Fundamental Dance Positions

FUNDAMENTAL DANCE POSITIONS
There are five fundamental or basic positions in dance that are commonly
termed as 1st position, 2nd position, 3rd position, 4th position, and 5th position of the
feet and arms.
1st position
Feet: Heels close together, toes apart with an angle of about 45
degrees.
Arms: Both arms raised in a circle in front of waist with the finger tips
about an inch apart
2nd position
Feet: Feet apart sideward of about a pace distance.
Arms: Both raised sideward with a graceful curve at shoulder level.
3rd position
Feet: Heel of one foot close to in-step of other foot.
Arms: One arm raised in front as in 2nd position; other arm raised
upward.
4th position
Feet: One foot in front of other foot of a pace distance.
Arms: One arm raised in front as in 1st position; other arm raised
overhead.
5th position
Feet: Heel of front foot close to big toe of rear foot.
Arms: Both arms raised overhead.
INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE
Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the
traditional life of the people of a certain country or region. Folk dancing originated in the
18th century to distinguish dance forms of common people from those of the upper
classes. It is a traditional dances of a country which were evolved naturally and
spontaneously in connection with everyday activities and experiences of the people who
developed them.
Folk dances, unlike most other dance forms, tend to have no stringent rules, and
are sometimes formed spontaneously among groups of people. The steps of folk
dances are passed through generations, rarely being changed.
Philippine Folk Dance is a cultural art form handed down from generation to
generations. It communicates the customs, beliefs, rituals, and occupations of the
people of a region or country. Folk dancing is usually associated with social activities,
although some folk dances are performed competitively. Folk dancing belongs to the
people. It emanates from them. Folk dancing is the heartbeat of the people.

OBJECTIVES OF TEACHING PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES
1. To foster patriotism and nationalism through the study of our dance.

2. To arouse better appreciation of Philippine music and folk dances.
3. To provide through dancing, a healthful form of relaxation and recreation.
4. To develop a graceful and rhythmic coordination of body movements that will
improve posture.
5. To preserve for posterity, folk dances and music indigenous to the different
regions of the Philippines.
6. To demonstrate the growth of Filipino culture through the evolution of Philippine
dances.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES
In general, dancers stand apart.
There is little, if any, bodily contact.
Most of the dances are done by pairs or couples.
Hand movements play an important part.
Most dances are in long formation.
Most dances begin and end with “saludo.”
Dances from the lowlands have more foreign elements those found in the uplands.
War dances are found among non-Christian tribes.

DO'S AND DONT'S IN FOLK DANCING

Do’s in Folk Dancing

Dance in a natural, simple and direct manner.
Dance with ease and smoothness.
Use the proper costume for the dance.
Follow directions and dance instructions as closely as possible.
Dance with feeling and expression.

Don’t’s in Folk Dancing

Do not exaggerate the dance steps.
Do not make the dances too dainty and graceful like ballet.
Don’t make entrance and exit long.
Don’t make steps too elaborate and complicated.
Don’t call a dance a folk dance unless steps come from traditional dances.

TOPIC 2: PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Filipino folk dance history is not the history of a single national dance of one or
two regions. Dances evolved from different regions which are distinct from one another
as they are affected by the religion and culture.
Many people especially Filipinos are fond of dances. Our country is very rich in
different native dances like Cariñosa, Tinikling, La Jota Banal, La Jota Caviteño, etc.
Many of us find it hard to enjoy and get information about dance at the same time. This
proposed system would make it possible for us to enjoy and learn different native
dances here in the Philippines by means of computerizing it.
Folk Dance, recreational or ceremonial dance performed usually by members of
the community to which the dance is traditional. Varying criteria have been used to
differentiate folk dance from other kinds of dance: For example, the dancers are said to
belong to a certain economic level or come from certain locales; the steps are simple
and repeated, so that any member of the community can participate; the dances require
no audience; and they are passed down through many generations. Each of these
criteria can be contradicted by dances that are indisputably folk dances, and in each of
these criteria, folk dance overlaps with other kinds of dance.
During the last few centuries many trends have affected folk dancing. As the
spread of industrialization brought rural people into the growing cities, dances related to
agricultural activities or to communal rituals gradually lost their meaning. In the
changing circumstances of urban life, new dances evolved. Colonization also affected
dances-frequently, indigenous forms fused with dances of the colonial powers. In the
Philippines, for example, new dances developed when Spanish influenced dancers of
traditional native forms and Islamic dance forms and styles.
COMMON DANCE TERMS

Arms in lateral position – Both arms are at one side either right or left, at shoulder,
chest or waist level.
Brush – Weight on one foot, hit the floor with the ball or heel of the other foot and lift
that foot from the floor to any direction.
Crossed Arms – Partners facing each other or standing side by side join their left
hands together and the right hands together; either right over left or left over right
hands.
Cut – To displace quickly one foot with the other.
Do-si-do – Partners advance forward, pass each other’s right ( left ) side, step across to
the right move backwards without turning around, pass each other left side to proper
places.
Hayon-hayon – To place one forearm in front and the other at he back of the waist.
Hop – A spring from one foot landing on the same foot in place or in any direction.
Jaleo – Partners turn around clockwise ( with right elbows almost touching ) or
counterclockwise ( with left elbows almost touching ) using walking or any kind of dance
step.
Jump – A spring on one foot or both feet landing on both feet in any direction.
Kumintang – moving the hand from the wrist either in a clockwise or counterclockwise
direction.
Leap – A spring from one foot landing on the other foot in any direction.
Place – To put foot in a certain position without putting weight on it.
Pivot – To turn with the ball, heel or whole foot on a fixed place or point.
Point – Touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the other
foot.
Panadyak – To stamp in front or at the side with the right foot and tap with same foot
close to the left foot.

Patay – To bend the head downward and to support the forehead with the R
forearm or with the crook of the R elbow while the left hand supports lightly the
palm of the right hand. This is usually done with the left foot pointing in rear and
knees slightly bent. This is an Ilocano term and the movement is commonly
found in Ilocano dances.

Salok – T o swing the arm downward-upward passing in front of the body as if
scooping, the trunk is bent following the movement of the arm doing the salok.
Saludo – Partners bow to each other, to the audience, opposite dancers, or to the
neighbors with feet together. This is of Spanish origin and is used in almost all
Philippine dances.
Sarok – Cross the R foot in front of the L , bend the body slightly forward and cross the
hands down in front of the R hand over the L. This is a Visayan term.
Slide – To glide foot smoothly along the floor. The movement may be finished with or
without transfer of weight.
Stamp – To bring the foot forcibly and noisily on the floor with or without transfer of
weight.
Tap – To rap slightly with the ball or toe of the free foot, flexing the ankle joint keeping
weight of the body on the other foot. There is no change or transfer of weight.
Whirl – To make fast turns by executing small steps in place to right or left.

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FUNDAMENTAL DANCE POSITIONS

1. To foster patriotism and nationalism through the study of our dance.

COMMON DANCE TERMS

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