Tinikling:

Combination & Singles Steps

Tinikling dance steps are usually described as combinations of only three basic 4/4 steps: Singles, doubles, and hops. Singles and doubles refer to the number of feet that touch the floor at a time during a given step. Hops refers to a specific category of singles steps, although sometimes a step involving just one foot at a time actually contains a leap, since the body weight is transfered from one foot to the other foot. The following combination and singles steps are described and demonstrated via video according to the specific nature of the steps, rather than simply the number of feet involved:

Combination Steps
Description *
Beats
 Cues

1 jump & hop in on R foot

1 & 2
right hop
2 straddle jumps out
3 & 4
jump out
1 jump & hop in on L foot
5 & 6
left hop
2 straddle jumps out
7 & 8
jump out
1 jump in on R foot, 1/2-turn R

1
right
1 hop in on R foot
2
turn
2 straddle jumps out
3 & 4
jump out
(Repeat, leading with L foot)
5-8
left, turn, jump, out
2 jumps in
1 & 2
jump in
1 jump & hop out on R foot
3 & 4
right out
2 jumps in
5 & 6
jump in
1 jump & hop out on L foot
7 & 8
left out
Singles Steps
Description *
Beats
  
1 leap & hop in on one foot
1 & 2
leap in
1 leap & hop out on other foot
3 & 4
leap out
1 leap in on R foot (inside foot)
1
run
1 leap in on L foot
2
run
1 leap & hop out on R foot
3 & 4
right hop
(Repeat, leading with L foot)
5-8
run, run, left, hop
1 crossover leap in on L foot (outside foot)
1
cross
1 leap in on R foot
2
in
1 crossover leap & hop out on L foot
3 & 4
left hop
(Repeat, leading with R crossover)

5-8
cross, in, right, hop
1 leap in on R foot (outside foot); 1/2-turn L
1
run
1 leap on L foot
2
in
1 leap out on R foot; 1 leap on L foot
3 & 4
run out
1 leap & hop in on R foot, facing across poles
1 & 2
right in
1 leap & hop out on L foot facing across poles
3 & 4
left out
15) Run 1 leap in on R foot (inside foot); leap on L foot
1 & 2
run in
1 leap out on R foot; 1 leap on L foot
3 & 4
run out
16) Leprechaun Same as the run (#15), but with straight legs
1 & 2
run in
Same as the run (#15), but with straight legs
3 & 4
run out

* Throughout descriptions, jumping "in" and "out" refers to jumping inside (between) and outside the poles, respectively. Letters 'R' and 'L' refer to right and left, respectively.

Descriptions and video clips of doubles steps
Descriptions and video clips of combination steps

 

Social dance

 

© Steven A. Henkel, 5/08

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