The History

of
Dancing
in
Philippines
Before the Spanish Various tribes were scattered across the more than 7,000 islands, each with its
own unique traditions and dances. The Igorot tribes lived in the mountains of Luzon; a handful of
these tribes still reside in the mountains, having successfully resisted Spanish colonization. Many of
the dances have been handed down through the generations. Dance expresses this tribe's love of
nature and gratitude to the gods. To imitate the wonders of nature, dancers often swoop their arms
like birds and stomp their feet to represent the rumbling of the Earth. However, many other tribes in
other regions are disappearing, and only a few of their dances survive. Thanksgiving, worship and
prayers for a bountiful harvest mark the style of these dances.
Voyage to Mindanao In the 12th century, traders and seafarers came to the Philippines long before
the Spanish, bringing the Islamic faith with them. The inhabitants of the southern region converted to
Islam, incorporating their new religion into the fabric of their existing culture. The dances of the
Muslims, known as Moros, are alluring and colorful. Female dancers wear costumes studded with
jewels, while male dancers brandish swords and shields. The Moros use languid arm movements to
imitate the world around them such as the wind, the sea and the fish. Each dance is punctuated by the
haunting sounds of the kulintangan, a set of small gongs. Like the Igorots, the Moros were able to
resist Spanish rule, which is why many of their dances continue to flourish.
Maria Clara In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan came to the archipelago, signaling the start of Spanish
colonization. However, the Spanish didn't get a foothold in the Philippines until 1565. Three
centuries of Spanish rule left an imprint on the Filipinos. Many of them were converted to
Catholicism and forced to take Spanish surnames.
During this period, Western culture spread through the islands, including such Western dances as the
waltz, fandango and polka. With a little Filipino flare, they quickly became part of the culture. This
"new" style of dance was named Maria Clara after the tragic character in Jose Rizal's novel "Noli Me
Tangere."
Barrio Fiesta After toiling in the rice paddies, countryside farmers would gather to sing and dance.
These dances revolve around everyday items, such as glasses, candles, benches, hats and bamboo
poles. Because the dances are a celebration, they are often referred to as "a barrio fiesta." One of the
more complicated dances is pandanggo sa ilaw, meaning "dance of lights," which imitates wandering
fireflies. To accomplish the illusion, women delicately balance three "tinghoy," or oil lamps, on their
heads and palms.
The National Dance Tinikling, the national dance, is considered the oldest of the Philippine folk
dances. The dance, which comes from the countryside, takes its name and movements from the
"tinikling" bird as it roams between grass steams, crushes tree branches and avoids traps set by rice
farmers. Dancers skip gracefully back and forth while trying to avoid getting their feet caught by two
bamboo poles.
There are many tall tales about the dance's origins. According to one story, Filipino farm workers
who displeased their Spanish masters had their feet smashed by two bamboo poles. When the poles
were apart, the workers would jump to avoid getting hurt. Thus, this dance was born.
List of Philippine Folk Dance
1. Tinikling

History:
     One of the oldest traditional Filipino dances, the Tinikling dance, or bamboo dance, is performed
using long bamboo poles. Originating on the island of Leyte in the central Philippines, the Tinikling
dance takes its name from the tikling bird. The movements of the dance are meant to imitate the bird
as it steps through its marshy habitat.

Starting with the Bird

The inspiration for the Tinikling dance is the tikling bird, a native of the Philippines. Also
known as barred rails (Gallirallus torquatus), tikling birds are found in wetlands and grasslands. The
birds' distinctive movements as they meander through grass and around tree branches are imitated in
the dance. Dancers hop over and around the clapping bamboo poles that substitute for branches, their
quick feet keeping them from being hit by the rhythmically moving bamboo.
Creating the Dance
• Developed around the time the Spanish occupation of the Philippines began in 1565, the Tinikling dance traces
its origins to the island of Leyte. The wet climate of the island made it highly suitable for growing crops such
as rice. Farmers and field hands working in the rice paddies had ample opportunity to observe the behavior of
the tikling birds that lived in the area as they searched for food along the field edge. Imitating the hopping
movements at home proved to be an entertaining pastime.
Evolving the Dance
• Originally more of a playful activity similar to that of jumping rope, the Tinikling dance eventually became a
more formal traditional dance. Although still retaining the fun element, modern performers have a specific
order of steps to perform. The barefoot dancing couples, male and female, wear traditional Filipino costumes.
The male dancer wears a barong-tagalog, a loose, long-sleeved embroidered tunic. His female counterpart
wears a balintawak, consisting of a dress with butterfly sleeves and a scarf worn over the left shoulder.
Continuing the Legend
• While the origin of the dance is attributed to the tikling bird, there is another origin legend that persists. It has
its roots in the Spanish occupation, when the Spanish seized farms and forced the former owners to work
them. According to this legend, as a punishment for working too slowly, workers were forced to stand while
their feet were beaten with freshly cut bamboo poles. To avoid bruised and bloodied feet, the workers
practiced dodging the bamboo poles, creating the movements that eventually became the Tinikling dance.
2. Carinosa

HISTORY:
• The cariñosa is a much-loved folk dance in the Philippines. Spanish in origin, it is regarded as a national
dance by scholars, and the characteristic shy behavior of the female dancer is said to represent the
mannerisms of Philippina women. The cariñosa is a popular folk dance that was introduced to the country
by the Spaniards when they arrived in the 16th century. It belongs to the Maria Clara suite of Philippine
folk dances. These are so named in honour of Maria Clara, who was the main character in Jose Rizal's
novel Noli Me Tangere, ('Don't Touch Me'), about the colonisation of the Philippines by the Spanish. In it,
Maria Clara is portrayed as a noble and loyal woman, who after the publication of the novel in the 19th
century became the female symbol of virtue for Philippina women.
Geography
• It is believed that Panay Island, located in the Visayan Islands group was the original home of the
cariñosa. The Spanish first arrived on the island in 1569. The dance soon spread around the Philippines,
giving rise to different versions in different regions, such as in Bicol, where both dancers carry
handkerchiefs.
Features
• It was traditional for a Spanish 'Maria Clara' costume to be worn, which consisted of a long dress and
a long-sleeved short embroidered dress made from pineapple fibers. Now more traditional Philippine
dress is usual. Men wear white shirts and colored trousers, while the women wear native dresses.
• The music is Spanish-influenced, with three-quarter rhythms that resemble a bolero or a waltz in both
speed and style. Ensemble orchestras comprising banjos, mandolins, strings and drums are typical.
The orchestras were once mainly composed of men, however more and more women are starting to
take part.
The dance
• To dance the cariñosa, a man and a woman dance together, taking slow steps around the room,
similar to those of a waltz. The female holds a fan or handkerchief, which she coyly hides behind.
The dance itself is intended as a courtship dance, and is of a flirtatious nature. Cariñosa literally
means "she that is loving" as the verb ending indicates it refers to a woman.
Misconceptions
• During the Marcos regime, the cariñosa was named the national dance of the Philippines. To this
day school text books still claim this; however, the Philippine government maintains it is another
dance called "tinikling," which is a native dance. Today, the cariñosa is performed at social
gatherings and festivities.
3. Itik - itik
HISTORY:
• itik-itik is popular in visayan settlers of surigao del norte and this particular dance is similar to duck
movement with the imagery of short choppy steps and splashing water onto it's back while attracting
a mate. Originating from a dance called Sibay and performed to the tune of Dejado, the story was
told that an expert young dancer named Cayetana at a barrio of Cantilan during a baptismal party had
become so carried away with the rhythm that she began to improvise short, choppy steps similar to
ducks and then splash water on their backs.
• The dance immediately became popular in the province for stage performances and social dancing.
Later, Mr. Antonino Arreza, a native of Cantilan and a grandfather of Prospero Pichay, Jr. was
believed be the one who compose the lyrics of Itik-itik.
4. Sayaw sa Bangko

HISTORY:
     Sayaw ed Tapew na Bangko (dance on top of a bench), is a dance which originates from
Pangasinan and researched by Jovita Sison. It is performed by a couple on a narrow bench, inching
and hopping from one end to another. Dancer show skill in staying up the bench as they exchange
places by moving their way around or the girl thrown in the air while boy moves to the other end.
They do not compete but rather complement each other so that no one falls. It is usually performed
during town fiestas.
5. Binausan

HISTORY:
     Binasuan dance derived its name from a Pangasinan phrase that literally translates to mean "with
the use of a drinking glass." Though it is not known exactly when Binasuan dance originated,
dance has been an important part of Filipino culture for centuries, beginning as a way for people to
express thanks to the gods, in festivals and traditional celebrations, for blessings and prosperity.
6. Pandanggo sa ilaw

HISTORY:
• Pandanggo sa ilaw / Oasis Origin: Lubang Island, Mindoro (Visayas) This popular dance of
grace and balance comes from Lubang Island, Mindoro in the Visayas region. The term
pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by lively
steps and clapping that varies in rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular pandanggo involves the
presence of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, balanced on the head and the back of each hand. After a
good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would celebrate by drinking wine and by dancing, swinging
and circling a lighted lamp. Hence, the name "Oasiwas" which in the Pangasinan dialect means
"swinging." This unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on the head
while circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth or fishnet. The waltz-style
music is similar to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
7. Maglalatik
HISTORY:
•      Maglalatik or Magbabao is a war dance representing in a picture a battle between the Moros
and the Christian over the latik, the remainder left after the coconut milk has been boiled. At
some time in the course of Spanish rule, with coconut shells as tools, the people of the barrios of
Loma and Zapote in the town of Biñan in the province of Laguna danced the Maglalatik.

•      The Palipasan and the Baligtaran, the first two portions of Maglalatik, reveal the hot combat
between the Moros and the Christians. The Paseo and the Sayaw Escaramusa display the
reconciliation between the legends, the two groups. As stated by the legend, the Moros won and
got enviously wished latik. The dissatisfied Christians sent a representative to the Moros to offer
peace and baptism to them. During the town fiesta of Biñan, Laguna, the Maglalatik dancers are
carrying out this dance from house to house for money or a gift in the daytime, and in the
evening, they perform Maglalatik in the religious procession as it goes from one place to another
along the streets as a sacrifice to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of the farmers.
8. Kuratsa
HISTORY:
• The Kuratsa is actually remarkably popular with this Visayan man and women specially this Waray man and
women of the Western Visayas region in the Philippines and illustrates every critical special occasion
inside Western Visayas residential areas.
• The Kuratsa maybe the dancing of courtship from the Visayas region of the Philippines. At marriage
ceremony and fiestas, this Kuratsa serves for the reason that standard income dancing whereby visitors carry
turns pinning income on the woman and groom’s clothes. That stands for friends’ and families’ wants once
and for all chance and affluence inside couple’s future.
• The dancing is completed with several pieces, using several distinct tempos. The dance several begin this
efficiency having a ballroom waltz. The actions resemble the mild waltz style. Kuratsa is normally done
during festivals with Bohol as well as other Visayan areas, this dancing symbolizes a fun couple’s make an
effort to get each and every other’s awareness.
• Then the songs adjustments to your faster defeat with the “chasing” picture, that the woman dancer flees and
also the guy pursues the woman’s all across this dancing floorboards. The pace accumulates even more with
the final aspect, that they run after coming to an end having a flabbergasted flirtatious picture. The female
features received above, and also the guy imitates the showy chook in a very mating dancing.
9. Polkabal
HISTORY:
     The dance got its name from two popular dances in the late 1800s: the polka and balse (waltz).
Though the balse is mentioned in the name of this dance, there is no single waltz step used in this
dance. The steps of this dance are identified as the luksong uwak (jumping
crow), wagayway (fluttering), hardin (garden), punta y tacon (heel and
toe), corrida (bullfight), paseo (leisurely walk), ensayo (practice), contragansa (hop-cross) and
the contragansa doble (double hop cross).
10. Habanera

HISTORY:
     The Habanera Botolena is a dance that got its start in Cuba. It is a mix of Cuban, Spanish and
African rhythms and dance moves.

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