This document defines common terminology used in folk dancing. It provides definitions for over 20 terms including arms in lateral position, bow or saludo, brush, clockwise, counter clockwise, cut, do-si-do or dos-a-dos, free foot, free hand, hop, inside foot, inside hand, jump, leap, outside foot, outside hand, point, pivot, set, slide, stamp, step, supporting foot, and tap. The definitions describe basic dance movements and positions such as turning directions, foot placements, hand positions, and ways of transferring weight between the feet.

1. TERMINOLOGIE
S USE IN FOLK
DANCE

2. ARMS IN
LATERAL
POSITION

3. •Both arms are in
one side shoulder
level either right or
left.

4. BOW
OR SALUDO

5. Partners bow to each
other to opposite dancers
or to the audience. This
terms is Spanish origin.

6. BRUSH

7. Weight on one foot, swing
the free foot in an arch, so
that the ball or heel strikes
the floor at lowest point of
the arch. This may be done
forward, sideward, or
backward.

8. CLOCKWISE

9. Like the motion on the handle of the
clock moving to the left, when facing
the center of an imaginary circle. Right
shoulder is toward the center when
moving forward

10. COUNTER
CLOCKWISE

11. The reverse direction of
clockwise, the hands of the
clock
moving to the right, when
facing center of an imaginary
circle when moving forward

12. CUT

13. Quick change of weight from
one foot to the other
displacing the supporting
foot

14. DO-SI-DO or
DOS-A-DOS

15. Two people walk toward
each other, pass by the right
shoulder step sideward to
the right and return to
position
walking backward, passing
left shoulder.

16. FREE FOOT

17. •The foot not
supporting the
weight of the
body

18. FREE HAND

19. The hand not doing
anything.

20. HOP

21. •Spring on the
supporting foot,
and land on the
same foot.

22. INSIDE FOOT

23. The foot near one's
partner when they
stand side by side

24. INSIDE HAND

25. •The hand near one's
partner when they
stand side by side

26. JUMP

27. •Spring from one
or two feet and
land on both feet.

28. LEAP

29. Spring on the
supporting foot
and land on the
other foot

30. OUTSIDE
FOOT

31. The foot away
from one's
partner when
they stand side
by
side.

32. OUTSIDE
HAND

33. The hand away
from one's partner
when they stand
side by
side

34. POINT

35. •Touch toe or ball of
free foot on floor and
remains there briefly.

36. PIVOT

37. Turning on ball,
heel, of one or
both feet on a
fixed place.

38. SET

39. A unit formation of two or
more couples

40. SLIDE

41. To glide one foot along the
floor smoothly, with or no
transfer of weight

42. STAMP

43. •To bring down one foot forcibly
on the floor with or
without transfer of weight

44. STEP

45. With the weight on one foot, shift
the weight into the other
foot.

46. SUPPORTING
FOOT

47. The foot carrying the weight of
the body

48. TAP

49. Toe or ball of free foot is placed
momentarily on floor and
lifted again immediately.

50. THANK YOU