The three major regional classifications of Philippine folk dances are tribal dances from

the Cordilleras, dances from lowland Christians, and Muslim dances.

1. Tribal dances from the Cordilleras – include non-Christian dances from the
Cordilleras.

2. Lowland Christian dances – dances

coming from places with Western
influences such as that of the Tagalogs,
Ilokanos, Pampangueños,
Pangasinense, Bisayans, and Bicolonas.

m
Thee dances are influenced by Hispanic

er as
and European cultures.

co
eH w
3. Muslim dances – dances from the

o.
people of the Southern Islands of the
rs e
ou urc
Philippines such as in Mindanao and
Sulu. These dances are influenced by
Arabic and Indo-Malayan cultures.
o
aC s
vi y re

Philippine folk dances, regardless of their classifications, may also be categorized as:

1. Life-cycle dances – dances that

ed d

serve as ritual as one passes to a

ar stu

different stage in life such as from

birth to childhood to adulthood; from
singlehood to marriage; and from life
is

to death. Below are the different

Th

dances that portray life cycle:

a. Courtship dance
b. Wedding dance
sh

c. Funeral dance

This study source was downloaded by 100000835134574 from CourseHero.com on 11-12-2021 07:37:43 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/68009655/PHILIPPINE-FOLK-DANCESdocx/
 2. Festival dances – dances that are either religious or secular and are connected
with the celebration of recurring events of special significance.

3. Occupational dances – dances that depict the means of livelihood of the

Filipino people. Palay festival, a
national dance in rice-growing
regions, is an example of an
occupational dance wherein
dancers portray different steps in
rice growing – from planting to
harvesting to threshing, flailing,

m
er as
pounding, airing and winnowing.

co
eH w
o.
4. Ritual and ceremonial dances – dances
rs e performed as part of the rituals and
ou urc
ceremonies of a certain tribe or group of
people.
o
aC s
vi y re

5.
Game dances – derivations from local folk
ed d

games. One example of these dances is

ar stu

the Pukol dance from Aklan and Capiz in

the Panay region. Pukol means “to strike
or
is

bump
Th

each other”.
sh

6. Joke and trickster dances – include jokes

or tricks played by a dancer on another or a
group of dancers
who is one of them.

This study source was downloaded by 100000835134574 from CourseHero.com on 11-12-2021 07:37:43 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/68009655/PHILIPPINE-FOLK-DANCESdocx/
 7. Mimetic or drama dances – dances that mimic animals, inanimate objects, or
other people. The dancers get into roles other than themselves and become
actors totally immersed in the story the dances tell.
8. War dances – dances that express feud and enmity wherein two male dancers
engage in physical combat with Spartan-
like intensity.
9. Social amenities dances – dances that
express social graces, hospitality, and

offerings of gifts to friends.

m
er as
co
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
sh

This study source was downloaded by 100000835134574 from CourseHero.com on 11-12-2021 07:37:43 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/68009655/PHILIPPINE-FOLK-DANCESdocx/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)