PHILIPPINE

FOLK
DANCES

Submitted by: Girlie M. Jabonite

Submitted to: Ma’am Stella Marquez
 “Maglalatik”

Maglalatik, a folk dance in Luzon, is unlike any other traditional dance in the Philippines that imitates
animal motions. This dance has significance in the Philippines. It is a fake war dance depicting a battle
for coconut flesh, a highly desired meal. Maglalatik originated in the Philippines and was first staged as a
pretend war in Binan, Laguna.

“Tinikling”

Tinikling is sometimes characterized as a traditional dance that depicts Filipino rice farmers' attempts to
capture and prevent the Tikling bird from stealing ripe rice grains from the fields. Tinikling is the national
dance of the Philippines and is a traditional folk dance that began during the Spanish colonial era.
Tinikling, a dance performed with a pair of bamboo poles, is considered the country's oldest traditional
dance and is widely performed across the world, notably in the United States.

“Kuratsa”
Kuratsa is a flirting and wooing dance that is meant to be performed with a partner. Its motions are
reminiscent of a rooster and hen mating ritual. According to Alcedo, several forms of the dance may be
found throughout the north and centre Philippines. Kuratsa is a traditional dance in the provinces of Leyte
and Samar. It is regularly performed, particularly at fiestas, family reunions, and weddings. It is a
courtship dance in which dancers creatively recreate the wooing moves of a rooster and a hen.

“Cariñosa”

The Cariñosa (which means "affectionate one") is a Filipino traditional dance that originated in Panay, the
Visayas, and the Bicol area. The Cariñosa started in Panay Island and was brought by the Spaniards
during their colonisation of the Philippines. It is connected to various Spanish dances such as the bolero
and the Mexican dance jarabe tapatio, often known as the Mexican hat dance.

“Singkil”
Singkil is a Mindanao folk dance based on the story in the Darangen, the pre-Islamic Maranao
interpretation of the ancient Hindu Indian epic, the Ramayana. Originally, only women, particularly
royalty, danced the Singkil, which serves as either a conscious or unconscious advertisement to potential
suitors. The large rings put around the ankles of the Muslim princess inspired the name of the dance. The
dance is always accompanied by a kulintang and agung ensemble.
 FOREIGN
FOLK
DANCES

Submitted by: Girlie M. Jabonite

Submitted to: Ma’am Stella Marquez
 “Samba”

Brazilian ballroom dance that became popular in Western Europe and the United States in the early
1940s. It is performed to music in 4/4 time with syncopated beat, with basic forward and backward steps
and tilting, rocking body movements. Samba is a Brazilian musical genre and dance form that originated
in Africa through the West African slave trade and African religious traditions, mainly in Angola and the
Congo, via the samba de roda genre of the northeastern state of Bahia.

“Polka”

A vibrant wooing dance from Bohemia. It is distinguished by three rapid steps and a jump and is
performed to music in 2/4 time. The partners cover a lot of ground as they circle around the dance floor.
According to the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the polka originated in Bohemia about
1830 as a round-dance and spread throughout Europe and America in the 19th century.

“Dragon Dance”
The dragon dance, also known as longwu or longdeng, is a traditional Chinese dance performance that
involves a group of dancers using poles to rhythmically move a dragon prop. The dragon is associated
with intelligence, strength, and riches. It, like the lion dance, is most commonly observed at joyous
festivals.

“Kabuki”

Kabuki is a classic Japanese popular theatre that features highly stylized singing and dance. It has been a
dominant theatrical style in Japan for four centuries, with a complex combination of music, dance, mime,
and magnificent staging and costume. Kabuki is a Japanese theatrical art style that is distinguished by
mime, acting, and music, but most notably by dance. Kabuki was created in Kyoto in 1603 by a shrine
attendant named Izumo no Okuni. It was a popular art form for the public, originally performed by
women, with colourful and irreverent dances.

“Flamenco”
Flamenco (baile) is an expressive Spanish dance form. Flamenco is a solo dance with hand clapping,
percussive footwork, and sophisticated hand, arm, and torso motions. A singer and guitarist are generally
present to accompany the dancing. Nobody knows where the name "flamenco" came from, but everyone
agrees that the art form started in southern Spain—Andalusia and Murcia—but was influenced by
musicians and performers from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.