CLASSIFICATION OF PHILIPPINE

FOLKDANCE:
NATURES OF THE DANCE
APPLICATION
1. Occupational Dance

- depict actions of a particular occupation.

EXAMPLES:
▪ Rice Festivals- the largest number of dances.
Pagtatanim
Paggapas
Pagbabayo
Pahangin
▪ Pabirik – depicts the different stages of gold panning.
▪ Mananguete – tuba gatherer
2. Religious or Ceremonial Dances

- are performed in connection with religious vows, practices, and ceremonies. A

religious dance may be performed to drive away evil spirits, ask for a favour to have a
child, give thanks from having recovered from sickness, favors granted and vows fulfilled.
EXAMPLES:
▪ Obando - a dance ritual, initially an Anitist ritual, and later also became a Catholic
festival celebrated every May in Obando, Bulacan, Philippines.
▪ Dugso - meaning "dance," is performed solemnly and reverently because it is part of
the kaliga-on, which is related to thanksgiving, appeasement, supplication and
consultation of nature spirits. A fire is built or a table laden with food is placed in the
middle of the place where the dance is to be performed.
▪ Sinurog - dance during the wedding procession where in dancers shout and make
considerable noise with drums, empty cans, basins, and other percussion instruments.
3. Courtship dances

- are dances that depict love-making or with

a love theme.
EXAMPLES:
▪ Rogelia - a courtship dance from the
province of La Union
▪ Lulay - a national dance with regional
variations. A few among those Philippine
dances which can be classified as a
"national" folk dance.
▪ Hele Hele Bago Quiere - flirting
dance crrying out a courting figures but
"no touch" since a part of Spanish
system. Festival dances. Suitable for
special occasions or for any social
gathering.
4. Wedding dances

- are performed by newlyweds, by

friends and relatives of the bride
and groom or by the father of the
bride and the mother of the groom.
EXAMPLES:
▪ Pantomina (bride and groom)
▪ Pandang-Pandang (bride and
groom and friends or relatives of
each side)
▪ Soryano (dance by the parents of
the future groom, the visit of the
parents of the bride)
 5. Festival Dances

- are performed in connection with celebrations, a

feast, a barrio fiesta, good harvest and good fortune.
EXAMPLES:
▪ Kuratsa - a dance of flirtation and courtship,
designed to be danced with a partner. Its movements
mimic the mating ritual of a rooster and hen. Alcedo
said that different versions of the dance could be
found in north and central Philippines.
▪ La Jota - It was originally performed in social
gatherings (like weddings, parties and baptisms)
during the Spanish period in the Philippines. The
Filipinos adapted this lively and delightful dance with
different versions. These versions are combinations
of Spanish and Filipino dance steps and music.
▪ Putong - or tubong is a ceremony occasionally
performed in the Province of Marinduque, Philippines,
in which visitors are honored and welcomed.
6. War Dances

- are intended to show imaginary

combat or duel with the use of
fighting intended for entertainment.
EXAMPLES:
▪ Inabaknon
▪ Sagayan - A Philippine war dance
performed by both the
Maguindanao and Maranao
depicting in dramatic fashion the
steps their hero, Prince Bantugan,
took upon wearing his armaments,
the war he fought in, and his
subsequent victory afterwards. 
7. Comic Dances

- are dances with funny and

humorous movements mainly
intended for entertainment.
EXAMPLES:
▪ Makonggo (movements of
monkey)
▪ Kinoton (imitates movements of
person bitten by ants)
 8. Game Dances

- are dances that have some play elements and

are for recreational purposes.
EXAMPLES:
▪ Gayong-Gayong - a Philippine folk dance which
originated and became popular in Aklan and
Capiz. Gayong is a pet name for Leodegradio.
▪ Lubi-Lubi - a Bikol dance, a combination of
simple folk and social steps. (Literally, "lubi"
means coconut. A game called "lubi-lubi" is
played with coconut shells.) According to the
Bikols, this dance originated in Leyte and Samar
where it is still danced like the balitaw.
▪ Pabo - The dance is called Pabo because the
odd dancer at the center of the circle struts
around like a turkey as he looks for a desirable
partner.
9. Social Dances

- are dances during social gatherings

EXAMPLES:
▪ Lanceros - Lanceros is a popular square dance
found in many regions in the Philippines. This
dance must have been brought here by the
American for some of its movements, figures
and music resemble the American square
dance called Lancers. The dance was
originated in Pangasinan, Laguna and was
performed by some Laguna High School
students.
▪ Rigodon - also called Rigodon de Honor—is a
traditional formal dance from the Philippines
that evolved from dances brought to the Pacific
islands by Spanish settlers in the sixteenth
century (the Rigodon dance was also said to
be popular in French and Spanish courts).
 GROUP ZJs
1-BSBA-FM 2369

ZSAZSA GARGANTA
JOAN EVANGELISTA
ALMAJOY SANGGO
GEMMARIE MISCALA

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