EVOLUTION OF DANCE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Primitive Era

To early Filipinos, dance was an expression of community life that animates the various rituals and
ceremonies. Ethnic dances were found among the ethno-linguistic groups scattered all over the Philippine
Islands, who have not been substantially westernized, either by Spain or the United States.

Examples of these ethnic tribes are the Ibaloy, Kankanai, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, and Bontocs. These
tribes share common religious beliefs, generally animistic, and make offerings to household gods called
“anitos”, in the course of which dancing occurs. They usually dance around a sacred idol or fire
depending upon the purpose of dancing. They dance to appease ancestors and gods, to cure ailments, to
insure success in war-making activities or to ward off ill-luck and natural calamities, and to congregate
and socialize for general welfare and recreation and as an outlet for represses feelings, to insure bountiful
harvests and favourable weather, and to mark milestone in the life cycles of birth, wedding, and death.

1. Ritual Dances - are dances which connect the material world to the spiritual. Rituals sustain the
spiritual and social life of the indigenous Filipinos. The Babaylan or medicine men of primitive
cultures whose powers to invoke the assistance of a god were feared and respected, were considered
by many to be the first choreographers or composers of formal dances.

2. Life-cycle Dances - are dances which celebrate an individual’s birth, baptism, courtship, wedding, and
demise.

3. Occupational Dances - are dances which transform defense and livelihood activities to celebratory
performances.

4. Mimetic Dances - are special dances which are mimetic in nature. The surrounding animal life also
easily lends itself to imitate dances that are both graphic and symbolic.

The Primitive dances of the Filipino people draw their inspiration from the different images around them
and religious and social activities of the tribe which are of communal purpose. They may also have
learned many of their dance movements and patterns from the birds and animals around them.

The Spanish Colonial Period

The Spaniards came to the Philippines on March 16,1521 and colonized the island for 333 years. To
make Catholicism appealing, native dances were modified and used in the rites celebrating Christian Holy
days and religious fiestas turned native to a certain extent and became a vehicle, for the Filipino way of
spiritual and communal expression.

Dances like Fandango, Habanera, Rigodon, Mazurka, Paseo, Paso Doble were adapted to the tastes and
needs of the society and conditions of climate and seasons in a tropical archipelago. However, the
Spaniards did not teach the native their dances. The wealthy Indios Filipinos, who on state occasions,
socialized with the colonial masters, merely copied and disseminated these dances among themselves.

The American Colonial Period

On December 10, 1898, in the Treaty of Paris, Spain sold Philippines to the United States for 20 million
dollars. The Americans established schools all over the islands where physical education was given a
prominent place in the program.

The American teachers also introduced dances like ballet and modern dance through physical education
programs. These dances threatened to completely destroy the well-cherished Philippine tradition and
culture.

Today, Philippine dances are no longer communal in purpose but are highly theatricalized. There are even
choreographed dances based on folk elements. As Filipinos, we have the responsibility to propagate and
preserve Philippine folk dances for posterity.