PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE
Folk dance
- is a form of dance
developed by a group of people that
reflects the traditional life of the people
of a certain country or region.
- is a recreational or ceremonial
dance performed usually by members
of the community to which the dance is
traditional.
History Folk Dance in the
Philippines
It is impossible to know when exactly
dancing became a part of life in the
Philippines.
Philippine folk dancing is a true
reflection of daily life in past centuries.
Traditional dances were designed to
thank the gods for natural and
agricultural events, such as rain and
harvests.
Folk Dance History in the
Philippines
More recent dances done in the
Philippines derive from historical events
such as the arrival of the Spaniards in the
16th century and the conflicts with the
Moors.
Several dances, especially those
influenced by Spanish dance forms, re-
enact the courtship of a man and a
woman in all its many aspects from the
sublime to the ridiculous.
Folk Dance History in the
Philippines
Dancing was considered a religious
activity among the early Filipinos.
Among the Christianized Filipino
groups, the Kumintang was the oldest
Dance and song. It was a pantomimed
song and dance.
The Pampango is another dance
characterized by the movements of the
Lion and clapping of the hands.
Folk Dances Introduced by
the Spaniards
• Fandango
• Lanceros
• Rigodon
• Carinosa
• Curacha
Folk Dances with Spanish
Influence
•Estudiantina
•Mazurka Boholana
•Mazurka Mindorena
•Polka sa Nayon
Estudiantina
This is a lively dance which
originated from Unisan, Quezon province
(formerly Tayabas).During the olden days,
this dance was a favorite in social
gatherings and was usually by young men
and women who were students of private
school and colleges in Manila.
The boys were called Estudiantes by
the barrio folks and the girls,
Estudiantinas.
Usually performed with the
accompaniment of a flute and guitar.
Costume:
Girl-Maria Clara
Boy- Barong Tagalog
Lanceros De Tayabas
A dance
honoring the
town of
Tayabas
Quezon. Its
name takes
from
chivalrous knights and lanciers
of King Arthur’s fame.
Costume:
Girl- Baro’t Saya
Boy- Barong Tagalog
Properties:
Scarf(Baksa)-soft bandana with
floral design
Skirt(saya)
Overskirt (sobre falla)- plain
checkered of striped wrapped
around the waist and gathered
on the left side reaching below
the knee.
Polka sa Nayon
Popular in the province of
Batangas during the Spanish
time. Usually danced during
fiestas and in big social affairs.
Costume:
Girl-Maria Clara or Balintawak
Boy-Barong Tagalog
Dance Steps
Plain Polka- with a step pattern
of step, close, step, pause.
Heel and toe polka – heel place.
Toe point, step close, step
pause. (2M)
Cariñoza
Philippine national dance. It is a
Spanish word which means affectionate or
lovable.
Costume:
Girl-Balintawak or
Patadyong and Camisa.
Boy- Barong Tagalog
and any kind of
trousers.
Properties:
Girl-fan
Boy- handkerchief
Dance Terms
Bow- also called Saludo. It is a sign
of respect or courtesy.
Clockwise- motion in the direction of
the hands of the clock
Counterclockwise- motion in a
reverse direction of the hands of the
clock.
Arms in Lateral Position- Both arms on
one side of the body either left or right
side.This can be done at shoulder , chest
or waist level.
Arms in Reverse T Position- Both arms
sideward, elbow bent at right angle
forearms parallel to head, palms facing
inward.
Kumintang- Ilocano dance term done by
turning the hand from the wrist either
clockwise or counterclockwise.
Dance Steps
Three Steps and point- done in a two
measures (2M). With a step pattern
step(1), ste(2), step(3), point (1,2,3)
Waltz- with a step pattern of step (1),
close (2), step (3).
Close step- with step pattern of step (1, 2)
close (3).
Touch Point- with a step pattern of Point
(1,2), close-step (3).
Dance Figures
---Saludo---
1. Three Steps and Point
2. Pointing
3. Back to Back
4. Hide ans Seek with Fan
5. Kneeling and Fanning
6. Hide and Seek with
Handkerchief
7. Flirting with Handkerchief
8. Flirting
--Saludo---
Subli
-well known ceremonial worship
dance in honor of Mahal na Poong
Sta. Cruz. Originate some 300 years
ago in the Barrio of Dingin,
Alitagtag, Batangas.
-derived from the Tagalog
words “subsub” (stooped or in a
crouching position and “bali”
(broken).
It is performed by the ladies
with their hats together with the
graceful movements of their arms
and hands, while the male dancer
performed in a stooping position
trying to attract the women by
stomping the ground and clicking
castanets.
This dance
performed for
nine days as
novena with the
accompaniment
of kalatong or
tugtugan, a
dried hollow
wood shaped
from the trunk
of a jack-fruit tree and covered by
dried skin of forest lizard called
bayawak.
Jotabal
-lively festival dance
introduce by the Spaniards
originated in Camohaguin,
Gumaca Quezon. Derived from
“jota” means popular dance
and” balse” means waltz.
Jota Gumaqueña
-very popular dance among the well-
heeled families of Gumaca, Tayabas (now
Quezon). A well-known local musician at
the time, Señor Herminigildo Omana,
introduced this dance. It became popular
with the young people and was handed
down between generations.
Tinikling
- A folkdance of Visayas 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.
Maglalatik
- Originally performed in Binan,
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 town’s 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.
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 tinghoy, 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.
Binasuan
- Originated in Pangasinan Province
“meaning with the use of drinking
glasses”, this vibrant dance basically
shows off balancing skill of the
performers. Glasses filled with rice wine
are placed on the head and on each hand
carefully maneuvered with graceful
movements. This dance is common in
weddings, fiestas and special occasions.
Itik-itik
-is a mimetic folk dance in The
Philippines. It originated in the province of
Surigao in Mindanao. In Itik-itik (from the
Tagalog word for "duck"), the dance steps
imitate the movements of ducks among
rice paddies and swamplands, such as
wading, flying, and short, choppy steps.
According to history of this dance, a
young woman named Kanang (short for
Cayetana) happened to be the best
performer in the province of Surigao del
Norte. At one baptismal reception, she
was asked to dance the Sibay, and began
improvising her steps in the middle of her
performance imitating the movements of
an “itik”, a duck, as it walks with choppy
steps and splashes water on its back
while attracting its mate. Because of its
unusual steps and fascinating
interpretation, the audience began
imitating her.
Pantomina (Spanish for Pantomime)
-The dance was also called Salampati
during the Spanish occupation.
It means"Dance of the Doves", this
dance is the highlight of Sorsogon’s
Kasanggayahan Festival every third week
of October. It is a courtship dance
originated from imitating the courtship
and lovemaking of doves that then
showed during the dance where men
attempt to please the women.
Hi! I’m Elmer
Thank you for
listening
