PHILIPPINE

FOLK DANCE
WHAT IS FOLK DANCE?
Folk dances are the indigenous dances of any
specific "folk" or the common people. They are
traditional customary or recreational dance
forms of a given country which have evolved
naturally and were handed down across
generations.
Folk dances are related to everything of
importance in our daily lives, such as customs,
rituals, and occupations of a specific group of
people. Most of these dances are related in
origin to religious belief, stemming from
emotions, superstitions, festivals, ceremonies
of birth, courtship, marriage, death, war, and
countless themes common to all people
around the world.
FACT:
Lopez (2006) defined Philippine folk dance as
"a traditional mode of expression that employs
bodily movements of redundant patterns linked
to definitive features of rhythmic beats or
music".
Philippine folk dance, to be called such, should have the
following characteristics:

1. It is traditional.
2. It has an expressive behavior.
3. Simple, basic rhythm dominates the folk dance and establishes
the pattern of movement.
4. It is created by an unknown choreographer or by communal
efforts.
5. It performs a function in the life of the (folk) people.

Oftentimes, the term folk dance is being confused or used

interchangeably with ethnic and national dance.
WHAT ARE THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
FOLK, NATIONAL, AND
ETHNIC DANCES?
 FOLK DANCES
Folk dances are traditional dances passed
down within specific regions or communities,
often reflecting everyday life and customs.

They are typically simple, accessible, and

performed at social events and celebrations.
 NATIONAL DANCES
National dances represent a specific
country's cultural heritage and identity, often
with historical or symbolic significance.

They are more formalized and standardized,

performed on national holidays and cultural
events to promote a nation's culture.
ETHNIC DANCES
Ethnic dances are linked to particular ethnic
or cultural groups, showcasing their unique
history, customs, and traditions.

They are performed within the context of

ethnic gatherings and rituals, preserving and
sharing the heritage of specific ethnic
communities.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF PHILIPPINE
FOLK DANCES?
THE THREE MAJOR REGIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS
OF PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES

1.Tribal dances from the

These are non-Christian dances
Cordilleras
from the Cordilleras.

dances coming from places with Western

influences such as that of the Tagalogs,
2.Lowland Christian Ilokanos, Pampangueños, Pangasinense,
dances Bisayans, and Bicolonas These dances
are influenced by Hispanic and European
cultures.
THE THREE MAJOR REGIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS
OF PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES

dances from the people of the Southern Islands

of the Philippines such as in Mindanao and Sulu.
1.Muslim dances
These dances are influenced by Arabic and Indo-
Malayan cultures.
.
PHILIPPINE FOLK
DANCES,MAY ALSO BE
CATEGORIZEDCUSTOMERS
AS:
1. Life-cycle dances

dances that serve as ritual as one passes to a different

stage in life such as from birth to childhood to
adulthood; from singlehood to marriage; and from life to
death. Below are the different dances that portray life
cycle:

a. courtship dances
b. wedding dances
C. funeral dances
2. Festival dances

dances that are either religious or secular and are

connected with the celebration of recurring events of
special significance.
3. Occupational dances

dances that depict the means of livelihood of the

Filipino people.
Palay festival, a national dance in rice-growing regions,
is an example of an occupational dance wherein
dancers portray different steps in rice growing- from
planting to harvesting to threshing, flailing, pounding,
airing and winnowing (Aquino, 1979).
4. Ritual and ceremonial dances

dances performed as part of the rituals and

ceremonies of a certain tribe or group of people.
5. Game dances

derivations from local folk games. One example of these

dances is the Pukol dance from Aklan and Capiz in the
Panay region. Pukol means "to strike or bump each
other" (Aquino, 1979).
6. Joke and trickster dances

include jokes or tricks played by a dancer on another

or a group of dancers who is one of them. The intention
is to render that individual "to a physical or mental
indignity or discomfort" (Lopez, 2006).

Example of these is the Pandanggo sa Sambalilo dance

from the Tagalog regions wherein a girl teases her male
back and playing with his hat then pushes him when he
is about to succeed in getting back and putting his hat
on the floor
7. Mimetic or drama dances

dances that mimic animal, inanimate objects, or other

people. The dancers get into roles other than
themselves and become actors totally Immersed in the
story and become actors in the story the dances tell.
The Itik-Itik dance from Surigao is an example of a
mimetic dance as it imitates the movement of a duck.
8. War dances

dances that express feud and enmity wherein two male

dancers engage in physical combat with Spartan-like
intensity (Lopez, 2006). Maglalatik(Biñan, Laguna) is an
example of a war dance as this depicts a battle
between Muslims of southern Philippines and the
Christian Filipinos of the lowlands over latik (the
residue after coconut boils down). In this dance, the
Muslim won and the Christians sought conciliation in
order to convert the Muslim Moros to Christianity
(Aquino, 1979).
9. Social amenities dances

dances that express social graces, hospitality, and

offerings of gifts to friends. All social ballroom dances and
most of the "Filipinized" Western dances that show
camaraderie merriment belong to this group (Lopez, 2006).
Examples are Minuete Yano (Iriga, Camarines Sur), Alay
(Tagalog regions), and Habanera Botoleña (Botolan,
Zambales) dances. Minuete Yano, for instance, is performed
by people from high social standing in the community
during special occasions honoring high government officials
and church dignitaries (Aquino, 1979).
TY FOR LISTENING!!!