Lesson Proper for Week 3

Module 3: PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE

The Philippine folk dance in particular is being studies to

perpetuate the customs and traditional of the Filipinos.
Like other countries these are the traditional dances
which evolved naturally and spontaneously in
connection with everyday activities and experiences of
the people who developed them.

It has been said that folk dancing is the heartbeat of the

people – the outburst of people’s feelings. Philippines
folk dance are traditional social expression of the
Filipinos. Folk dance expresses their ideas, mores,
feelings and thoughts. As a people, Filipinos express
their aspiration, hopes, and dreams through the
physical and performing art that is folk dance.

Fundamental Dance position Description of dance steps

Hopping- Springing into the air from one foot and

landing on the same foot

Jumping- Movement without a point of support or

Spring into the air of both feet and land on both feet

Leaping-A transfer of weight from one foot to the other.

Push off with a spring and land on the ball of the other
foot, letting the heel come down Bend knee to absorb
the shock

Pivoting-A traveling turn executed with thighs locked

and feet apart in extended fifth position

Shuffling-A triple step similar to a Polka step with no lilt

for example step forward left and bring the right foot up
you the heel of the left foot.

Brushing-To brush, sweep or scuff the foot against the

floor

Kumintang- a simple, classic gesture of rotating the

hand and wrist and movement of arms which was
believed to have been inspired by arnis.

Sarok or salok is an elaborate bow which must have

been inspired by the woman activity of fetching water
from a well. The western influence brought the sway
balance, waltz and tap dance steps.

Sway-A tilt of the chest to the side, without lowering

the torso stretching from the side upwards
 Waltz steps=A ballroom dance in 3/4 time which first The Binasuan
developed in Vienna as a fast paced dance to the
The Binasuan is an entertaining dance that is
Strauss music of the time, and eventually evolved into
usually performed at festive social occasions like
the slower version we now know as Waltz (or Slow
weddings and birthdays. Dancers carefully balance
Waltz).
three half-filled glasses of rice wine on their heads and
hands as they gracefully spin and roll on the ground.
The dance originated in Bayambang in the Pangasinan
Lesson Proper for Week 4 province, and though it’s usually performed alone, it can
also become a competition between several dancers.
Module 4: Traditional Folk Dance of the Philippines
The Pandanggo Oasiwas
The Philippines has many popular folk dance which have
evolved and changed as they have been Handle down The Pandanggo Oasiwas is similar to the
from generation to generation. Although a particular Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and is typically performed by
dance might be performed slightly differently from one fishermen to celebrate a good catch. In this version, the
region to the other it remains true to its roots. Here are lamps are placed in cloths or nets and swung around as
some of the most popular dance from the region. the dancers circle and sway.

The Itik-Itik The Maglalatik

The best description of Itik-Itik is that the steps The Maglalatik is a mock war dance that depicts
mimic the way a duck walks, as well as the way it a fight over coconut meat, a highly-prized food. The
splashes water on its back to attract a mate. According dance is broken into four parts: two devoted to the
to popular tradition, the dance was created by a lady battle and two devoted to reconciling. The men of the
named Kanang who choreographed the steps while dance wear coconut shells as part of their costumes,
dancing at a baptismal party. The other guests copied and they slap them in rhythm with the music. The
her movements, and everyone liked the dance so much Maglalatik is danced in the religious procession during
that it has been passed along ever since. the fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro de
Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
The Tinikling
The Kappa Malong-Malong
The Tinikling is considered by many to be the
Philippines’ national dance. The dance movements The Kappa Malong-Malong is a Muslim-
imitate the movement of the tikling bird as it walks influenced dance. The malong is a tubular garment, and
around through tall grass and between tree branches. the dance essentially shows the many ways it can be
People perform the dance using bamboo poles. The worn. There are men’s and women’s versions of the
dance is composed of three basic steps which include dance since they wear malongs in different ways.
singles, doubles and hops. It looks similar to playing
The Cariñosa
jump rope, except that the dancers perform the steps
around and between the bamboo poles, and the dance The Cariñosa is a dance made for flirting!
becomes faster until someone makes a mistake and the Dancers make a number of flirtatious movements as
next set of dancers takes a turn. they hide behind fans or handkerchiefs and peek out at
one another. The essence of the dance is the courtship
between two sweethearts.
The Sayaw sa Bangko
The Pantomina
The Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on top of a
Pantomina Also known as the Dance of the Doves, the
narrow bench. Dancers need good balance as they go
Pantomina mimics the courtship between doves and is
through a series of movements that include some
often also a courtship dance between the couples that
impressive acrobatics. This dance traces its roots back
perform it. This dance is an important part of the
to the areas of Pangapisan, Lingayen and Pangasinan.
Sorsogon Kasanggayahan Festival held each October,
where it is mainly performed by the elders of the Magkasuyo is the specific invention of Quezon province,
community. a large farming and fishing region southeast of Manila
with a rich tradition of outside influences, including
The Kuratsa
Spanish, Malay, and Muslim. A popular song Magkasuyo
The Kuratsa is described as a dance of courtship and is Buong Gabi (Lovers for the Night) expands on the
often performed at weddings and other social romantic nature of the dance.
occasions. The dance has three parts. The couple first
performs a waltz. In the second part, the music sets a Lesson Proper for Week 5
faster pace as the man pursues the woman around the
Module 5: Classification of Folk Dance
dance floor in a chase. To finish, the music becomes
even faster as the man wins over the woman with his According to Nature
mating dance. Binatbatan Dance
La Jota Moncadeña The Binatbatan dance is an occupational dance from
The La Jota Moncadeña is adapted by the Filipinos from Paoay, Ilocos Norte. It depicts the beating of cotton
an old Spanish dance. It's a combination of Spanish and pods to separate the seeds drom the fibers. Weavers in
Ilocano dance steps set to Spanish music and castanets. Paoay often engage themselves in abelmaking contests.
A more solemn version of this dance is sometimes used Dancers maneuver in and out of parallel batbat sticks,
to accompany a funeral procession, but it is also each about 18 inches long. Th rhythm and speed of the
performed at celebrations. beating of the sticks make for a lively and colorful
display.
The Habanera Botolena
Mag-Asik
The Habanera Botolena is a strongly flamenco-
influenced dance that comes from Botolan, Zambales. It This is a Tiruray dance for Girls, performed in Nuro,
combines Filipino and Spanish steps, and is a popular Cotabato. According to the natives the word “mag-asik”
dance at weddings. It is also considered a courting means “to sow seeds”. The dancers go around the cloth
dance in some situations. with small, heavy steps but with graceful hand and arm
movements. The dance consists of two parts, which the
The Surtido natives call “komaligue” and “mag-asik”.
Surtido literally means "assortment," and this square Dugso
dance combines influences of French, Spanish and
Mexican dance. Traditionally the Surtido is performed Dugso is a dance which originated from Bukidnon in
by a head couple accompanied by two other couples Northeast Mindanao. Dancers perform this as an
who lead all the dancers through various formations entertainment for the dieties, to make them feel more
that resemble an old-fashioned quadrille. comfortable during the fiesta that wwas organized for
them. It was originally thought that this dance was
The Polkabal performed only during harvest time or upon the birth of
The Polkabal shows some European influence in its a male heir. Women would wear colorful feathered
which include various movements such as fluttering, head dresses, plaid costumes, and anklets.
stepping heel-to-toe, a reenactment of a bull fight, and Kinoton
even a leisurely walk.
Is a comic dance from Ilocos Sur. It depicts the
The Magkasuyo movement of a person bitten by ants.
The Magkasuyo is a variation of the balse - the one-two- Makonggo
three graceful triple meter that Filipino traditional
dance borrowed from the Spanish waltz. It is a formal A comic dance which originated in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
series of close-step-close movements with a couple A solo performer imitates the movement’s
facing each other in a courtship configuration. Balse characteristic of a monkey, its gestures and grimaces.
incorporates German and Spanish influence, but the
Lubi-lubi

Lubi-Lubi is a bicolano dance which is a combination of a

simple folk and social steps. Literally, lubi means
coconut. According to the Ikolanos this dance originated
in Leyte and Samar where it is still danced like the
Balitaw. It is also popular in Albay and Sorsogon.

Pagkawin

The wedding ceremony is called Pagkawin. The festivity

opens with the Pahanda or presentation of dowry.
Relatives of the groom present to the relatives of the
bride traditional dowries that usually include that Salap-
pa, A bras box containing money, jewelry, other
valuables, and all-important betel nut.

Sua-Sua

This is a dance from Jolo, Sulu. Literally, “Sua-sua”

means “small orange plant”. According to the Moros of
the older generation, the movements in this dance have
been modified and modernized. Dancers sing as they
perform the dance. The natives often repeat the dance
as many times as they like or until they are made to
stop.

Pandanggo

Pandangggo sa Ilaw or “Fandango” is a very popular folk

dance in the Philippines. It is said to have originated
from Mindoro, this dance of lights simulates fireflies at
dusk and at night. The phrase “sa ilaw” is Tagalog for “in
light” and it refers to the three oil lamps that dancer has
to balance. The oil lamp is called tinghoy.

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.