Traditional Dances – Quick Reference Notes

Rhythm and Overview

  • Rhythm is the basis of music and dance; in dance, rhythm is expressive movement with or without music.
  • All body movements tend to be rhythmic (e.g., heartbeat, breathing).
  • Every person has a natural tendency to respond to rhythm, influenced by body systems and surrounding rhythmic factors.
  • Rhythmic Movement: responding to a sound, beat, or music.

Fundamental Rhythmic Patterns

  • A practical description of rhythm is by counting.
  • Time signature tells how counting is done:
    • The top number: number of beats to count.
    • The bottom number: kind of note that receives one beat.
  • Time signatures described in examples include common patterns like 2/4, 3/4, 4/4.
  • Regular patterns include various counts such as:
    • (1,2)
    • (1,2,3)
    • (1,2,3,4)
    • Composite patterns like (1&2), (1&2,3), (1&2&3&4), etc.
  • Notation uses subdivisions such as 1, 2, 3, 4 and their off-beat counterparts (1&, 2&, 3&, 4&).

Time Signature (concept)

  • Time Signature basics:
    • Top number indicates beats per measure.
    • Bottom number indicates note value that gets one beat.
  • Common examples: 24,34,44\frac{2}{4}, \frac{3}{4}, \frac{4}{4}
  • Rhythmic patterns are built by grouping these beats in various spoken or foot patterns.

Fundamental Positions of Arms and Feet

  • First Position
    • ARMS: Both arms raised in front of chest with rounded elbows.
    • FEET: Heel together, with feet opened about 45 degrees.
  • Second Position
    • ARMS: Both arms raised sideward with rounded elbows.
    • FEET: Feet apart.
  • Third Position
    • ARMS: Right arm is close to the head; Left arm raised sideward with rounded elbows.
    • FEET: Left in-step.
  • Fourth Position
    • ARMS: Right arm above head; left arm placed in front.
    • FEET: Right foot in front and left foot in rear, with elbows rounded.
  • Fifth Position
    • ARMS: Both arms raised above the head with rounded elbows.
    • FEET: Heel and toe relationship described but exact placement incomplete in source.

Basic Combination of the Arms and the Feet

  • Combinations shown for different named positions:
    • First position
    • Third position
    • Fifth position

Basic Dance Signs / Symbols and Notations in Folk Dancing

  • Common signs:
    • X = Boy
    • . = Girl
    • Clockwise (Ct.) / Counterclockwise
    • Forward / Backward
    • Line / III / M / Semi Circle
    • Sideward R / Sideward L
    • R = Right / L = Left
    • Diagonal R / Diagonal L
    • Double Circle / O
  • Partner relation note: Girl is always on the right side of the Boy when facing the audience.

Fundamental Movements or Locomotors

  • Locomotor movements move the dancer from one place to another in any direction.
  • Etymology: Loco = place, motor = movement.

Non-Locomotor / Axial Movements

  • Movements with some body parts in contact with the floor; remain in one location.
  • Types:
    1. Flexion – bending or shortening of body parts.
    2. Extension – straightening or lengthening of body parts.
    3. Pendular – swinging, circular, or swinging motions.
    4. Percussive – pushing, pulling, striking, or hitting.
    5. Vibratory – shaking or beating.
    6. Sustained – slow-motion movements with balance.
    7. Suspended – sharp movement followed by slow, prolonged movements.

Axial Positions

  • Standing, Squatting, Kneeling, Sitting, Lying Down.

Manipulative Movements

  • May use a combination of Locomotor or Non-Locomotor movements.
  • Always performed with a controlled object to manipulate moving.

Arm and Hand Positions (Detailed Examples)

  • 1) Arms in Lateral Position: place arms on both sides in a horizontal position, elbows bent at right angles, forearms parallel to waist, palms facing inward.
  • 2) Arms in Position: arms may be at shoulder, chest, or waist level.
  • 3) Arms in Reverse T Position.
  • 4) Cross Arms.
  • 5) Hands on Waist: place hands on hips, knuckles in, fingers pointing rearward.
  • 6) Hayon-Hayon: place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist.
  • 7) Kumintang: move the hand from the wrist in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
  • 8) Bilao: turn the palm up and down alternately, hands at waist level in front, elbows close to the waist.

Basic Feet Movements

  • 1) Brush: with weight on one foot, strike the floor with the ball or heel of the other foot.
  • 2) Cut: displace one foot with the other.
  • 3) Step: advance by raising or moving one foot to another; transfer weight.
  • 4) Free Foot: foot not bearing weight.
  • 5) Panadyak: (term listed, specific movement not described in this excerpt).
  • 6) Place: stamp in front or at the side with right or left foot and tap with the same foot close to the other foot with weight on the other foot.
  • 7) Sarok: cross right foot in front of the left and cross right forearm in front; bend slightly forward and touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot while weight is on the other foot.
  • 8) Point: touch the floor lightly with the toes while weight is on the other foot.