Lesson: Introduction of

Philippine Folk dance

 Philippine Folk Dance

- One of the Philippine Cultures that incorporate influences from

immigrants and conquerors.
- Developed while Filipinos were working in the fields,
celebrating feasts, harvest, birth and weddings.

- The form of dances represents the rituals, feast, harvest and

etc.

- From courtship dances to those portraying various elements

of nature, many different sub-genres exist within Philippines
folk dancing.
 Traditional Folk Dances of the Philippines
The Philippines has many popular folk dances which have evolved and changed as
they have been passed down from generation to generation. Although a particular
dance might be performed slightly differently from one region to the next, its remains
true to its roots. It is impossible to know when exactly dancing became a part of life
in the Philippines.
Many traditional dances were designed to thank the gods for natural and agricultural
events, such as rain and harvests. The dances were performed during festivals and
remembrances of past military victories, and still are performed at celebrations of
births and weddings in modern times. Many modern folk dance festivals still feature
ancient dances performed in costume of the tribal period of the Philippines.

There are some of the most popular dances in each regions from Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao.
FOLK DANCE

⮚Is a cultural art form handed down from one generation to

another generation
⮚It communicates the customs, beliefs and occupation of the
people of a region or country.
⮚Folk dancing belongs to the people
⮚FRANCISCA R. AQUINO – Mother of Philippines Folkdance
 Classification of Philippines Dances

A. According to Geography
1. National Dances – dances found throughout the island
Example: Rigodon, Carinosa

2. Regional Dances – dances found in a certain locality or region

Example : Tinikling- Leyte
Subli – Batangas
Maglalatik - Batangas
B. According to Nature

1. Occupational Dance- depicts actions of a certain occupation, industry, or

human labor.
Examples:
Pabirik (Camarines Sur)- depicts the different stages of gold panning
Rice Festival – a dance with the largest number of dancers from planting to
harvesting

2. Religious or Ceremonial Dances- these are dances that are performed in

connection with religious vows, practices and other ceremonies
Examples:
Dugso- a dance to drive away evil spirits
Pinung-pino – a dance performed asking for a child
Kuracha- a dance performed to give thanks for a bountiful harvest
3. Courtship Dances – these are dances with love themes
Example: Carinosa, Daling –daling, Rogelia

4. Wedding Dances- these are dances performed by newlyweds, by

friends and relatives of the bride and groom, or by the father of the
bride or mother of the groom
Example:
Sinulog- a dance where in the male dancers beat drums, shout, and
perform stunts or anything to drive evil spirits that may harm or make
the newlyweds unhappy
5. Festival – dances performed in connection with a celebration, a
feast, a barrio fiesyta, good harvest and good fortune.
Examples: kuratsa, Habanera, Surtido

6. Comic Dances- dances with funny and humorous movement mainly

intended for entertainment
Examples:
Mokonggo – dancers imitate the movements of monkey
Kinoton- dancers imitate the movements of person bitten by ants
7. War Dances – dances which are intended to show
imaginary combat or duel with use of fighting weapons like bolo
or spear
Examples: Sagayan , Maglalatik

8. Game dances- dances that have some play elements and

for recreational purposes.
Examples: pabo, lubi-lubi
 Philippine Folk dances from Luzon

• Cariñosa
• Banga
• Maglalatik
• Pandanggo sa Ilaw
• Jotabal
• Makonggo
Cariñosa -a word that describes an
affectionate, friendly and lovable women.

This dance is performed in flirtatious manner.

Dancers make a number of flirtatious movements as
they hide behind fans or handkerchiefs and peek out
at one another.
The essence of the dance is the courtship between
two sweethearts.
Bangga
-The Banga or pot dance is a contemporary
performance of Kalinga of the Mountain Province
in the Philippines. This dance illustrates the
languid grace of a tribe otherwise known as
fierce warriors.

-This dance displays the Igorot women on their

way to the river to fetch the daily water supply for
their family. It shows the skill and strength of the
women as they would carry heavy laiden clay
pots (banga) full of water.
Maglalatik
-a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut
meat, a highly- prized food. The dance is broken into
four parts: two devoted to the battle and two devoted
to reconciling. The men of the dance wear coconut
shells as part of their costumes, and they slap them in
rhythm with the music.
The Maglalatik is danced in the religious procession
during the fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro
de Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
Pandanggo sa Ilaw
-The word pandanggo comes from the Spanish
dance “fandango” characterized with lively steps
and clapping while following a varying ¾ beat.
Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skill to
maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil
lamps, placed on head and at the back of each
hand.
This famous dance of grace and balance
originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.
Jotabal
-It 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 a
dance in 3/4 time.

This lively festival dance originated in

Camohaguin, Gumaca, Quezon (formerly
Tayabas).
Makonggo
-a comic dance from Santa Maria, Bulacan. Makonggo is
derived from the Tagalog word chonggo or unggo which
means monkey. In this dance, the dancer imitates a
monkey.
- its characteristic movements, gestures, grimaces, etc.
when it is in a happy, playful or angry mood, while it is
playing, eating, or resting. Only one man performs this
dance.
Most of his movements are his own improvisations.
 Philippine folk dances from Visayas

• Tinikling
• Kuratsa
• Mazurka Bohalana
• Escotis
Tinikling

-Tinikling means "bamboo dance" in English. The

dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds as
they walk between grass stems, run over tree
branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice
farmers.
Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace
and speed by skill fully maneuvering between large
bamboo poles.
Kuratsa
-The Kuratsa is highly favored by the Waray
people of the Eastern Visayan region in the
Philippines. Strictly speaking, The Kuratsa must
be done the amenudo; that is, only one couple
dances it at a time. the Kuratsa is however, very
different in the manner of execution to the
Mexican counterpart.
 Philippine folk dances from Mindanao

• Itik-itik
• Singkil
• Kandingan
Itik-itik
-A mimetik folk dance in the Philippines.
It originated in the provence of Surigao in
Mindanao. In Itik-itik (from the Tagalog word for
“duck”), the dance steps imitate the movements of
ducks among the rice paddies and swamplands,
such as wading, flying and short, choppy steps.
An itik is a species of duck.
Singkil

-The Maranao dance called Singkil is in

the repertory of all Filipino dance troupes.
In 1958 the Bayanihan Dance troupe
started with a simple version and has
since developed it into a theatrical and
stylized spectacle to the point of its
becoming the troupe's signature piece.
Kandingan

-Performed at Tausog weddings in Jolo, the

Kandingan consists of figures and steps
based on classical and traditional Indian
dance forms.
Dancers perform with slightly bent knees
turned outward, fingers held stiffly together
with the thumb outward and apart.
 Do’s in Folk Dancing

1.Dance in a natural, simple and direct manner.

2.Dance with ease and smoothness.
3.Use the proper costume for the dance.
4.Follow directions and dance instructions as closely as
possible.
5.Dance with feeling and expression
 Don'ts in Folk Dancing

1.Do not exaggerate the dance steps.

2.Do not make the dances too dainty and graceful like
ballet.
3.Don’t make entrance and exit long.
4.Don’t make steps to elaborate and complicated.
5.Don’t call a dance a folk dance unless steps come
from traditional dances
Folk Dance Costumes
References:

https://philnews.ph/2019/07/12/list-philippine-folk-dances/
https://www.slideshare.net/mimiboots16/phil-folk-danceppt
https://www.slideshare.net/michellelibosana/philippine-folk-dance-79957315