JOTABAL

(Tagalog)

JOTABAL is derived from the words Jota and

valse. Jota is a popular dance introduced in the
Philippines by the Spaniards. Valse means waltz, a
step or dance in ¾ times. The lively festival
originated in Camohagum, Gumaca, Quezon(formerly
Tayabas).
COSTUME. Girl wears Maria Clara style costume.
Boy wears barong tagalong and black trousers.

MUSIC is composed of six parts: A, B, C, D, E,

and F.

COUNT one, two, three to a measure.

FORMATION. Partners stand about six feet apart.

Girl stands at right side of partner when facing
audience. Any number of pair may take part in this
dance.

Introduction
Music Introduction.
Partners face audience.
Pause. Arms down at side……………………………
………………….. 2 M

Music A.
Boy turns right about to face away from
audience.
(a) Partners place R foot in lean slightly
backward, look and smile shyly at each other. Girl’s R
hand on waist, L hand holding skirt. Boy’s L hand.
8M

(b) Turn left about to face opposite direction,

pivoting on balls of both feet. Put weight on R foot at
the end or the turn. Reverse position of hands.Look
at each other as in (a)………………………….. 8 M

1
Music B.
Partners face each other.
(a) Take three sway balance steps with a waltz, R
and L alternately. Arms in fourth position, R and L
alternately. ………6 M
(b) Waltz turn left to proper places. Arms in
fourth position, R arm high. ………………………………
……………………………………………………. 2M
(c) Repeat (a) and (b), satarting L. Turn right in
(b). Reverse position of arms. ……………………………
…………………………………………... 8 m

2
Music C.
Partners face each other. Throughout this figure
Girl holds skirt, Boy places hands on waist.
(a) Point R in front (cts. 1, 2), step R foot in rear
(ct. 3) Steps L foot obliquely forward left (ct. 1), step
R sideward right (ct. 2), point L close to R (ct. 3). ……
…………………………………………………………………….
2M
 (b) Waltz turn left in place. ……………………………
………………… 2M
(c) Repeat (a) and (b), starting L. Reverse turn in
(b)………... 4M
(d) Repeat All (a-c). ……………………………………
………………………. 8M

3
Music D.
Partners face each other.
(a) Step R Forward (ct. 1), quarter-turn right so
that Girl facaes audience and boy, away from
audience and point L close to R foot (cts. 2, 3). Arms
down at sides. …………………………………………………
………… 1 M
(b) Waltz sideward, L and R (inward and
outward), L arm in reverse “T” position, R bent
forward at shoulder level (1 M), Reverse position of
arms ( 1 M). ……………………………………………………
…………. 2 M
(c) Turn left about. Step L in place (ct. 1), point R
close to L (cts. 2, 3). Arms Down at sides. ……………
……………………………………………. 1 M
(d) Waltz R sideward. R arm in reverse “T”
position, L arm bent forward at shoulder level. ………
…………………………………………………. 1 M
(e) Waltz turns L to proper places. Finish facing
partner. Arms as in (b)………………………………………
……………………………………………………... 2M
(f) Pause. Arms down at sides. ………………………
………………… 1M
 (g) Repeat all (a-f), starting L. Girl faces away
from audience and Boy faces audience after the turn
on ct 2 (a)…………………………… 8M

4
Music E.
Partners face each other.
(a) Step R forward (ct. 1) brush L forward (ct. 2),
steps L close to R (ct. 3). Arms in fourth position, R
arm high ………………………… 1 M
(b) Repeat (a), three more times moving halfway
around counterclockwise to partner’s place. Omit the
step on L foot on ct. 3 of the fourth measure. Finish in
partner’s place………………………. 3 M

(c) Turn left about. Repeat (a) eight times

starting with L foot, moving around clockwise
finishing in partner’s place. Omit the step on L foot
on ct. 3 of the eighth measure. Reverse position of
arms. 3M
(d) Turn right about and repeat (a) four times
moving halfway counterclockwise to proper places.
Step L in place on the last
count………………………………………………………………
…………………………… 4 M

5
Music F
Partners face each other.
(a) Slide turn R. Arms in fourth position, R arm
high…… 4 M
 (b) Repeat (a) for two measures only, finish
facing front
(making one-half turn in every measure). Reverse
position of
Arms. ……………………………………………………………
…………………………….. 2M
© Place R foot in front and pause. Arms in fourth
position,
L arm high………………………………………………………
…………………………… 3 M

6
Music A
Partners face each other. Throughout this figure
Girl holds skirt, Boy places hands on waist.
(a) Step R sideward (ct. 1) step L cross the R in
front and at the same time face right (ct. 2), tap R in
rear (ct. 3), step R foot in the rear (ct. 1), L foot circle
counterclockwise in the air and partner (ct. 2), point
L close to R (ct. 3)……………………………………………
………………… 2M
(b) Repeat (a), two more times (L, R)………………
…………………. 4M
(c) Waltz turn left in place. ……………………………
…………………. 2M
(d) Repeat all (a-c), starting L foot. Reverse turn
in (c)…….. 8M

7
Music B
Partners face each other. Throughout this figure.
Girl holds skirt. Boy places hands on waist.
 (a) Stamp R in front (ct. 1), raise R in rear with
knee bent (ct. 2),hop on L (ct. 3)…………………………
………………………………………………… 1 M
(b) Three-step turn right in place……………………
………………….. 1 M
(c) Repeat (a) and (b), starting with L and
turning left in (b). 2 M
(d) Repeat all (a-c). ……………………………………
…………………………. 4 M
(e) Repeat (a) (1 M) and (b) turning right to be in
one line at center, facing each other (1 M). Girl’s
back toward audience, Boy facing audience……………
……………………………………………………………………
………. 2 M
(f) Repeat ©, turning left back to proper places
in (b)……… 2 M
(g) Repeat (e) and (f). …………………………………
………………………... 4 M

8
Music C
Partners face each other.
(a) Step R foot forward (cts. 1. 2). Step L in rear
(cts. 1, 2, 3). Arms down at sides. ………………………
……………………………………………………….. 2 M
(b) Place L foot in front (ct. 1). Pause and bend
trunk slightly forward (cts. 2, 3), arms in fourth
position, R arm high……………… 1M
(c) Turn right about on balls of feet and transfer
weight to L foot. Arms in fourth position, L arm high
(cts. 1, , 3)…………………... 1 M
(d) Repeat (a-c), going to proper places in (a)……
……………….. 4 M
 (e) Repeat all (a-d). ……………………………………
…………………………. 8 M

9
Music D
Partners face each other. Boy and Girl perform
their movements simultaneously.

Girl
(a) Starting with R foot, take four waltz steps
forward to front of partner.Arms in hayon-hayon
position, R and forearm in front alternately……………
……………………………………………………………………
……. 4M
(b) Two waltz steps backward, starting with R
foot (2 M). Waltz turn right to proper place (2M).
Arms as in (a)…………………………...4 M
(c) Repeat movement of Boy in (a) below. ………
……………….. 8M

Boy
(a) Stand still and clap hands on ct. 1 of every
measure…… 8 M
(b) Step R forward (ct. 1). Raise L foot in rear
with knee bent (cts. 2, 3). Repeat same three more
times (L, R, L) going to front of partner (3 M). Arms in
hayon-hayon position, R and L forearm in front
alternately. ………………………………………………………
…………………………….. 4M
(c) Repeat (b), moving backward to proper place.
………......... 4 M
 10
Music E
Repeat Figure 4. …………………………………………
……………………… 16 M

11
Music F
Repeat figure 5. Bow to audience on the last
measure, arms in second position. ………………………
…………………………………………………... 9 M