PHED (Prelims)
PHED 213
WEEKS 1-5: LESSONS
BASIC FUNDAMENTAL STEPS
FOLK DANCE
- Many people enjoy learning basic steps in folk dance in
order to participate in either a social or religious tradition, or
sometimes just to get some exercise. Whatever your reason
for learning, folk dancing is a fun form of movement that
involves dancers from all ages and backgrounds.
- Folk dancing is a broad term used to describe a wide array
of dances. Every culture around the world has its own folk
dances, and there are usually specific ones for big
celebrations like weddings.
The term "folk dance" is simply defined as a dance that has
a particular set of steps or figures that repeat in time to
music. There are also usually partners in folk dancing, where
everyone from one couple to many couples can dance at
one time.
TYPES OF FOLK DANCE:
 NATIONAL – traditional dances of a given country
(Cariῆosa, Tinikling)
 REGIONAL – dance found in a certain localities or
regions (Sayaw sa Obando)
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILIPPINE DANCE
 As a rule, our dances begin and end with a
“saludo”. A SALUDO is a three-step-turn in place
and bow to either partner or audience.
 A distance between 6 to 8 feet from each other.
 Most of the dances are done in pairs or couple.
 There is a little, if any bodily contact. Holding of the
hands are very common.
 Hand movements play an important part.
 War dances are found among non-Christians tribes.
 It is traditional and expressive behavior.
FUNDAMENTAL STEPS IN FOLK DANCE
1. Arm: Raised arms to a circle in front of the chest.
Feet: Bring heels close to touch, toes apart.
2. Arm: Open up arms side ward, raised below
Shoulder level with a graceful curve.
Feet: Bring feet apart side ward.
3. Arm: Raise one arm overhead while another arm
remains in 2nd position.
Feet: Bring the heel of foot to touch the instep of the
other foot.
4. Arm: Raise one arm in front of chest in a half circle,
while one arm remains overhead.
Feet: Bring one foot in front of the other foot to walk
strike.
5. Arm: Raise both arms overhead in a grace full
curve.
Feet: Bring the heel of one foot to touch the toe of
the other.
CARIÑOSA
Cariñosa is a Spanish word meaning “loving” or “affectionate
one”.
 A Philippine Folk Dance of Hispanic Origin in the
Maria Clara suite.
 This is a courtship dance that portrays acts of
flirtation between a man and a woman.
 This is closely related in the Panay Islands of the
Visayan Region.
 Most Filipina are said to be described as karinyosa.
 This is introduced in the Philippines by the
Spaniards in the 16th century.
 In honor of Maria Clara, a main character of Dr.
Jose Rizal’s novel called “Noli Me Tangere”.
Costume:
 Girl: Girls wear a Balintawak or a patadyong and
camisa. Girls has fan hanging at the right side of
the waist.
 Boy: Boys wear a barong tagalog and any color of
trousers, usually black. Boys has a handkerchief in
their pocket.
Dance figures:
• The dance has eight figures. The music shows a great
Spanish influence to the Filipinos. It is in ¾ time signatures.
o Three steps and point
o Pointing
o Back-to-back
o Hide-and-seek with a fan
o Kneeling and fanning
o Hide and seek with handkerchief
o Flirting with handkerchief
o Flirting
Reminder: This flirtation dance is known throughout the
Philippines. Carinosa means affectionate, lovable, or
amiable. With a fan and a handkerchief, the dances go
through hideand-seek movements and other flirting acts
expressing tender feelings for one another. There are many
versions of this dance, but the Hide-and-seek movements
are common in all.
 PHED (Prelims)
PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE MUSLIM DANCES
DANCE: Influenced by Malay, Javanese and Middle Eastern Traders
(Islam)
- A form of expression of oneself through rhythmic
movement.  Mysticism, royalty and beauty.
 Uses intricate hand and arm movement.
FOLK DANCE
 the fingers express feelings and emotions
-oldest form of dance and the earliest form of  Uses shimmering costumes.
communication.
 the traditional dance of a given country which
evolved naturally and spontaneously with everyday
activities. E.g: occupations, customs, festivals,
rituals.
 It is handed down from generation to generation.
 It has more or less a fixed movement in their
TRIBAL DANCES
pattern, but may differ in various areas or
provinces. Also known as Ethnic Dances; Ethnic minorities found in
different parts of the Philippines (T’boli, Bilaan, Manobo,
5 MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS OF PHILIPPINE FOLK
Bagobo etc.)
DANCES
 Intricate craftsmanship in metal, clothing and
CORDILLERA DANCES
jewelry.
dances reflect rituals which celebrate their daily lives – a  Reflects rituals and animals, beliefs in “spirits” and
good harvest, health, peace, war, and other symbols of shamans, nature – “anito,”
living.  animal sounds, human singing, indigenous
materials.
 Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Apayo, and Kalinga Tribes
 A people whose way of life existed long before any
Spaniard or other foreigners stepped foot in the
Philippines.
 Gongs, ganza.

reflects the simple life of the people in the barrio.
SPANISH INFLUENCED DANCES
Dances reflects Christianity, and European art and culture.
 Philippine aristocrats crewated Filipino adaptations
of European dances.
 Jotas, fandangos, mazurkas, waltzes.
 dances by young socialites to the stringed music of
the rondalla.
RURAL DANCES
 depicts common work, daily activities of the
peasants.
 shows gaiety and laughter, festivities
 Performed in fiestas to honor patron saints.
 give homage to the barrio’s namesake for a good
harvest, health and perseverance.
 Indigenous materials, clapping, rondalla, percussion
instruments.

CLASSIFICATION OF FOLKDANCES IN THE PHILIPPINES

 PHED (Prelims)
 OCCUPATIONAL DANCE The dancers used fan and handkerchief as their props. The
- depicting action of certain occupation, industry or female dancers use the fan to hide their face while dancing
human labor. and they move it with the rhythm of the music. When using
 RELIGIOUS/ CEREMONIAL DANCE handkerchief, the female and male dancers hold the corners
- performed in connection with religious vows and of the handkerchief. They used it as their shield to each
ceremonies. other and they peek on each side as the music play.
 COMIC DANCE Basically, the dance shows a courtship of the couple.
- depicting funny movements for entertainment. CARIŃOSA DANCE MECHANICS
 GAME DANCE
- with play elements In this dance, performers should refrain from touching each
 WEDDING DANCE other, but the steps shows the guy’s interest to the female
- performed during wedding feast. while the latter is shy and wants to be chased.
 COURTSHIP DANCE Female dancer uses fan. She will be using it to fan herself
- depicting love making. with the beat while dancing.
 FESTIVAL DANCE
- suitable for special occasion or any social They glance at each other from a handkerchief as if they
gatherings. were playing hide-and-seek, where each partners hold the
corners of the handkerchief while blocking each other’s face.
CARINOSA
Partners swap flirtatious waves and gestures, and then the
Is a Spanish word pronounced as [kaɾiˈɲosa], meaning the girl will kneel down with one knee and fans herself while the
loving or affectionate one. guy dances around the other and then vice versa.
It is a Philippine dance of Hispanic origin from the Maria BASIC CARIŃOSA STEPS
Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or
handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it places the The step of Cariῆosa is similar to waltz and music is ¾
couple in romance scenario. signature. When the music starts, the female holds her skirt
with one or both hands, swaying the fabric of her skirt at the
 It is closely associate with the island of Panay and side while moving around the floor by swaying to the side
the Visayas region in general. with a left foot by stepping your right next to the left.
 Most Filipina women can be described as
karinyosa. STEP 1. 3 step turn and bow facing each other.

This is a courtship dance that portrays acts of flirtation STEP 2. 3 step and point Right-Left direction in 16 counts
between a man and a woman. The dancers perform steps
STEP 3. Touch step- 3 step forward in 2 counts. 4 touch
resembling hide-and-seek movements. The woman holds a
step, change position then repeat.
handkerchief or sometimes a fan.
STEP 4. 3 step forward and back to back 4 Touch step
More than the tinikling, the cariñosa is considered the
Change position and repeat the first two on step 4 above
national dance of the Philippines. It is introduced in the
Philippines by the Spaniards in the 16th century. STEP 5. 3 step forward. Girl opens her fan and will start
fanning herself 4 touch step Change position and the first
In honor of Maria Clara, a main character of Dr. Jose Rizal's
three on step 5 above
novel called “Noli Me Tangere" when translated in English
means "Touch Me Not". STEP 6. 3 step forward Boy move forward then kneel Girl
taps the boy with her fan and she will do 4 touch steps
The first ever published notation of the Cariñosa dance
Change position Girl will kneel as they look each other and
steps was from the book Philippine Folk Dances and Games
the boy will do 4 touch step
by Francisca Reyes-Tolentino (later became an Aquino).
Mrs. Tolentino's master's thesis which has the same title was STEP 7. 3 step forward Girl gets the handkerchief from the
revised and was later published in 1927 boy Both will move the handkerchief up and down four times
Change position then repeat the first three in step 7.
However, the most common of the many Cariñosa found in
the country is the one from the book "Philippine Folk Dances
v1" by Francisca Reyes Aquino, published sometime in
1940. The version integrated all the common dance figures
among the many versions throughout the land.