Name: Cesar M.

Donato Section: BPED 2-1

PED 223
MODULE 1- INTRODUCTION TO DANCE
PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES

LEARNING COMPETENCIES
1. to acquire basic knowledge on the fundamentals Philippine Traditional dances –
origin, influence, dance steps, movements & style;
2. to value folk dances of the country as part of the cultural heritage among Filipinos.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The following are the learning outcomes that this module aims to achieve in the students:
1. Discuss the origin and development of dance;
2. Demonstrate the fundamental arm and feet position of dance;
3. Explain the concept of Philippine folk dances;
4. Identify the different types of Philippine folk dances;
5. Demonstrate the fundamental Philippine folk dance steps;
6. Perform a Philippine folk dance;
7. Identify ways to preserve the heritage of Philippine folk dances;
8. Strengthen the Filipino spirit and sense of nationalism; and
9. Answer all the activities and assessments with honesty and integrity.

PRE-TEST
Directions: Read each item carefully. Choose and encircle the letter of the best answer.
1. Which among the following is not a physical benefit of dance?
A. Develops cardiovascular endurance
B. Improves coordination and flexibility
C. Increase self-esteem
D. Improves lipid metabolism
2. It is the force at which we express our body motions.
A. Energy
B. Flexibility
C. Coordination
3. These are indigenous dances of the common people of “folks”.
A. Folk Dances
 B. National Dances
C. Ethnic Dances
D. Rhythm
E. Cultural Dances
4. These are dances that are being performed by those in primitive tribes.
A. Folk Dances
B. National Dances
C. Ethnic Dances
D. Cultural Dances
5. These are dances that depict birthing, courtship, wedding, and funeral.
A. National Dances
B. Life-cycle Dances
C. Ritual Dances
D. Folk Dances
6. These are non-Christian dances from the Cordilleras.
A. Muslim Dances
B. Occupational Dances
C. Tribal Dances
D. Cultural Dances
7. These are dances of the people from the Southern Island of the Philippines.
A. Muslim Dances
B. Folk Dances
C. Occupational Dances
D. Cultural Dances
8. Which of the following folk-dance step has a step pattern of “Stem R sideward, step L close
to R, step R in place?
A. Change Step
B. Waltz
C. Close Step
D. Step Brush
9. Which of the following step has a 3 time signature?
A. Waltz
B. Change Step
C. Slide Step
10. Who is the National Artist for Dance?
A. Francisca Reyes Aquino
B. Levi Celerio
C. Bleking Step
D. Lucrecia Kasilag
 LET’S REVIEW!
There are five fundamental or basic positions in dance
POSITION ARM FEET
1st position Both arms raised in a circle in front Heels close together, toes apart with
of the chest with the fingertips an angle of about 45 degrees.
about an inch apart.

2ND position Both raised sideward with a Feet apart sideward of about a pace
graceful curve at the shoulder level. distance.

3RD position One arm as in 2nd position; other Heel of one foot close to in-step of
arm raised upward. other foot.

4th position One arm raised in front as in 1st One foot in front of other foot of a
position; other arm raised. pace distance.
5th position Both arms raised overhead. Heel of front foot close to big toe of
rear foot.

Fundamental position of Arms and Feet in dance

Arms Feet Together

1st position

2nd position
 Arms Feet Together

3rd position

4th position

5th position
 DANCE: Definition, History, Benefits, Elements,
What is Dance?
Dancing is the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given
space, for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing energy, or simply taking
delight in the movement itself. “Dance is an activity which can take many forms and fill many
different needs. It can be recreation, entertainment, education, therapy, and religion. In its purest
and most basic form, dance is art, the art of body movement.” (Barbara Mettler, 1980)

According to (Myers, 2005), dance due to multidimensionality provide a variety of functions

throughout history. Although there have been immense comparative differences in period a
culture, people still dance primarily for four seasons.
They are the following:
a. To please the gods
b. To please others
c. To please themselves or self-expression
d. To build community within an ethnic group or social interaction

Brief History of Dance

From the earliest moments of known human history, ancient rituals, spiritual gatherings
and social events. As a conduit of trance, spiritual force, pleasure, expression, performance and
interaction, dance became infused into our nature from the earliest moments of our existence -
from the Benefits of Dancing Dance is a health-promoting physical activity that many people
worldwide incorporate into their lifestyles today. This physical activity appeals to some who may
not typically be active and therefore may be another alternative of exercise. Dance for health has
become an important factor in the prevention, treatment, and management in several health
circumstances. It can benefit both physical and mental health and subsidizes social
communication.

The following are the specific benefits of dance:

Physical.
 Develops cardiovascular and muscular endurance
 Improve coordination, balance, flexibility and body composition.
 Lowers body mass index
 Improves lipid metabolism
 Enables joint mobility
 Prevent osteoporosis
 Recover neuromuscular skills after injury.

Mental/Emotional.
  Helps keep the brain sharp
 Decreases incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
 Decrease depressive symptoms
 Increase self-esteem
 Aids in releasing emotional and physical tension

Social
 Gives sense of togetherness within a group
 Encourages positive social interaction
 Contributes to the individual’s potential for self-actualization in society
Cultural
 Promotes cultural values

Elements of Dance Body.

Dance is comprised of various body motions that express feeling and emotion. Our
bodies move in ways to express ourselves using locomotor and non-locomotor movements. It
also refers to how the entire body is molded in space or the configuration of body parts.
What makes a good dance?
According to (McGreevy-Nichols et. Al 2005), a good dance displays a significant
meaning or conveys message. Sometimes, it also portrays life experiences. Dance may be
presented abstractly and symbolically but still convey emotion and meaning. A good dance lifts
and transports the audience from the seats during the performance. It has the beginning, middle,
and end/conclusion. The beginning of a dance my come in a form of shape, a pose, or an
entrance. The middle consists of a development or the exploration of the main idea. The
ending/conclusion should be clear and may be in a form of shape, pose, or an exit.
What makes a good dancer?
Some people are just innately born with traits and abilities that allow them to do magnificent
things. Whether you’re a dancer, visual artist, musician, or in a completely different type of
industry, different characteristics and skills provide certain people with the ability to accelerate
in their particular field, almost effortlessly because of certain intrinsic
features. If you’re wondering whether you possess the traits that make a great dancer, here are
some of the highlighted ones to recognize from Greta Leeming Studio of Dance.

1. Motivation & Determination. Finding your motivation allows you to tap into your
determination for pursuing the success and life that you want as a dancer. Any dancer can
become a great dancer once they become crystal clear on their motivation and determination.
2. Discipline Practice makes perfect and there’s really no way around it. If you want to hone in
on your craft, the trait of discipline needs to be by your side at all times.
3. Ability to Focus. Another essential trait that makes a great dancer is the ability to really focus.
Dancing is a crafted skill that comes through much dedication, discipline, motivation,
determination, and above all – focus.
4. Spatial Awareness. With the world as your stage, dancers must have the ability to be spatially
aware of both their body and their surroundings. Being spatially aware means that you can flutter
about the stage knowing precisely how to use your space, how to avoid bumping into other
dancers, or how to simply not be in the way.
5. Enthusiasm .When you think of dance, does it excite you? Do you enjoy practicing it,
learning it and watching great dancers perform on your free time? Dancing will always require
hard work, but if you aren’t feeling enthusiasm towards it then hard work may only take you so
far.   If you love to dance and you possess some of these key traits, rest assured that you just
might have what it takes to become a great dancer.  
ACTIVITY:
TEST I.
Directions: Fill in the missing word to complete the statement.
1) Dancing is the movement of the body in a rhythmic _ way.
2) The following are the main reasons why people dance:
 To please the God________
 To please others_____
 To please themselves or self-expression_____
 To build community_____within an ethnic group or social interaction
3) A good dance displays a significant Meaning___ or conveys Message____.
4) Timing______is key to any dance. We follow the rhythm or beat to match our actions with the
sound of the music.
5) Energy____is the force at which we express our body motions. *
TEST II.

Directions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences.

1. What makes a good dance presentation for you?
For me a good dance presentation is the dancer is focus, mastered the steps, have dedication in
dancing and it has a perfect timing in steps and to the music. Another thing for a good dance
presentation is that it has a good choreography such as synchronize. Moreover, the dancer must
also know their character in dance that they performed because every dance has its own story, it
make a good dance presentation also because through their dancing, the audience feel it and see it
on how they execute their steps in stage.
2. What characteristics of a good dancer do you have?
Even I am not a great dancer, the characteristic of a good dancer that I have is always have
patience anytime because I’m not a person who always feel bored and give up early. Another
characteristic is Flexible and determination and the last thing is have discipline. Have discipline to
myself and to my Trainor especially their time because respecting their time show how you
discipline yourself.
3. How do you see yourself performing different dances for this semester? More dance presentations
await you.
I see myself learn a lot of dances in this semester. I see that it enhance my flexibility in dancing
through experiencing different dances, boost my confidence and developed my talent. Performing
the different dances allow me to develop myself, understand myself and developed my dancing
skills.

Were you able to capture or trace the historicity of dance? How about the reasons why people
dance, are they still being applied to our current generation? For some provinces, they were able
to keep the sacredness of their culture particularly dancing. The ritual dances used as a form of
thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, the Muslim dances being performed in different occasions,
and dances that depicts different life ceremonies are still evident to them. I’m sure you were
curious about these dances. Find out more about these below as this module brings you the next
lesson: Philippine Folk Dances. Philippine Folk Dance All countries in the world have rich
cultures made vibrant and colorful by their dances that truly reflects their identity. In the
Philippines, we are very rich in terms of our culture and dances as well. Each region in the
country has a diverse culture and traditional dances.

Quick view of how beautiful the Philippine dances are, watch the video attached in this module.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVI1FOUsQyE

Philippine Folk
dance

What I Need To Know

This module is designed to walk you through understanding Philippine Folk dances depicting
Philippine cultures.
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
●Describe the nature and background of the dance.
●Execute the skills involved in the dance.
Overview
A country’s way of life and many other habits are often reflected in its folk music. From these
dances, you gain an understanding of why people from certain places act and live as they do,
even though modern times may have changed the lifestyle from that of the days gone by. Since
folk dances depict the character of the people, these dances were never intended to be changed.
Philippine folk dance is one of the Philippine cultures that incorporate influences from
immigrants and conquerors while Filipinos were working in the fields, celebrating feasts,
harvests, births and weddings. It is a true reflection of daily life of Filipinos in past centuries.
Dances evolved from different regions which are distinct from one another as they are affected
by the region and culture.

What I Know
Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct, and FALSE if the statement is wrong.

1. TRUE Tinikling Dance is form of dance.

2. TRUE Fundamental Position of Arms and Feet is a basic step for a Folk dance.
3. TRUE Philippine folk dance is the Philippine culture that incorporates influences from
immigrants and conquerors while at the same time maintaining their own national identity
4. TRUE Folk dance is created and performed collectively by the ordinary people.
5. TRUE Creative folk dance is referred to character dances whose choreography used folk steps
and music
6. FALSE Philippine folk dances are not diverse and include religious, ceremonial,
7. FALSE “One arm raised sideward, the other arm overhead” is First position of Fundamental
Position of the Arms.
8. TRUE Singkil, Binasuan , Itik-Itik are examples of folk dance.
9. FALSE Folk dance is a kind of exercise only.
10. FALSE All exercise must be having a Fundamental Position.

What is folk dance?

Folk dances are the indigenous dances of any specific “folk” or the common people.
They are traditionally customary or recreational dance forms of a given country which have
evolved naturally and were handed down across generations. Folk dances represent one
Philippine of the strongest ways as these Lopez (2006) defined folk dance “a (sometimes
traditions of countries and traditional mode truly of ancient) expression that employs bodily
regions can be showcased to the public. Movements of redundant patterns linked to definitive
features of rhythmic beats or music.” She further stated that Philippine folk dance should have
the following characteristics:
a. It is traditional
b. It has expressive behaviour
c. Simple, basic rhythm dominates the folk dance and establishes the pattern
of movement.
d. It is created by an unknown choreographer or by communal efforts
e. It performs a function in the life of the folks.
What is the difference between folk, national, and ethnic dance?
Often, the term folk dance is being confused or used interchangeably with ethnic and
national dance. The definitions below will hopefully clarify your confusion.
Folk dances are dances developed by people that reflect the life of the people of a certain
country or region. These are traditional dances found in a certain country. Example is Tinikling.
National dances are also traditional folk dances but have a national scope. They are popular and
widely danced throughout a given country often with a number or regional variations. Pandango
for example, has a regional variations coming from both Luzon and Visayas islands. Even within
one locality, dancers have different ways of performing it. Examples are Pandango Ilocano,
Pandango sa Ilaw, Ivatan, etc.

Ethnic dances or ethnological dances are those performed in primitive tribes and have retained
their close kinship with religious ritual community custom. In the Philippines, examples of
Ethnic dances mostly originate from Ifugao people from northern Luzon, T’boli tribe from
Southern Mindanao, and Tagbanua tribe from Palawan.
Ethnic dances can be performed in three different categories: ritual, life-cycle, and
occupational.

a. Ritual Dances- dances that depicts ceremony. Examples are” Dugso” from
Bukidnon and “Pagdidiwata” of Palawan.
b. Life-cycle dances- dances relating to the cycle of human life, such as birthing,
courtship, wedding, and funeral. Examples are “Salip” from Apayao and
Binasuan of Pangasinan.
c. Occupational dances- dances that exhibit work and occupation of the dancers.
Examples of occupational dancers are “Mananagat” of Cebu and Mag-Asik
from Cotobato.

All national and ethnic dances are folk dances, but not all folk dances are considered national.

Different forms of Philippine Folk Dances

There are several ways to classify Philippine folk dances. According to Francisca Reyes-Aquino,
folk dances may be classified by the geographical extent of origin, nature, speed of movement,
formation, and distinguishing feature.
 Rural Dances
Perhaps the known and closest to the Filipino hearts 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 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 includes the colorful Balintawak and Patadyong and skirts for women, and
Camisa de Chino and colored trousers for men.

 Spanish Influence Dances

The coming of the Spaniards in the 16 th century brought a new influence in the Philippine life. A
majority of the Filipinos were converted to Roman Catholicism. European cultural ideas spread
and the Filipinos adapted and blended to meet the local conditions. These dances reached their
zenith in popularity around the turn of the century, particularly among urban Filipinos. They are
so named in honor of the legendary Maria Clara, who remains a symbol of the virtues and
nobility of the Filipina woman.
Maria Clara was the chief female character of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. Displaying a very
strong Spanish influence, these dances were, nonetheless, “Filipinized” as evidence of the use of
bamboo castanets and abanico, or Asian fan. Typical attire for these dances is the formal Maria
Clara dress and Barong Tagalog, an embroidered long-sleeve shirt made of pineapple fiber.

 Mindanao Dances
Mindanao and Sulu were never conquered by Spain. Islam was introduced in the Philippines in
the 12th century before the discovery of the islands by Magellan in 1521. The dances in Muslim
however predated the Muslim influence. Like Ipat wich was a dance to appease ancestral spirits.
Before Islam, the Maguindanaons held the view that diseases are caused by tonong (ancestral
spirits). Thus, a folk healer performs the pag-ipat while being possessed by the tinunungan
(spirit). Another is the dance Baluang which creates the illusion of an angry monkey, and is
always performed by male dancers. The popularity of this dance comes naturally, since the
baluang, or monkey, enjoys an affectionate place in Asian folklore. Singkil was introduced after
the 14th century. It was based on the epic legend of Darangan of the Maranao people of
Mindanao. It tells of the story of a Muslim Princess, Gandingan who was caught in the middle of
a forest during an earthquake caused by the diwatas, or fairies of the forest.

 Cordillera Dances
These are the dances of mountain tribes in Northern Luzon, such as those of the Kalinga and
Ifugao people. 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 part of Luzon Island. Today, if one is to
generalize one of the six ethno-linguistics tribes as an “Igorot” is considered degrading. Living
amidst the rice terraces that tower over Northern Luzon are a people whose way of life existed
long before any Spaniard or other foreigners stepped foot on the Philippines. The Bontoc, Ifugao,
Benguet, Apayao, and the Kalinga tribes reign over Luzon’s mountain terrain.

 Ethnic/Tribal Dances
The cultural minorities that live in the hills and mountains throughout the Philippine Archipelago
considered dances as basic part of their lives. Their Culture and animistic beliefs predated
Christianity and Islam. Dances are performed essentially for the gods. As in most ancient
cultures, unlike the Muslim tribes in their midst, their dances are nonetheless closely intertwined
with ceremonials and rituals. Rinambo and Talbeng are examples of these dances.

The three major classifications of Philippine folk dances

 1. Tribal dances from the Cordillera- include non-Christian dances from the Cordillera.
Examples are Manmanok and Banga.
2.Lowland Christian dances- dances coming from places with Western influences such as
that of the Tagalogs, Ilokanos, Pampangueños, Pangasinense, Bisayans, and Bicolanas.
These dances are influenced by Hispanic and European cultures. Examples are La Jota
Moncadeña and Cariñosa.

3. Muslim Dances- dances from the people of Southern Islands of the Philippines such as in
Mindanao and Sulu. These dances are influenced by Arabic and Indo-Malayan cultures.
Examples are Singkil and Pangalay.

ASSESSMENT
Directions: Identify the following. Write your answer on the blank before the number.
Ethnic Dances 1. These are dances of those in the primitive tribe that is part of their
religious ritual and community custom.
Life-cycle Dances 2. These are dances relating to human life events such as birthing,
courtship, wedding and funeral.
Muslim Dances 3. These are dances of our brothers and sisters in the Southern Island of the
Philippines.
Occupational Dances 4. These are dances that depicts the livelihood of the dancers.
Folk Dances 5. These are traditional dances found in a certain country.
Ritual Dances 6. These are dances that depict ritual ceremonies.
Tribal Dances 7. These are non-Catholic dances from the cordilleras.
National Dances 8. These are popular and widely danced dances within a given country
oftentimes with regional variations.
Lowland Christian Dances 9. These are dances coming from places with western influences.
Francisca Reyes-Aquino 10. She is the national artist of dance and mother of Philippine Folk
Dances.
___________________________________________________________________________

Fundamental Folk Dance Steps 2 Time Signature 4 Counting: 1 2 to a measure Note: R- right foot
Basic Step

Step Close- Step R sideward, step L close to R Step L sideward, step R close to L
Step Point-Step R sideward, points L in front Step L sideward, points R in front
Stem Swing-Step R sideward, swing L in front Step L sideward, swing R in front
Step Brush-Step R sideward, brush L in front Step L sideward, brush R in front
 Step Raise-Step R sideward, Raise L in front Step L sideward, Raise R in front
Step Hop- Step R sideward, Raise L in front
Bleking Step-Step R sideward, step L heel in front Step R sideward, step L heel in front
Slide Step-Slide R sideward, step L close to R Slide L sideward, step R close to L
Change Step-Step R in front, step L close to R in rear, step R quickly in front Step L in front,
step R close to R in rear, step R quickly in front
___________________________________________________________________________