JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, CRIMINOLOGY AND EDUCATION

Physical Education Department

Module 1
What is Dance?

Dance is an expression of the body, following rhythmic patterns and is accompanied

by music. From the primitive man expressing emotions in such events as birth, death,
marriage, war among other things, dance has evolved to modern forms of social
dancing.
Dance 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.

Today, most dancing is about recreation and self-expression, although it can also be
done as a competitive activity. You can dance in a group with a partner, or on your
own. There are lots of different places where you can enjoy dancing, for example, at
dance schools, social venues, community halls and in your own home. Dancing is an
enjoyable way to be more physically active and stay fit. Dancing can be a way to stay
fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range of physical and mental
benefits.

Importance of Dance

Dance is more than the exploring of different ways to make a shape or learning
a series of steps to music; it is a way of moving that uses the body as an instrument of
expression and communication. Through dance, students learn teamwork, focus, and
improvisational skills. Dance awakens new perceptions in children which help them
learn and think in new ways.

But the question is, can you dance? Keeping the body active enables the body system
to function properly with vigor and alertness. Staying in shape allows the individual to
perform daily task efficiently resulting to better output and performance
 JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, CRIMINOLOGY AND EDUCATION
Physical Education Department

What are the health benefits of dance?

Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. It has
a wide range of physical and mental benefits including:

• improved condition of your heart and lungs

• increased muscular strength, endurance, and motor fitness
• increased aerobic fitness
• improved muscle tone and strength
• weight management
• stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
• better coordination, agility, and flexibility
• improved balance and spatial awareness
• increased physical confidence
• improved mental functioning
• improved general and psychological wellbeing
• greater self-confidence and self-esteem
• better social skills.

Types of Dances

There are many styles of dance to choose from, each with its own
attractions. Popular styles of dancing in the Philippines include:

1. Folk dance – a popular dance, considered as a part of a particular people.

2. Ballroom – a formal social dance for couples.

3. Modern contemporary – a style of dance that emerged in the 20th century.

Defining this style is very difficult, as it is an extremely fluid and very nebulous
style of dance.

4. Festival dance – is a cultural dance that performed to the strong beats of

percussion instruments by a community of people sharing the same culture
usually done in honor of a Patron Saint or in thanksgiving of a bountiful
harvest.
 JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, CRIMINOLOGY AND EDUCATION
Physical Education Department

5. Cheer dance – is a choreographed dance combined with gymnastics skills

(tumbling, stunts, jumps, turns and twists).

6. Hip-Hop – refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music

or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture.

Choosing a Dance Style

When choosing a dance style, ask yourself questions such as:

1. Do I want to dance to improve my fitness?

2. Am I trying to improve my flexibility and coordination?

3. Do I prefer fast dancing or slow dancing?

4. Do I want to dance with a partner, or on my own?

5. Do I want to join a group or have a private lesson?

6. Will I enjoy competitions, or do I want to just dance for fun?

What is Folk Dance

Folk dance

Generally, a type of dance that is a vernacular, usually recreational,

expression of a past or present culture. Folk dance is a form of dance developed
by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of a certain country or
region. Folk dancing represents the dance forms of the common people as
opposed to those from the upper classes. Folk dances may emerge spontaneously
among groups of people or derive from previous styles.

The style can be free-form or rigidly structures. Once established, folk

dance steps are passed down through generations and rarely change. Usually
associated with social activities, some dances are also performed competitively,
and in some regions, folk dancing is even involved in cultural education.
 JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, CRIMINOLOGY AND EDUCATION
Physical Education Department

Philippine folk dance

Philippine folk dancing incorporates influences from immigrants and

conquerors while at the same time maintaining distinctly Filipino roots.
Philippine folk dancing is a true reflection of daily life in past centuries while
enchanting modern audiences at the same time.

There is no recorded "start" to Philippine folk dance - if there have been

people on the islands they have been dancing. In fact, their mythology is filled
with many different gods and goddesses that needed to be placated, implored, or
thanked for various natural events like rain and harvests. Many of these festivals
still feature ancient folk dances performed in costume of the tribal period.
It is impossible to know when exactly dancing became a part of life in the
Philippines. Many traditional dances were designed to thank the gods for natural
and agricultural events, such as rain and harvests. The dances were performed
during festivals and remembrances of past military victories, and still are
performed at celebrations of births and weddings in modern times. Many modern
folk-dance festivals still feature ancient dances performed in costume of the
tribal period of the Philippines.
Philippine folk dance mirrors the culture and tradition of the Filipinos. It
has also been a source of culture identify of the people. In this diversified
country, there are also great diversity of dances in different forms and dynamics
that grow out of various times, situation, and experiences.

Five Group Classifications of Dances Found in the

Philippines

CORDILLERA DANCE
Cordillera, a name given by the Spanish conquistadors when the mountain
ranges were first seen. The Spanish word refers to the jumbled rolls and dips of
this long range across the northern part of Luzon Island, meaning “knotted
roped”.
 JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, CRIMINOLOGY AND EDUCATION
Physical Education Department

SPANISH INFLUENCES DANCE

Almost 400 years of Spanish rule left an inescapable mark on the Philippines.
Spain brought all facets of its society to the Islands with them. This includes
the Catholic faith, music, and Clothes.
The barong tagalog and terno are Philippine versions of Spanish dress designed
to suit the Philippine humid climate. Apart from creating their own versions of
European fashion, Philippine aristocrats also created European dance
adaptations for the Philippines. These include jotas, fandangos, mazurkas, and
waltzes which were danced to the stringed music of the rondalla by young
socialities.
Example: Jota Quirino
MUSLIM DANCE
They are known for their beauty, royalty and mysticism that are evident in their
music and dances. Accompanied by the agong and kulintang, Filipino Muslim
dance is characterized by intricate movement of the hand and arm along with
shimmering costumes.
TRIBAL DANCE
The large regions of Mindanao are populated by the T’boli, Bilaan, Manobo,
Bagobo, and others. Like their counterparts in Northern Luzon, such group honor
pagan Gods for the daily fruits and trials. What sets them apart from other
Philippine tribes is their exquisite craftsmanship in tools, clothes, and jewelry.
These tribes are proud of their idea of beauty and are known in their traditional
dances for making colorful sets of jewelry and clothing from dyed pineapple and
banana fibers.
Example dance: MadalTahaw Manobo – Bangkakaw
RURAL DANCE
There are dances that have managed to steer clear of Western influences and
have no obvious foreign features to this day. Such as a tagalog war dance like the
“Maglalatik”. The topic of this dance is open war between Christian and Muslim
soldiers over “Latik” or the residue of coconuts.
 JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, CRIMINOLOGY AND EDUCATION
Physical Education Department

Values and Importance of Philippine Folk dance

Folk arts, specifically folk music, and dance, embody fundamental values of
great worth to our culture, our nation, and our children. There is no better way to
share time together as families and friends. Our job is to preserve the joyful tunes
we've inherited from our ancestors and to pass them on to others.

Value
Philippine folk dance helps keep the people connected to their ancestry and their
traditions. Folk dance helps to preserve the cultural unity of the people.

Importance
People think folk dances are important because they help keep a culture
alive. People have been doing folk dances for hundreds of years, and there is value
keeping that tradition alive.

Folk dances are important because they preserve the Philippine culture and pass
it on to the next generation. They are a uniting force to the Philippine people.