Compilation of Folk Dances

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  • 8/12/2019 Compilation of Folk Dances


    Compilation of Folk Dances

    Ethnic and Non-native Philippine Folk Dances

    Countries of the world have their own cultures made more colorful, beautiful and vibrant because of folk

    dances that are a reflection of who they are and what they are.

    In the East, the Chinese have their symbolical dragon dance; the Japanese have the ancestral dance Bon

    Odori. In the West, the Americans have their Square Dance. The Scottish people have their world-famous

    dances (Highland and Country Dance, Jig and Reel). On the other hand, the Philippines will not be left behind!

    The Pearl of the Orient boasts of a variety ofPhilippine folk dances.

    The Filipinos pay tributes and owe itself to cultural heritage. One way of showing such love and respect for

    the country gave birth to the development of Philippine ethnic folk dances. And there are several of these;

    namely, Binasuan, Subli, Itik-itik, Tinikling, Maglalatik, Cariosaetc.

    Binasuan is a native dance of Pangasinan. This dance literally means dancing with glasses. The steps are

    executed with glasses filled with rice wine balanced on the head and the hands of the dancers. Danced to

    show balance and to reflect rural gaiety, Binasuan is performed usually in wedding ceremonies and occasions

    in the barangay.

    Subli owes its meaning to native words subsub meaning to fall with the head and bali or broken. This

    meaning is reflected in the dance steps. The dancers move feebly and tortuously as if without vigor. This

    dance, however, traces its roots to Batangas where it was originally played as a ritual dance which evolved

    into a symbol of religious tradition performed during town fiestas.

    Itik-Itik is one of the Philippine folk dances which have an interesting origin. According to stories, a Filipina

    maiden-dancer of Surigao del Norte was asked to perform a native dance in one special occasion. She started

    to improvise new steps and imitate the courtship movements of a local species of duck known as itik. The

    spectators began to imitate her and that is how the dance came to be.

    Tiniklingis another Philippine folk dance that is inspired by an endemic bird called tikling. The steps of this

    dance are an imitation of the movements of a tikling bird that hops and escapes the traps set by hunters.

    Moving with poise and grace, the dancers skip in-between two bamboo poles that are held to pound

    rhythmically against each other. This dance is a specialty of Leyte.

    Maglalatik is danced to mimic the early battle against Christians and Moros to win coconut meat or latik

    during the time of Spanish colonization. This is also performed to pay homage to the town saint of Bian,

    Laguna San Isidro Labrador. This dance is divided into four parts: baligtaran, palipasan, paseo and

    escaramusa. This is performed by all-male dancers who wear blue pants to represent the Christians and red

    pant for the Moros. All dancers, however, have coconut shells mounted on their body parts.

    Pandanggo sa ilaw. The word pandanggo is taken from the Spanish word fandango. The dance is

    characterized by the lively steps performed in conjunction with the clapping while the dancers are following

    the beat. Again, this dance calls for graceful balancing acts so that the lights held by the hand will not fall.

    This dance is originally from Oriental, Mindoro.
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    These aforementioned Philippine folk dances are ethnic in nature and origin. On the other hand, there are

    several Philippine folk dances that were influenced by some Western countries as some of these had

    colonized Philippines in the past. One such country is Spain. Some of the so-called influenced Philippine folk

    dances are the following: Pandango sa Ilaw, Cariosa, Balitao andRigodon.

    To conclude, these folk dances whether ethnic in origin or not reflect the lively culture that the Filipinos have.

    These dances may be diverse but through these cultural forms, the Filipinos are unified and proud by way of

    having Philippine folk dancesthat are truly one of the bests in the world.


    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 varitey of Filipino Folk Dances.

    The Philippines consist of 7107 islands, and is broken down in three groups of islands. The Luzon,Mindano, and Visayas. Each of these regions contain different languages,history, regligon, and

    traditions. With each region having different influence in thier arts, crafts, and ancestorical dances. Lets

    take a trip through each region and explore the different styles, costumes, Dances and Talents from

    Each Region.... As we explore each of the regions and styles, please remember alot of these Cultural and

    Folk dances represents hardships and daily back breaking tasks, that has turned into a art form. Many of

    the dances you will read about here were actuall activities or chores that the Filipino endured to survive

    the poor economy and state of the nation.....

    Traditions and Hertitage - Luzon Region

    We Shall Never Forget our Heritage

    LUZON --Consisting of the tribes such as Ifugao, Benquet, Kalinga, Bontoc, Apayo, Kalinga, sometimes

    these are call Igorot. " But sometimes that is considered degrading ." Cordillerea name also used for

    some parts the Luzon Region...

    Northern most region of the Philippines, Luzon gets its Cultural influence from Hindu-Buddist, Spanish

    and many ethnic regilous tribes. All with differences and beliefs. But in all the Cultural and Folk Dances

    from this region represents all different factions in one way or the other.

    Dances of Luzon

    * Dance : Idaw

    This dance sometimes has many names and different versions. Most common is this dance depicts the

    hunting ritual performed before a tribal war. The tribes men would go out and look up and watch for the

    scared Idaw bird. Which is said to lead the tribe to victory. Also look at the clothing, Philippines being a

    very hot climate, plus the use of as little material as possible, the traditional clothing was not made to

    cover much of the body....
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    * Dance : Banga

    This dance displays the Igorot women on their way to the river to fetch the daily water supply for thier

    familys. It shows the skill and strength of the women as they would carry heavy laiden clay pots (Banga)

    full of water. Their grace and agility while balancing the heavy pots, sometimes stacks 5 high, is a

    testiment of the Filipino and how hardships become a art form and talent. As a young girl you would

    start with only one pot. Of course as you become older and more experienced, along with the fact that

    you could provide more water for your family in one trip. Pots could be stacked as high as 5 or 6. The

    more pots you could carry showed your skill and also you standing amoung the women of that area.

    They would all gather and march to the river each day, singing a native song which is represented by the

    flute and banging of bamboo on iron pots in the dance......

    * Dance : Idudu

    The family is the basic structure of family life among the Itneg / Tinggian poeple. The caring for the

    Children is shared by both the mother and father. While the men are clearing the fields, breaking the

    soil with bamboo and their feet, the women watch the children. Soon as the men are done, they take

    care of the children while the women do back breaking work. You can see in the dance how the womenwill take the bamboo baskets in a shaking fashion like drying the rice, while the men are going in circles

    in background like they are toiling the land. Then you will see the women put down the baskets fold the

    cloth into a baby while the husband stands aside. Then the women will turn over the baby to the

    husband, pick up the bamboo and start toiling the land while the men hold and cradle the babys.........

    * Dance : Ragsaksakan

    The word means " Merriment". This dance would be performed after a successful headhunt and also for

    a peace pact between waring tribles. The colorful hand woven blankets " blankets of life" are worn

    around the neck while baskets to carry produce or rice are worn upon the head. Some versions of this

    dance use the " Banga " instead of the basket.

    Pride and Honor - Mindanao Region

    Filipino is Worth Dying For

    MINDANAO -- This is the southernmost region of The Philippines. Being the second largest island in the


    groups such as the Maranao, Tausug, Banguingui, and indigenous tribes know as Lumad. You will see

    alot of Arabian, and Middle Eastern influence in thier costumes and dances.

    Dances of Mindanao

    *Dance : Singkil




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    fairies or nymph of the forest.






    *Dance : KiniKini

    Kini means the Royal Walk. Maranao women performed this dance with scarves. The beauty of the

    scarve and the talent and grace in which it is displayed. Shows their elite social upbringing.

    *Dance : Pangalay

    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 simultaneousalternating waving of arms are the basic movement of this dance. The pangalay is commonly performed

    at weddings and other social gatherings. You will also see some parts of the Sinkgil in this dance also.

    Another part of this dance is also called the Muslium four Bamboos.

    * Dance : Asik

    This is performed by a solo madien, adorned with fine beads and make up, long head scarf. She would

    dance to win the favor of her Sultan master. Many time the girls would dance to win the hearts of her

    master or to make up for a wrong she had done. She would give her whole heart and soul into this

    performance to soften the heart of her master to accept her...


    Live Long, Live Happy, Die Proud

    VISAYAS -- Being the Central Island of The Philippines, Visayas is also broken down into three sections.

    Central , Eastern, Western. Consisting of Austronesians, Negritos, these we Animist Tribal Group. Many



    Spanish, and some Western influences in the dances of this region. You will see that the dances of the

    Visayas are more upbeat and exciting, not so much in Drama and tribal meanings as other regions.

    Visayas Dances

    * Dance : Sayaw Sa Banko

    This dance is native to the barrio of Pangapisan, Lingayen, Pangasinan, and demands skill from its

    performers who must dance on top of a bench roughly six inches wide.

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    * Dance : Tinkling

    Tinnikling is considered the national folkdance with a pair of dancers hopping between two bamboo

    poles held just above the ground and struck together in time to music. Originated from Leyte Province,

    this dance is in fact a mimic movement of tikling birds hopping over trees, grass stems or over bamboo

    traps set by farmers. Dancers perform this dance with remarkable grace and speed jumping between

    bamboo poles.

    * Dance : Subli

    The term subli is from two tagalog words subsub meaning falling on head and bali, which means



    worship dance to the towns icon, the holy cross

    * Dance : Maglalatik

    Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the

    Moros and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut meat during the Spanish rule, this dance is also

    shown to pay tribute to the towns patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. It has a four-part performance such

    as the palipasan and the baligtaran showing the intense battle, the paseo and the escaramusa- the

    reconciliation. Moro dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers

    are male; with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips