Definition of Foreign Folk Dance

Definition of foreign folk dance
-applies to those dances which come from countries other than Philippines.
Style
• It is important to execute the styling and mannerism inherent in the dance of other countries as it is to
be able to dance the steps and pattern sequences. one of the greatest disadvantages in this era
enthusiasm for folk dancing is to treat all dances alike regardless of their origin and background. Dances
can be compared to the seasoning of food and pointing out that if all foods are seasoned only with salt
and pepper , all foods would taste the same and uninteresting. If twirls,hoops and yells are added to
every dance it will like the food lose its individuality and become uninteresting.
Dance Terms
There are many terms that a folk dancers needs to know in order to learn dances easily. Most of this are
found in western folk dances.
1. Allemande left – Each dancer faces its partner and extends his left hand. Both move counterclockwise
in a circle around each other and return to original position. Its also use as the dancers extend right
hands to their partners
2. All Hands Round- all 8 people in the square join hands, while in 4 hands round call, 4 people or two
couples join hands together
3. Balance forward- couples or dancers specified by the caller take two steps forward,take a bow, and
then take two steps backward. It can also be done backward.
4. Bow,Honor, or Address- gentleman places right arm in front and left arm behind and bows to
acknowledge the lady
5. Break- dancers who have joined hands release hold or drop hands.
6. Cast Off- in long ways or contra formation, all couples face front and with the hand couple leading,
counter march outward to the foot of the set. As the head couples meets, they form an arch through
which the other dancers pass.
7. Circle- designated couples joined and walk clockwise to the left if the instruction is circle left. Circle
right is done counter clockwise. One step is taken to every count.
8. Curtsy- It is done in response to the bow of the men. It can be done with step side-ward right and
pointing left foot to the right in the rear, bending the knee, head, and trunks slightly.
9. Do-Si-Do- designated dancers face each other and cross their arms holding them at chest level out in
front of the body. They walk forward passing right shoulders slightly beyond each other, steps sideward
right-to-right, and without turning, walk backward passing left to left to original position.
10. Grand Right and Left- all couples face partners. Join right hands and walk past each other passing
right shoulders. As partners pass each other they extend the left hand to the next gentleman/lady. They
continue around the circle alternately extending right and left hands to the people they meet. It is
similar to the cadena in Philippine folk dance. The figure is continued until everyone returns to their
original position.
11. Ladies Chain- Two couples face each other. The ladies walk forward to meet at the center. They give
their right hands to each other and pass shoulders. The gentlemen takes the left hand of the opposite
lady in his left hand, places his right hand on the lady’s waist and turns her around ones counter
clockwise. The figure is repeated as the ladies go back to place.
12. Link Elbows- Hook left (Right) elbow with partner or any dancer.
13. Opening Position- Partners hold in ballroom dancing,facing one direction, toward extended arms.
14. Partner’s side- Partners change with four light running steps passing by the left shoulders. They turn
left about to face partner and return to original position passing by the shoulders.
15. Promenade- Partners are side by side, left shoulders toward the center, holding in skating position
(right hands joined over the joined left hands) at waist level or varsovienne postion (boy’s right arm
around back of girl, holding her right hand close and at level of her right shoulder, and his left hand hold
her left hand in front or at the side) , they walk around in counterclockwise direction until they reach
their home position.
16. Set- It is a dance or unit formation. In square dance formation, a set is composed of four pairs
standing on the side of a hollow square facing the center. The boys stand at the left side of their
respective partners. The distance across the couples is from 8 – 10 feet.
The couples, partner or pairs are numbered in a counterclockwise direction with couple one with
backward toward the “caller” or music. Couple two on the right of couple one and couple three is the
opposite couple facing couple one, couple four is opposite of couple two.
Partners- dancers standing side by side with girl at the right of boy.
Head couples- couples 1 and 3.
Side couples- couples 2 and 4.
Opposites- Partners facing each other as couples 1 and 3, couples 2 and 4.
Corners- the girl at the left side of the boy and the boy at the right side of girl.
Home position- the couples original position in the set.
Home couples or the stationary couple- the one at whose place the movement was taking place when
two couples are performing a movement
Visiting couples- the pairs moving around the set, performing the movement with the home couple or
couples
Spin or whirl- to make fast turns executing small steps in place
Stamp- to bring down the foot forcibly and noisily in the floor with or without transfer
Turn single- an English term for a step which is done by making one complete turn to the right with four
light running steps, starting with the right foot
DANCE STEPS AND PATTERN

Many different steps are used in foreign folk dancing. Some of them are quite similar with the steps
found in Filipino folk dances but others are quite different. A few of the most frequently used steps are
described below with the time signature used and the proper counting to the music.
Dance steps Music Counting Step patterns
bleking 2/4 1, 2 Spring L (R) and heel-place R (L), close step R (L) step R (L)
Chasse 2/4 1 and Slide, cut or close step L (R)
Dutch step ¾ 1, 2, 3 Step R(L), heel brush L (R), hop
Galop 2/4 1 and Step R (L), cut L (R)
Hopsa 2/4 1 and 2 and Leap R (L), cross step L (R), Step right left, pause
Mazurka ¾ 1,2,3 Slide R(l), cut (L) (r) ,Hop Left right
Mincing 2/4 1 and 2 and Step right-left, step, left-right, step right-left, step left –right use tiny steps
Minuet 2/4 1, 2, 3 Step R-L, Step on ball L-R, and turn step R-L, Step on bal L-R and turn
Schottische 4/4 1, 2, 3, 4 Step R-L, Silde L-R, Slide R-l, Hop R-L
Shuffling 2/4 1, and 2 and Slide R-L, Slide L-R, Slide R-l, Slide L-R, tiny steps on balls of feet
Ballroom waltz ¾ 1, 2, 3 Step R-L, Slide L-R, Close R-L
Box square waltz ¾ 1, 2, 3 Step R-l, Step l-R, Close R-L
Cross waltz ¾ 1, 2, 3 Cross step R-L, Close l-R, Step R-L
Waltz turn ¾ 1, 2, 3 Step R-l, Close L-R, Close R-L turning in place or moving
Varsovienne ¾ 1, 2, 3 Slide R-L, Close L-R, Step R-L

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Definition of foreign folk dance

DANCE STEPS AND PATTERN

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