Folk Dances

 traditional dances of a country

 evolved naturally and spontaneously in connection with everyday activities and
experiences
 traditional dances handed down from generation to generation
 describe the traditions, belief, occupations, ways of life and characteristics of people living
in a certain nation
Values Derived from Studying Philippine Folk Dances
 
1. Strengthen patriotism and nationalism.
2. Appreciate the aesthetic value of Philippine folk dances.
3. Preserve the Filipino heritage through folk dancing.
4. Promote the Filipino culture through folk dancing.
List of Philippine Folk Dances
1. Itik-itik
o Mimic the way a duck walks, as well as the way it splashes water on its back
to attract a male.
o Created by a lady named Kanang who choreographed the steps while
dancing at a baptismal party.
2. Tinikling
o Considered by many as the Philippines' national dance.
o The dance movements imitates the movement of the tikling birds as it walks
arounds through tall grass and between tree branches.
o Performed using bamboo poles
o Composed of three basic steps:
 Singles
 Doubles
 Hops
o Similar to playing jump rope
o Dance becomes faster until someone makes a mistake.
3. Sayaw sa Bangko
o Performed on top of a narrow bench.
o Dancers need good balance as they go through a series of movements that
include some impressive acrobatics.
o Traces it roots back to the areas of Pangapisan, Lingayen, and Pangasinan.
4. Binasuan
o An entertaining dance that is usually performed at festive social occasions
like weddings and birthdays.
o Dancers carefully balance three half-filled glasses of rice wine on their heads
and hands as they gracefully spin and roll on the ground.
o Originated in Bayambang in the Pangasinan province.
5. Pandanggo sa Ilaw
o Similar to a Spanish Fandango
 o Performed while balancing three oil lamps- one on the head, and one in
each hand.
o Lively dance that originated on Lubang Islands.
o 3/4 time and usually accompanied by castanets.
6. Pandanggo sa Oasiwas
o Typically performed by fishermen to celebrate a good catch.
o Lamps are placed in cloths or nets and swung around as the dancers circle
and sway.
7. Maglalatik
o A mock war dance
o Depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly-prized food.
o Broken into four parts:
 2 devoted to the battle
 2 devoted to reconciling
o Men wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, they slap them in rhythm
with the music.
o Danced in the religious procession during he fiesta of Binan as offering to
san Isidro de Labrador, patron saint of farmers.
8. Kuratsa
o Dance of courtship and is often performed at weddings.
o Has three parts;
 Waltz
 Faster pace as the man pursues the woman around the dance
floor in chase.
 Even faster as the man wins over the woman with his mating
dance.
9. La Jota Moncadena
o Adapted by the Filipinos from an old Spanish dance.
o Combination of Spanish and Ilocano dance steps set to Spanish music and
castanets.
o A more solemn version of this dance is sometimes used to accompany a
funeral procession.
10. Kappa Malong-Malong
o Muslim-influenced dance.
o Malong is a tubular garment
o Essentially shows the many ways it can be worn.
11. Habanera Botolena
o Strongly flamenco-influenced dance
o From Botolan, Zambales
o Combines Filipino and Spanish steps
12. Pantomina
o Also known as the dance of doves, mimics the courtship between doves
o An important part of the sorsogon Kasanggayahan Festival
o Mainly performed by the elders of the community.
13. Carinosa
 o Dance made for flirting
o Dancers make a number of flirtatious movement as they hide behind fans or
handkerchiefs and peek out at one another.
14. Surtido
o Literally mean 'assortment'
o A square dance that combines influences of French, Spanish and Mexican
Dance.
o Performed by a head couple accompanied by two other couples who lead all
the dancers through various formations that resemble an old-fashioned
quadrille.
15. Singkil
o Traditionally performed by single women too attract the attention of
potential suitors.
o Dancers perform a series of graceful movements as they step in and out
between bamboo poles
o Fans and scarves are often used to enhance the dancers' movements.
16. Polkabal
o Shows some European influence in its steps.
o Composed of nine different steps.
17. Magkasuyo
o Variation of the  balse  - the one-two-three graceful triple meter that
Filipino traditional dance borrowed from the Spanish waltz
o a formal series of close-step-close movements with a couple facing each
other in a courtship configuration.
o Balse incorporates German and Spanish influence, but the Magkasuyo is the
specific invention of Quezon province, a large farming and fishing region
southeast of Manila with a rich tradition of outside influences, including
Spanish, Malay, and Muslim.
Categories of Ethnic dances of the Philippines
 Non-Christian Filipinos.
o Dances of the traditionalists or “pagan” groups
o Dances of Muslim groups
 Christian and Lowland Filipinos or Western-influenced.
o Dances are savages, vigorous, and mimetic in character
o Some are light hearted and mimetic.
o Some are performed without music or melodic accompaniment