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breaking tasks, that has turned into an art form.
"Dance is an art form that generally refers to
movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to
music. It is used as a form of expression, social
interaction or presented ina spiritual or
performance setting."
"Dance, 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."
- Philippine Folk Dance
- Festival Dance
- Hip Hop Dance
- Ballroom Dance
- Cheer Dance
- Contemporary Dance
Philippine Folk Dance
- Countries in the world have their own cultures
made more colorful, beautiful and vibrant
because of Folk Dances that are reflection of
who they are. In the east, the Chinese have
their symbolic Dragon Dance, the Japanese
have the ancestral dance Bon Odori. In the west
the Americans have their Square Dance. On the
other hand, the Philippines will not be left
behind. "The Pearl of The Orient" boast of a
variety of Filipino Folk Dances.
- As we explore each of the regions and styles,
remember that a lot of these Cultural and Folk
dances represent hardships and daily back
- Many of the dances you will read about here
were actual activities or chores that the
Filipinos endure to survive the poor economy
and state of the nation.
Classification of Folk Dances
- Cordillera Dance
- Tribal Dance
- Spanish Influenced Dance
- Muslim Dance
- Rural Dance
Cordillera Dance
- These are dances from Bontoc, Ifugao,
Benguet, Apayo, & Kalinga.
- Dances that reflect rituals about their way of
life existed long before; a good foot on the
harvest, health, peace, and even war.
- Banga Folk Dance Tribe: Kalinga
"Banga" literally mean pots. The Banga or pot
dance is a contemporary performance of
Kalinga of the Mountain Province in the
Philippines. This dance illustrate the languid
grace of a tribe otherwise known as fierce
warriors. Heavy earthen pots, as many as seven
or eight at a time, are balanced on the heads of
maidens as they trudge to the beat of the
"gangsa" or wind chimes displaying their
stamina and
strength as they go about their daily task of
fetching water and balancing the banga.
- Ragsaksakan Folk Dance Tribe: Kalinga
This dance portrays the walk of the industrious
Kalinga women, carrying water pots on their
heads and wearing the colorful hand-woven
"blankets of life" around their necks. Their walk
imitates the climb up to the Rice Terraces in the
Mountain Provinces of the Philippines.
- Bendayan
Origin: Benguet Province, Northern Luzon
- Lumagen / Tachok (Tribe: Kalinga)
Origin: Luzon
- Salisid (Tribe: Kalinga)
- Tarektek (Tribe: Benguet)
- Uyaoy / Uyauy (Tribe: Ifugao)
Tribal Dance
- These are dances from tribes such as T'boli,
Bilaan, Manobo, Bagobo. It is also known as
"Lumad" and Ethnic dances for the nature,
animal sounds, anitos, etc.
- Dances that reflect rituals & animals, belief in
spirits, and anitos. Also, intricate craftsmanship
in metal, clothing, and jewelry.
- Malakas at Maganda (a national folklore)
Cradled amidst thick rain forest, shrouded with
the mists of legend and ancient traditions, one
folklore has it that a weary bird perched on a
large bamboo heard strange noises inside. It
pecked the bamboo, split open and from inside
came the first man and woman, Malakas the
strong, Maganda the beautiful, the parents of
all people of the island.
- Dugso (Tribe: Talaindig)
Origin: Bukidnon
A dance of thanksgiving.
Spanish Influenced Dance
- These are adopted dances from European
dances like Jotas, Fandangos, Mazurkas,
waltzes.
- Dances that reflect socialites to the
Christianity, and stringed music of European art
and the rondalla.
- The cariñosa is a Philippine dance of colonial-
era origin from the Maria Clara suite of
Philippine folk dances, where the fan or
handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it
places the couple in a romance scenario.
- La Jota Moncadena
Originated in Moncada, Tarlac, it is danced to
the Ilocano/Yogad bamboo musical instrument
ensemble called tallelet. It is a dance to
accompany a bereaved family to the burial of a
loved one. The high pitched clicking of the
bamboo clickers are supposed to represent
melancholy wails. The slow portion of the dance
is in fact named patay (death) or desmayo
(fainting) that is performed to a very slow
marcha funebre.
Muslim Dance
- These are dances influenced by the Malay,
Javanese & Middle Eastern Traders Islam like
Maranao - Singkil, Tausug -Pangalay
- The Dances reflect mysticism, royalty, and
beauty.
- Pangalay (Tribe: Badjao)
Origin: Zamboanga del Sur
A pangalay native to the Badjao, sometimes
known as the "Sea Gypsies." Pangalay is a dance
that emphasizes the agility of the upper body.
The rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with
simultaneous alternating waving of arms are
the basic movement of this dance. The pangalay
is commonly performed at weddings and other
social gatherings.
- Singkil (Tribe:Maranao)
Origin: Lanao, Mindanao
Sinkil dance takes its name from the bells worn
on the ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps
one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the
Singkil recounts the epic legend of the
"Darangan" of the Maranao people of
Mindanao.
A Muslim Courtship Dance.
- Kapa Malong Malong
Also called Sambi sa Malong, this Maranao
dance shows the many ways of wearing a
malong, a simple tubular yet highly functional
piece of cloth. The traditional women's version
shows this cloth of countless colorful designs;
used mostly as a skirt, woven in many different
ways, depending on the purpose of the wearer.
Other ways the women wear malong is as a
shawl, a mantle, or a head-piece.
Rural Dance
- These are dances performed in fiestas to
honor patron saints giving homage to the
barrios namesake for a good harvest, & health.
It shows laughter, festivities like Subli,
Maglalatik, Oasiwas, Karatong, Itik-Itik, Tinikling,
etc.
- Dances that reflect the simple life of
perseverance with the people in the barrio that
depicts common work, and daily activities.
- Tinikling
This 'Visayan' dance was found in Leyte where
this dance originated. Dancers imitate the
tikling bird's legendary grace and speed as they
skillfully play, chase each other, run over tree
branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice
farmers. Hence it is named after the bird,
tikling. this version of the dance is done
between a pair of bamboo poles.
- Pasigin
Origin: Pasig
A dance interpreting toil in the life of the
fishermen in the river called Pasig. Manifesting
the native means of catching the fish.
- Maglalatik
During the Spanish regime, the present barrios
of Loma and Zapote of Biñan, Laguna, were
separated. With coconut shells as implements
the people of these two barrios danced the
Maglalatik, or Magbabao, a war dance depicting
a fight between the Moros and the Christians
over the latik (residue left after the coconut
milk has been boiled).
FESTIVAL DANCE
- Almost every province and city in the
Philippines has all kinds of fiestas celebrated all
year round that shows the rich culture of the
country.
- There are different types of festivals, namely,
religious, national, or seasonal.
- A considerable number of festivals celebrated
in the country are of religious origin, honoring
the city or province's patron saint.
- Catholic missionaries who arrived along with
the Spaniards created fiestas to gradually
persuade the population to convert to the
Roman Catholic faith.
- Philippine festivals are celebrations to express
gratitude for a good harvest in honor of the
town's patron saint.
FAMOUS PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS
- ATI-ATIHAN
The Ati-atihan Festival is a feast held in honor of
the Santo Niño held annually in January
concluding on third Sunday, in the town of
Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines.
Celebrants paint their faces with black and wear
bright, outlandish costumes as they dance in
revelry.
- SINULOG FESTIVAL
The festival honors the child Jesus, known as
the Sto. Niño, patron of the City of Cebu. A
dance ritual which commemorates the Cebuano
people's acceptance of Christianity.
- DINAGYANG FESTIVAL
A religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City,
Philippines held on the fourth Sunday of
January. Dinagyang was voted as the Best
Tourism Event for 2006, 2007, and 2008 by the
Association of Tourism Officers in the
Philippines.
- PANAGBENGA
The festival in Baguio was created as a tribute
to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up
from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon
earthquake.
- KAAMULAN
is a Bukidnon ethnic cultural-festival from the
Binukid word amul, "to gather", is an
indigenous term for a gathering for any
purpose.
- MORIONES FESTIVAL
An annual festival held on Holy Week on the
island of Marinduque. The "Moriones" are Men
and Women in costumes and masks replicating
the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as
interpreted by local folks--morion means mask
or visor.
- PAHIYAS FESTIVAL
Lucban celebrates the Pahiyas Festival in honor
of the patron saint of farmers, St. Isidore. This
festival showcases a street of houses which are
adorned with fruits, vegetables, agricultural
products, and handicrafts.
- KADAYAWAN
Kadayawan is an annual festival held every third
week of August in the City of Davao. Its name
derives from the lovely greeting "madayaw"
from the dabawenyo word "dayaw" meaning
good, valuable, superior or beautiful.
- HERMOSA FESTIVAL

All roads in Mindanao lead to Zamboanga, as

the "City of Flowers" celebrates its grand,
annual Hermosa Festival. The Vintas, those
colorful native sea boats, once again made
appearance in a fast-paced, race- till-you-drop
regatta.

- MASSKARA

The Masskara Festival is a week- long festival

held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of
Negros Occidental province. The word
MassKara has a double meaning. "Mass" for
many, and "Kara" for is a Spanish word for face.

- BANGUS

A non-religious festival in honor of the thanks-

giving and bountiful harvest of Bangus held
around April or May in Dagupan, Pangasinan.
Naimas ti Bangus dyay Pangasinan!