LOCAL AND

INDIGENOUS
PHILIPPINE
FOLK DANCE

WHAT IS
DANCE

DANCE

It is an art performed
by individuals or
group of human
being, existing in
time, space, force
and flow in which
the human body is
the instrument and
movement is the
medium.
- Richard Krauss.

Commonly performed
with music or other
accompaniment and has
a primary purpose of
expressing the inner
feelings and emotions,
although it is often
performed for social,
ritual, entertainment or
other purposes.

UNIVERSAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DANCE

1. Use of human body
2. Extends through time
3. Exist in space
4. Exist in force
5. Accompanied by
rhythm
6. Serves to
communicate
7. Has movement and
style

CLASSIFICATION OF DANCE FORM

1. Ballet
2. Modern Dance
3. Classical Dance
4. Ethnic Dance
5. Folk Dance
6. Ballroom Dance
7. Exercise Dance
8. Dance Exercise
9. Dance Drama
10. Allied Movement Form
11. Street Dance
12. Interpretative dance

FOLK DANCE
Usually performed by a group of
consisting of members of a
community.
Its steps and patterns are not
creation of an identifiable
choreographer but are passed
from generation to another.

ETHNIC DANCES

Ethnic dances are found

among the ethnolinguistic
groups scattered all over the
Philippine islands, who have
not been substantially
Westernized, either by Spain
or the United States.

In Bukidnon there are the hinaklaran (offering)

festival and the ritual of the three datu. In the first
there is chanting and dancing around an altar.
The women dance the well-known dugso while a
baylan ceremoniously chants her own invocation.

The ritual can go on for some six hours to assure

the blessings of the spirits, a good harvest or
good fortune. Also for everyones well-being, the
rite of the three Kaamulan datu (chieftain) enacts
a regional unity where the datu offer chicken of
various colors, pouring their blood beside
offertory water and coins.

Ethnic dance
Ritual Dances
Closely attuned to nature, believing in the
spirits that keep their environment fruitful
and their selves alive.
The ethnic Filipinos enact these rites
always with instrumental music, chanting,
and often dancingas part of communal
life cycles, but they also serve as a popular
medium of dramatic expression and
entertainment that reflects the peoples
nature, culture and aspirations

The Aeta of Zambales stage the

anituan to drive away the evil spirits
that cause sickness. The patient or
patients are covered with a red cloth
and are surrounded by the shaman
and the patients relatives. They
threaten the spirits to go away with
their bows and arrows, spears and
sticks.

ETHNIC DANCE
The Occupational Dances

Life in the ethnic communities is

characterized by a variety of
activities relating to livelihood or
defense. These activities are joyfully
celebrated in mime and dance. Most
common to the varied ethnic cultures
of the Philippines is the
transformation of the rice cycle into
dance.

Countries in the world have their

own cultures made more
colorful, beautiful and vibrant
because of Folk Dances that are
reflection of who they are.

THE
LUZON
REGION

CARIOSA
meaning the loving or affectionate one
o is a Philippine dance of Hispanic origin
from the Maria Clara suite of Philippine
folk dances, where the fan or
handkerchief plays an instrumental role
as it places the couple in romance
scenario.
o

IDAW

This dance sometimes has many names and

different versions. Most common is this dance
depicts the hunting ritual performed before a
tribal war. The tribes men would go out and
look up and watch for the scared Idaw bird.
Which is said to lead the tribe to victory. Also
look at the clothing, Philippines being a very
hot climate, plus the use of as little material as
possible, the traditional clothing was not made
to cover much of the body....

BANGA

This dance displays the Igorot women on

their way to the river to fetch the daily
water supply for their families. It shows
the skill and strength of the women as
they would carry heavy laiden clay pots
(Banga) full of water. Their grace and
agility while balancing the heavy pots,
sometimes stacks 5 high, is a testament
of the Filipino and how hardships
become a art form and talent.

This dance displays the Igorot women on

their way to the river to fetch the daily
water supply for their families. It shows
the skill and strength of the women as
they would carry heavy laiden clay pots
(Banga) full of water. Their grace and
agility while balancing the heavy pots,
sometimes stacks 5 high.

IDUDU

The family is the basic structure of family life

among the Itneg / Tinggian people. The caring
for the Children is shared by both the mother
and father. While the men are clearing the
fields, breaking the soil with bamboo and their
feet, the women watch the children. Soon as
the men are done, they take care of the children
while the women do back breaking work.

BINASUAN

The Binasuan is an entertaining dance

that is usually performed at festive social
occasions like weddings and birthdays.
Dancers carefully balance three halffilled glasses of rice wine on their heads
and hands as they gracefully spin and
roll on the ground. The dance originated
in Bayambang in the Pangasinan
province.

MAGLALATIK

Originally performed in Bian, Laguna

as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a
fight between the Moros and the
Christians over the prized latik or
coconut meat during the Spanish rule.
This dance is also shown to pay tribute to
the towns patron saint, San Isidro
Labrador.

It has a four-part performance such as the

palipasan and the baligtaran showing
the intense battle, the paseo and the
escaramusa- the reconciliation.
Moro dancers wear read trousers while
the Christian dancers show up in blue.
All dancers are male; with harnesses of
coconut shells attached on their chests,
backs, thighs and hips

KURATSA

The Kuratsa is described as a dance of

courtship and is often performed at weddings
and other social occasions. The dance has three
parts. The couple first performs a waltz. In the
second part, the music sets a faster pace as the
man pursues the woman around the dance floor
in a chase. To finish, the music becomes even
faster as the man wins over the woman with his
mating dance.

SAYAW SA BANGKO

This dance is native to the barrio of

Pangapisan, Lingayen, Pangasinan,
and demands skill from its
performers who must dance on top
of a bench roughly six inches wide.

SAKUTING

A dance of the Ilokano Christians and nonChristians from the province of Abra.
Sakuting was originally performed by boys
only. It portrays a mock fight using sticks to
train for combat. The stacatto-inflected
music suggests a strong Chinese influence.
The dance is customarily performed during
Christmas at the town plaza, or from the
house-to-house.

The
Visayas
Region

TINIKLING

Tinikling is considered the national folkdance with

a pair of dancers hopping between two bamboo
poles held just above the ground and struck
together in time to music. Originated from Leyte
Province, this dance is in fact a mimic movement
of tikling birds hopping over trees, grass stems
or over bamboo traps set by farmers. Dancers
perform this dance with remarkable grace and
speed jumping between bamboo poles.

MAZURKA BOHOLANA

Mazurka Boholana is a Spanish-inspired

ballroom dance from the Bohol province of
the Philippines. Although the mazurka is the
Polish national dance, it was wildly popular
throughout Europe in the 19th century and
even in colonized lands overseas. The
Philippine dance is ordinarily performed by
men and women partners.

THE POLKABAL

The Polkabal shows some European

influence in its steps. The dance is
composed of nine different steps which
include various movements such as:
fluttering, stepping heel-to-toe, a
reenactment of a bull fight, and even a
leisurely walk.

The
Mindanao
Region

SINGKIL

Singkil dance takes its name from the bells

worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess.
Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino
dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of
the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of
Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the
14th century, tells the fateful story of Princess
Gandingan, who was caught in the middle of a
forest during an earthquake caused by the
diwatas, or fairies or nymph of the forest.

The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo

poles represent the trees that were falling,
which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally
accompanies her throughout her ordeal.
Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers
wearing solemn faces and maintaining a
dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace
which soon progresses to a faster tempo
skillfully manipulate, or fans which represent
the winds that prove to be auspicious. The
dancers weave expertly through criss-crossed
bamboos.

KINI-KINI

Kini means the Royal Walk. Maranao

women performed this dance with
scarves. The beauty of the scarves and
the talent and grace in which it is
displayed. Shows their elite social
upbringing

PANGALAY

A pangalay native to the Badjao, sometimes

known as the "Sea Gypsies." Pangalay is a dance
that emphasizes the agility of the upper body. The
rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with
simultaneous alternating waving of arms are the
basic movement of this dance.
The pangalay is commonly performed at weddings
and other social gatherings. You will also see some
parts of the Sinkgil in this dance also. Another part
of this dance is also called the Muslims four
Bamboos.

ASIK

This is performed by a solo maiden, adorned

with fine beads and make up, long head scarf.
She would dance to win the favor of her Sultan
master. Many time the girls would dance to win
the hearts of her master or to make up for a
wrong she had done. She would give her whole
heart and soul into this performance to soften
the heart of her master to accept her...

End.