What is Philippine
Folk Dance?
• Filipino folk dances are colorful, beauti-
ful, and vibrant. Their movement, dress,
and music reveal the unique Filipino cul-
ture and are important in building a na-
tional Filipino identity. Most dances in the
country were inspired by everyday activi-
ties, such as working in the fields and
harvesting rice, as well as celebrations
such as feasts, weddings, and births.
Philippine folk dances consist of five ma-
jor suites, namely Cordillera, Maria
Clara, Muslim, Lumad, and Rural.
• The Philippines' multifaceted history from
years of colonization paved the way for
the peculiar and beautiful traditional
dances in the country, with hints of His-
panic, European, and Asian cultural influ-
ences. Each region has its own unique
dance variations that are staged during
festivals and local shows. Although to-
day’s popular folk dances have evolved,
they still honor our cultural roots.
Luzon Folk
Dance
MAGLALATIK was originally per-
formed in Biñan, 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.
Visayas Folk
Dance
TINIKLING it means "bamboo
dance" in English. The dance imi-
tates the movement of the tikling
birds as they walk between grass
PANDANGGO SA ILAW stems, run over tree branches, or
dodge bamboo traps set by rice
the word pandanggo comes from the Spanish
dance “fandango”characterized with lively steps farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling
and clapping while following a varying ¾ beat.
Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skill to bird's legendary grace and speed
maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil by skillfully maneuvering between
lamps, placed on head and at the back of each
large bamboo poles.
hand. This famous dance of grace and balance
originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.
 Mindanao
Folk Dance

ITIK—ITIK the Itik-Itik is a dance

from Surigao del Norte, in which
the movements of a duck are imi-
tated. An itik is a species of duck. Classifications of
KURATSA is highly favored by
Philippine Folk
the Waray people of the Eastern
Dance
Visayan region in the Philippines.
Strictly speaking, The Kuratsa must
be done the amenudo; that is, only 1. Maria Clara Dance named after the chief
female character of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere; Spanish influ-
one couple dances it at a time. the enced "Filipinized" by the use of bamboo castanets and abanico .

Kuratsa is however, very different 2. Rural Dance (Luzon) dances illustrate the
fiesta spirit and love of life; best known type of Filipino dance.
in the manner of execution to dance attire: girls - colorful balintawak and patadyong skirts, boys:
camisa de chino and colored trousers.
the Mexican counterpart.
3. Muslim Dance characterized by vivid colors and
rhythmic movements which reflect the influence of Arabian and
SINGKIL the Maranao dance Indo-Malaysian cultures.res.

called Singkil is in the repertory of
all Filipino dance troupes. In 1958
the Bayanihan Dance troupe start-
ed with a simple version and has
since developed it into a theatrical
and stylized spectacle to the point
of its becoming the troupe's signa-
ture piece.
4. Tribal Dance tribal dances performed essential
"for the gods" ceremonial and ritual type dances.
5. Rural Dance (Northern Luzon)
dances to celebrate victories, festivals, religious ritu-
als, thanksgiving, etc; musical instruments include
nose flute, bamboo guitar, drums, gongs and wooden
sticks.
Monta, Kristina Maria Concepcion P.
HUMSS 11 –1