brush
17. Leap - a spring from one foot landing on the other foot
18. Lateral - both arms raised at one side parallel to each other
19. "T" Position - both arms raised sideward; elbows bent so that the forearm fall downward
parallel to the sides of the body; palms facing inward
20. Reverse "T" - both arms raised sideward, elbows bent so that the forearms are raised
upward parallel to the head; palm facing in
21. Hayon-Hayon - one arm bent in front of waist level; other arm bent behind also at waist
level
22. Jaleo - partners stand side by side facing opposite directions with right (Left) hands on
waist so that R(L) elbows slightly touch each other
23. Amplified - more openposition on first or fifth position
24. Three-step Turn - make a complete turn with 3 steps in place or to sideward right(left)
On counts 1,2,1; pause on count 2
25. Inside foot - the foot nearest one's partner, when partners stand side by side
26. Outside foot - the foot away from one's partner, when partner stand by side
27. Inside hand - the hand nearest one's partner, when partners stand side by side
28. Outside hand - the hand away from one's partner, when partners stand side by side
29. Saludo - partners bow to each other, to the audience, opposite to the neighbor with feet
together
30. Set - a dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or more pairs
31. Tap- to rap slightly the ball or toe or the free foot, flexing the ankle joint keeping weight of
the body on the other foot.
