Definition:

A folk dance is developed by people that reflect the life of the people of a
certain country or region. Folkloric dance is the history of the people in
movement. In some cultures, pale fragments of it survive centuries of invasions
and Diasporas. In the Philippines, folk dance is a strong and enduring
indigenous expression.

Folk dances are the indigenous dances of any specific folk or common
people of a given country which have evolved naturally and were handed down
from generation to generation.

Brief History
Pre Colonial

Before the recorded history of the Philippines, before the Spanish

conquistadors conquered and Christianized the populace, from the
earliest occupation of this volcanic archipelago, the people danced. They
danced to appease the gods, to curry favor from powerful spirits, to
celebrate a hunt or harvest, to mimic the exotic life forms around them.
They danced their stories and their shamanic rituals, their rites of
passage and their remembered legends and history.

Muslim Merchants

Muslim traders from the Malay Archipelago reached the Philippines

in the 14th century, well ahead of the Europeans. Their conversion of the
populace was a modest affair; they were more interested in commerce
than colonization, although they did establish strongholds and convert
the local populace to Islam. They also created their own folk dances in
the areas where they settled.

Spanish Colonization

Folk dances survived the European invasion, and the dancers

adapted imposed Christian belief and culture to their own dances,
borrowing court choreography but imbuing it with Philippine spirit.
The Maria Clara dances merged Spanish court style (and its stylized
courtship conventions) with Philippine exuberance. Maria Clara is the
pure and noble heroine of a novel who represents the finest qualities of
Filipino womanhood. The dancers wear European 16th-century dress but
move to the sounds of bamboo castanets.

Characteristics
1. It is traditional.
2. It has an expressive behavior.
3. Simple and basic rhythm.
4. Created by unknown choreographer or by communal efforts.
5. Has function in the life of people.

Kinds of Philippine Folk Dances

1. Tribal Dances from Cordillera

Cordillera, a name given by the Spanish Conquistadors when they first saw
the mountain ranges. Meaning "knotted rope", the Spanish term refers to the
jumbled rolls and dips of this long-range traversing the northern part of Luzon
Island. They are pagan people, living simple lives to appease their gods. Their
rituals celebrate their daily lives - a good harvest, health, peace, war, and other
symbols of living. Such traditions have survived the changing scope of the
Philippines and the tribes continue to maintain their cultures that are a part of
the colorful cultural fabric known as Philippine culture.
 a) Banga, Tribe: Kalinga

"Banga" literally mean pots. The Banga or pot dance is a contemporary

performance of Kalinga of the Mountain Province in the Philippines. This
dance illustrate the languid grace of a tribe otherwise known as fierce
warriors. Heavy earthen pots, as many as seven or eight at a time, are balanced
on the heads of maidens as they trudge to the beat of the "gangsa" or wind
chimes displaying their stamina and strength as they go about their daily task
of fetching water and balancing the banga.

b) Bendayan

Also popularly called Bendian, this circle

dance of the Benguet of Mountain Province
is restaged, keeping true to the dance's
context and meaning. Long known as a
dance to celebrate the arrival of successful
headhunters, the Bendayan has taken a
new face. It is part of every Benguet
festivity with the circles slowly giving way
to other formations and interpretations.

c) Uyauy

The Ifugao people are said to be the "children of the earth." The term Ifugao is
derived from the word ipugao which literally means "coming from the earth."
The Spaniards, however, changed it to Ifugaw, a term presently used in
 referring not only to these
people but also to their
province. This Ifugao
wedding festival dance is
accompanied by gongs and
is performed by the affluent
to attain the second level of
the wealthy class. Wealthy
people (Kadangyan) who have performed this dance are
entitled to the use of gongs at their death.

2. Lowland Christian Dances

Perhaps the best known and closest to the Filipino heart are the dances
from the rural Christian lowlands: a country blessed with so much beauty. To
the Filipinos, these dances illustrate the fiesta spirit and demonstrate a love of
life. They express a joy in work, a love for music, and pleasure in the
simplicities of life. Typical attire in the Rural Suite include the colorful
balintawak and patadyong skirts for the women, and camisa de chino and
colored trousers for the men.

a) Binasuan

This colorful and lively dance from

Bayambang in the Pangasinan province
shows off the balancing skills of the dancers.
The glasses that the dancers gracefully, yet
carefully, maneuver are half-filled with rice
wine. Binasuan, meaning "with the use of a
drinking glass" in Pangasinan, is often
performed as entertainment at weddings,
birthdays, and fiestas.

b) Bayluhan

The Bayluhan is a dance performed

in Malabon and Navotas by childless women who
were unable to make the annual pilgrimage to
neighboring Obando to do a prayer-dance for a
child. The women wait instead for their friends
who went to the fertility festival to return, and then
they recreate the fertility dance.
c) Kuratsa

A dance originating in Bohol, Visayas, it is popular at

Ilokano and Visayas festivals. This dance commands a
sense of improvisation which mimics a young playful
couple’s attempt to get each other’s attention.

3. Muslim Dances
They are known for their mysticism, royalty, and
beauty which are evident in their music and dances.
Accompanied by the agong and kulintang, Filipino Muslim dance is marked by
intricate hand and arm movement along with shimmering costumes.

a) Singkil

Sinkil 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.

b) Pangsak

The Yakan are a Muslim ethnic

group in the highlands of Mindanao. They wear elaborately
woven costumes tightly on their bodies. Their dances
involve complicated hand and foot movements. In this
dance, a man unties a wrap from his wife-to-be's waist to
wrap around her body and dance with. Both of their faces
are dotted with white paint, to hide their identity from evil
spirits.

c) Pangalay ha Pattong
A royal couple balance perilously on top of bamboo poles imitating the
movements of the picturesque boat (the vinta) with colorful sails gliding across
the Sulu Sea.

Fundamental Folk Dance Steps

 Set - A dance formation of two or more couples
 Saludo - it means to bow
 Arms in Lateral Position - both arms are in one side at shoulder level
 Bend - To move the body or part around the wide axis
 Padyak - to stamp or tap with one foot
 Leap -to spring on one foot and land on the other

 1. Raised arms to a circle in front of the chest Bring heels close to touch,
toes apart
 2. Open up arms sideward, raised below shoulder level with a graceful
curve. Bring feet apart sideward.
 3. Raise one arm overhead while other arm remains in 2nd position.
Bring the heel of one foot to touch the instep of the other foot.
 4. Raise one arm in front of chest in a half circle, while one arm remains
overhead. Bring one foot in front of the other foot to walk strike.
 5. Raise both arms overhead in a graceful curve. Bring the heel of one
foot to touch the toe of the other.

Definition
Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance,
primarily arising out of Germany and the United States in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Modern dance is often considered to have emerged as a
rejection of, or rebellion against, classical ballet. Socioeconomic and cultural
factors also contributed to its development.
Brief History
1877: Isadora Duncan was a predecessor of modern dance with her
stress on the center or torso, bare feet, loose hair, free-flowing costumes, and
incorporation of humor into emotional expression. She thought that ballet was
ugly and meaningless gymnastics.

1891: Loie Fuller (a burlesque skirt dancer) began experimenting with the
effect that gas lighting had on her silk costumes. Fuller developed a form of
natural movement and improvisation techniques that were used in conjunction
with her revolutionary lighting equipment and translucent silk costumes. She
patented her apparatus and methods of stage lighting that included the use of
coloured gels and burning chemicals for luminescence, and also patented her
voluminous silk stage costumes.
Martha Graham is often regarded as the founding mother of modern 20th-
century concert dance. Graham viewed ballet as too one-
sided: European, imperialistic, and un-American. She became a student at the
Denishawn school in 1916 and then moved to New York City in 1923, where
she performed in musical comedies, music halls, and worked on her
own choreography. Graham developed her own technique, that hinged on
concepts of contraction and release. In Graham's teachings, she wanted her
students to "Feel". To "Feel", means having a heightened sense of awareness of
being grounded to the floor while, at the same time, feeling the energy
throughout your entire body, extending it to the audience.

Characteristics
Modern dance encourages dancers to use their emotions and moods to
design their own steps and routines. It is not unusual for dancers to invent new
steps for their routines, instead of following a structured code of technique, as in
ballet.

Another characteristic of modern dance, in opposition to ballet, is the

deliberate use of gravity. Whereas classical ballet dancers strive to be light and
airy on their feet, modern dancers often use their body weight to enhance
movement. This type of dancer rejects the classical ballet stance of an upright,
erect body, often opting instead for deliberate falls to the floor.

Kinds of Modern Dance

1. Free dance - is a 20th-century dance form that preceded modern dance.
Rebelling against the rigid constraints of classical ballet.
 2. Radical Dance - Disturbed by the Great Depression and
the rising threat of fascism in Europe, the radical dancers
tried to raise consciousness by dramatizing
the economic, social, ethnic and political crises of their
time.

3. In America

Fundamental Modern Dance Steps

Here are some of the steps that dancers take when developing a routine:

 Before attempting to choreograph a routine, the modern dancer decides

which emotions to try to convey to the audience.
 Many modern dancers choose a subject near and dear to their hearts, such
as a lost love or a personal failure.
 The dancer then chooses music that relates to the story they wish to tell or
choose to use no music at all, followed by a costume to reflect their chosen
emotions.

Definition
 Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed
both socially and competitively around the world. Because of
its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely
enjoyed on stage, film, and television.

Brief History
The term 'ballroom dancing' is derived from the word ball which in turn
originates from the Latin word ballare which means 'to dance' (a ball-room
being a large room specially designed for such dances). In times past, ballroom
dancing was social dancing for the privileged, leaving folk dancing for the lower
classes. These boundaries have since become blurred. The definition of
ballroom dance also depends on the era: balls have featured popular dances of
the day such as the Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Polka, Mazurka, and others,
which are now considered to be historical dances.
The first authoritative knowledge of the earliest ballroom dances was
recorded toward the end of the 16th century, when Jehan Tabourot, under the
pen name "Thoinot-Arbeau", published in 1588 his Orchésographie, a study of
late 16th-century French renaissance social dance. Among the dances
described were the solemn basse danse, the livelier branle, pavane, and
the galliarde which Shakespeare called the "cinq pace" as it was made of five
steps.

Kinds of Ballroom Dance

According to World Dance Council:
Standard
Waltz: 28 bars per minute, 3/4 time, also known as Slow Waltz or English
Waltz depending on locality
Tango: 32 bars per minute, 2/4 time
Viennese Waltz: 60 bars per minute, 3/4 time. On the European continent,
the Viennese waltz is known simply as waltz, while the waltz is recognized
as English waltzor Slow Waltz.
Foxtrot: 28 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Quickstep: 50 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Latin
Samba: 48 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Cha-cha-cha: 30 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Rumba: 24 bars per minute, 4/4 time
Paso Doble: 56 bars per minute, 2/4 time
Jive: 42 bars per minute, 4/4 time

Slow Waltz Tango Viennese Waltz

Foxtrot Quickstep Samba

Cha cha cha Paso Doble Rumba

 Jive

Fundamental Ballroom Dance Steps

Triple step - Triple steps are popular in swing dancing. The Triple Step is a
three step sequence taken on two beats of music. If the first step of the triple
step is taken on count 1, the second step is taken on the half beat between
counts 1&2, and the third step is taken on count 2. The step timing is often
called out as 1&2. Usually the triple step is two quick steps and one slow,
called out as "quick-quick-slow", or, using numbers, as "one-and-two.”

Rock Step - Here we see a sequence of two steps called a rock step. The step
timing is usually slow-slow.

Basic of East Coast Swing - The combination of two triple steps and a rock
step form the basic step of triple timing swing or the East Coast Swing. The
step timing is usually called out as 1&2, 3&4, 5,6.

Ball-Change - Here we see a sequence of two steps called a ball-change. Weight

on the ball of the foot is changed to the other foot.

Kick Ball Change - A popular swing dance step is the kick-ball-change step,
which can be used to replace the rock step. The timing is usually 1&2.

The Basic Step of the Carolina Shag - The combination of two triple steps
and a kick ball change can be used in triple timing swing dances such as the
Carolina shag.

Coaster Step - The coaster step is usually a back-together-forward triple step

danced to the timing of 1&2 or quick, quick, slow.

Sailor Step - The sailor step has a side to side look. It is also a triple step
danced to the timing of 1&2. The step is accomplished by leaning in the
opposite direction of the crossing foot.

Anchor Step - The anchor step is a stationary triple step danced in third foot
position to the timing of 1&2. It is popular in the west coast swing.
Grapevine - The grapevine is a continuous traveling step pattern to the side
usually with alternating crosses behind and in front of the supporting foot.

Lock Step – The lock step is usually danced to triple step timing. During the
step, the lower part of the legs cross such that the back leg becomes locked
behind the leading leg until the leading leg moves forward. The lock step is
often used in the triple step of the cha cha cha.

References:

https://dance.lovetoknow.com/Philippine_Folk_Dance_History

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/philippine_dances_cordillera.htm

https://sites.google.com/site/folkdancesofthephilippines/philippine-folk-dance/rural-dance

http://rolangarcia1320.blogspot.com/

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/muslim_mindanao_dances.htm

https://www.slideshare.net/1809844066/basic-steps-in-folk-dancing

https://www.slideshare.net/julietorejenes/fundamental-positions-of-arms-and-feet-in-folk-dance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_dance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_dance

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-modern-dance-1007279

http://www.thedancestoreonline.com/ballroom-dance-instruction/basic-steps-ballroom-dancing.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom_dance

Images:

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/bangaprincess.htm

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/bangaentry.htm

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/bangapartners.htm

http://www.benguet.gov.ph/images/Festivals/Bendian.jpg

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/malecelebrate.htm
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/womencelebrate.htm

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1b/70/16/1b7016a1ba70e2f039c0e2a89a6988b4.jpg

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/singkil_princess.htm

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/pangsak3.htm

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/dances/vinta_couple_on_bamboo.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_dance#/media/File:Isadora_Duncan_(grayscale).jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ae/7c/8f/ae7c8f1bf881c93adfe870fca8bad80e--isadora-duncan-dancers.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/be/45/35/be4535a8fc7e6bd81dfbf0b32fd616b2.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_dance#/media/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-
00989,_Berlin,_Tanzschule_Laban.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_dance#/media/File:Martha_Graham_1948.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_dance#/media/File:Martha_Graham_Bertram_Ross_1961.jpg

https://girlsnightoutct.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/tango_dramatic_crop.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D
0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%86.jpg/220px-
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%86.jpg

http://www.ballroomdanceacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/viennesewaltz200.jpg

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Ballroom_dance.jpg

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https://vbds.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/samba-1500x1001.jpg

http://latinmania.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chachacha-dance-295x300.jpg

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qdY2g_37zK5dtdhpPd7I5gg=/768x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/6365744039_27
e4c242cd_b-56a21de13df78cf77272154e.jpg