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

EstudiantinaThis 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 ClaraBoy- Barong Tagalog

Lanceros De TayabasA dance honoring the town of Tayabas Quezon. Its name takes from chivalrous knights and lanciers of King Arthur’s fame.

Costume: Girl- Baro’t SayaBoy- Barong Tagalog

Properties: Scarf(Baksa)-soft bandana with floral designSkirt(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 BalintawakBoy-Barong Tagalog

Dance StepsPlain 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-fanBoy- 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 Point2. Pointing3. Back to Back4. Hide ans Seek with Fan5. Kneeling and Fanning6. Hide and Seek with Handkerchief7. Flirting with Handkerchief8. 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.

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