Basic Steps:
1. Balintawak:
- Step forward with your left foot and bring your right foot to meet it.
- Then, step backward with your right foot and bring your left foot to meet it.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
2. Salok:
- Step forward with your left foot and bend your knee slightly.
- Swing your right foot across your left foot, passing it behind your left ankle.
- Step forward with your right foot and bring your left foot to meet it.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
3. Tahing Labi:
- Stand with your feet together.
- Jump and spread your feet apart, landing with your feet pointed outward.
- Jump again and bring your feet back together, landing with your feet pointed inward.
- Repeat this step, alternating between jumping and spreading your feet apart and jumping and bringing your feet back together.
Intermediate Steps:
4. Kudyapi:
- Starting with your left foot, step to the side while shifting your weight onto that foot.
- Pause briefly before stepping backward with your right foot.
- Shift your weight back to your left foot as you step to the side with your right foot, then step forward with your left foot.
- Repeat this pattern, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
5. Bulaklak:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and raise your arms overhead, forming an arch with your body.
- Step back with your right foot, lowering your arms to your sides.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- As you step forward, be sure to reach up and extend your arms fully overhead, creating a graceful effect.
6. Sinulog:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and bend your knee slightly.
- Swing your right foot across your left foot, passing it behind your left ankle.
- Step forward with your right foot and bring your left foot to meet it.
- As you step forward, turn your body slightly to the right and extend your arms out to the sides.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot and turning your body in opposite directions.
7. Hele:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and raise your arms overhead, forming an arch with your body.
- Take two quick steps forward with your left foot, then step backward with your right foot.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- As you step forward, be sure to reach up and extend your arms fully overhead, creating a graceful effect.
8.Balse:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and raise your arms overhead, forming an arch with your body.
- Step back with your right foot, lowering your arms to your sides.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- On the second step, before lowering your arms, reach up with your right hand to "pluck" your left wrist.
9. Padyak:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward onto the ball of your left foot and raise your right foot off the ground, keeping it straight.
- Hop forward on your left foot and land with your right foot beside it, then step back onto the ball of your right foot and raise your left foot off the ground.
- Hop forward on your right foot and land with your left foot beside it.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- As you hop forward, be sure to keep your back straight and your core engaged.
Advanced Steps:
10. Tinikling:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and raise your arms overhead, forming an arch with your body.
- Step back with your right foot, lowering your arms to your sides.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- On the second step, extend your right foot forward and cross it over your left foot, then extend your left foot forward.
- This movement mimics walking through high grass.
11. Binasuan:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and raise your arms overhead, forming an arch with your body.
- Step back with your right foot, lowering your arms to your sides.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- On the second step, extend your right foot forward and place your left foot on top of it, standing on both feet with your feet crossed.
- This movement is similar to standing on stepping stones.
12. Pili:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and raise your right knee up, keeping your foot flexed.
- Step forward quickly with your right foot, passing it in front of your bent left knee and placing it down, then bring your left foot to meet it.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- As you step forward, be sure to keep your back straight and your core engaged. This step should be done quickly and smoothly, creating a dynamic effect.
13. Pandanggo:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Step forward with your left foot and bend your knee slightly, keeping your body weight mostly on your right foot.
- Step back with your right foot and bend your knee slightly, keeping your body weight mostly on your left foot.
- Repeat this step, alternating between leading with your left and right foot.
- As you step forward, use your arms to create graceful sweeping movements, extending your arms and reaching up overhead.
- This movement is similar to a waltz, but with a more pronounced swaying of the hips.
These dance steps provide just a glimpse into the rich and dynamic nature of tinolabong. Practice and familiarity with the dance will allow you to execute the steps with fluidity and grace.