Learning Objectives

To be familiar with folk dance in general and the Philippine folk dance in
particular
To enumerate the characteristics of Philippine folk dances
To know the different classifications of Philippine folk dances
To define ballet
 What Are Folk Dances?

Ø Folk dances are the indigenous dances of any specific “folk” or the
common people.
Ø They are traditional, customary, or recreational dance forms of a
given country which have evolved naturally and have been handed
down across generations.
Ø Folk dances are related to everything of importance in our daily lives,
such as customs, rituals, and occupations of a specific group of
people.
Ø According to Duggan, Schlottmann, and Rutledge (1948), “folk dance
became the overt expression of emotions and ideas which were
peculiarly significant or the re-enactment of customs and events
constituting an important part of their history and patterns of daily
living.”
What Is the Philippine Folk Dance?

It is “a traditional mode of expression that

employs bodily movements of redundant
patterns linked to definitive features of
rhythmic beats or music”.
Philippine Folk Dance Should Have the
Following Characteristics
1. It is traditional.
2. It has an expressive behavior.
3. Simple, basic rhythm dominates the folk dance and
establishes the pattern of movement.
4. It is created by an unknown choreographer or by
communal efforts.
5. It performs a function in the life of the (folk) people.
 Major Regional Classifications of
Philippine Folk Dances
1. Tribal dances from the Cordilleras
These include non-Christian dances from the Cordilleras.
2. Lowland Christian dances
Influenced by Hispanic and European cultures, these are
dances coming from places with Western influences such
as that of the Tagalogs, Ilokanos, Pampangueños,
Pangasinense, Bisayans, and Bicolanos.
3. Muslim dances
Influenced by Arabic and Indo-Malayan cultures, these
are dances from the people of the Southern Islands of the
Philippines such as in Mindanao and Sulu. These dances
are influenced by Arabic and Indo-Malayan cultures.
Philippine Folk Dances, Regardless of Their
Classifications, May Also Be Categorized
As…

1. Life-cycle dances
2. Festival dances
3. Occupational dances
4. Ritual and ceremonial dances
5. Game dances
6. Joke and trickster dances
7. Mimetic or drama dances
8. War dances
9. Social amenities dances
 What Is Ballet?
Here are several definitions of ballet from different authors:

Ballet, according to Arnold Haskell (1965), is a:

“combination of the arts of dancing, poetry, music and
painting. The essential quality of the ballet dancer is grace
that is phrasing, fluidity, harmony, the making of words into
a poetic whole; bound up with the reaction to music that
goes far deeper than a purely rhythmic reaction”.
K. V. Burian (1963) further affirms that: “Ballet is an artistic,
programmatic, scenic dance accompanied by music. It is
basically a special and generically unique form, which
resulted from the synthesis, collaboration, and equilibrium
of several different types of art. The art of gesture and
mime interprets, by specific means of expression, the
thematic and emotional content of the scenario on which it
is based, bringing the poet’s ideas to life, presenting the
story with all its conflicts, plots, and solutions”.
 Classical Ballet Vs.
Contemporary Ballet

CLASSICAL • • It Itis “mainly

known for uses ballet steps
its exactness
BALLET ofand more natural
technique movement
that highlights
to convey
pointed toesmeaning”.
and turnouts,
• h iItgincorporates
h e x t e n s i oelements
n s a n d of
both classical ballet and
gracefulness.
• It modern
also uses dance that allows
traditional mime a
CONTEMPORARY greater
that range
utilizes of movement
gestures for
BALLET c othat
n v e does
r s a t i onot
n i nsupport
s t e a d othe
f
strict bodylines that are
words.
traditional in any of the
classical ballet techniques.
 Ballet in the Philippines
• In 1915, distinguished ballet dancer Paul Nijinsky
performed classical ballet at the Manila Hotel Roof
Garden.
• In 1927, dancer, teacher, and choreographer Luva
Adameit came to the Philippines and started a ballet
school named Cosmopolitan Ballet and Dancing School.
• From then on, ballet has thrived in the country and
brought a number of foreign teachers and performers to
perform and teach as well. It paved the way for “a
receptive outlook towards the artistic values of the art
form”.
Basic Dance Positions in Ballet
Some Mime Movements Used in
Classical Ballet
 What Is Modern Dance?
Modern dance, a term to describe contemporary dance, is
a style of dancing where dancers are free to express their
feelings through movements without adhering to any rules
in dance particularly those of ballet.

While ballet mostly

It is actually a rebellion
against the confining
nature of classical ballet.
emphasizes beauty and
et h er eal q u a l i t i e s o f t h e
human situation, modern
dance portrays the actual
human situation as it is.
Characteristics of Modern Dance
• Technique
ü This teaches the dancer to control his/her body and
making it an instrument.
ü This also provides the skills of dance movement to
make the body move efficiently and with precision.
ü Famous techniques in modern dance are Graham
Technique, Humphrey-Weidman Technique, Limón
Technique, Cunningham Technique, Hawkins
Technique, Horton Technique, and Nikolais/Louis
Technique.
• Improvisation
ü This refers to the spontaneous movement performed
by dancers in response to suggestions by the
choreographer.
ü Various images, ideas, feelings, or other stimulating
events may be used as motivations.

• Choreography
ü Modern dance allows choreographic freedom.
ü The form in this dance mostly represents the
personal and emotional experiences of its creators.
ü The intent and style of the dance choreography are
not limited to certain areas or subject matters, giving
the choreographers freedom to choose their own.
 Basic Modern Dance Skills
• Dance Walk
ü An even rhythm pattern in which an alternate transfer
of weight occurs from one foot to the other
ü Directions: forward, backward, sideward (grapevine
action)
• Run
ü An even rhythm pattern in which there is an alternate
transference of weight from one foot to the other
ü Faster than a walk and requires more energy
ü Uses include covering distance, changing direction,
gaining momentum for another movement or gaining
height
• Triplet (plié, relevé, relevé)
ü Basic modern dance experience performed in an
even ¾ meter with each step requiring a complete
change of weight
ü Consists of one step with a slight flexion of ankle,
knee and hip (plié), followed by two steps on half-toe
(relevé)
ü Done with alternate feet (R L L / L R R)

• Waltz
Even rhythm with counts 1 2 3/ 1 2 3/
• Gallop
üT w o s t e p s
performed in
uneven rhythm 1 &
2/ 1 & 2/, long-
short, long-short
ü One foot always
maintains the lead
• Chassé/Slide
ü Uneven rhythm with counts 1 & / 2 &/ with one foot
maintaining the lead
ü Smoother in quality than gallop
ü Emphasis placed on the gliding action of the leading
foot, following foot cuts under, body weight is lifted
sharply as this takes place in either through third
position or fourth position
• Jumps
a. Basic (Sauté)
b. Échappé
c. Sissone
• Leap
a. Jet
b. Prance

• Falling
a. Simple side fall
b. Simple forward fall
c. Overcurves (Glissade)
d. Tombé
e. Front falls ‒ simple, Swedish fall, front sliding fall
f. Back fall
g. Spiral fall
• Rolls
a. Leg roll
b. Forward roll
c. Backward roll
• Turns
a. Three step turn
b. Cross over turn (Soutenu/ turn)
c. Chainé
d. Grapevine
e. Coupé turn
f. Pas de Bourrée turn
g. Pique turn
h. Pirouette