PE 3 (LESSON 1): PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE heroine of a novel who represents the finest

qualities of Filipino womanhood. The dancers

WHAT IS DANCE? wear European 16th-century dress but move
o a form of expression of oneself through to the sounds of bamboo castanets.
rhythmic movement.
FRANCISCA REYES AQUINO
WHAT IS FOLK DANCE? o The First National Artist for Dance
o the oldest form of dance and the earliest form o The Mother of Folk Dance.
of communication o Acknowledge as the pioneer of folk dancing in
o the traditional dance of a given country which the Philippines.
evolved naturally and spontaneously with - began her research in Folk Dances in the
everyday activities e.g. occupations, 1920’s, resulted in 1926 thesis titled
customs, festivals, rituals “Philippine Folk Dance and Games.”
o It is handed down from generation to
generation OBJECTIVE OF PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE
o It has more or less a fixed movement in their o To put emphasis on patriotism and
pattern but may differ in various areas or nationalism by means of studying the dances
provinces. that had been a part of our cultural heritage.
o To receive better appreciation among Filipinos
HISTORY OF FOLK DANCE o To provide a healthy form of exercise and
entertainment through bodily
I. PRE-COLONIAL o movements.
o Before the recorded history of the o To enhance one’s grace, posture and rhythmic
Philippines, before the Spanish coordination
conquistadors conquered and o To preserve folkdances and indigenous music
christianized the populace, from the from generation to generation, from one place
earliest occupation of this volcanic to another.
archipelago, the people danced. They o To exhibit the progress of Filipino culture from
danced to appease the gods, to curry favor time to time.
from powerful spirits, to celebrate a hunt
or harvest, to mimic the exotic life forms CHARACTERISTICS OF FOLK DANCE
around them. They danced their stories 1. Dancers stand apart from one another
and their shamanic rituals, their rites of 2. Little body contact
passage and their remembered legends 3. Performed by pairs or partners
and history. 4. Proper hand movements are the most
o The Pagdiwata is a trance dance, featuring important • •Mostly in long formation
women dancers who enact a thanksgiving 5. Executing “Saludo” at the very beginning and
ritual at the time of the harvest moon. The at the very end.
shamanic figures mime the spirits who 6. Lowland dances have more foreign elements
possess them and enact a drama that can than those of the uplands.
last for hours. 7. Non- Christian tribes have folk dance called
“War dance”.
II. MUSLIM MERCHANTS
o Muslim traders from the Malay Archipelago CLASSIFICATIONS OF FOLK DANCES
reached the Philippines in the 14th century, General Classification
well ahead of the Europeans. Thier conversion
of the populace was a modest affair; they were I. GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT OF ORIGIN
more interested in commerce than o National Dances- dances that are performed
colonization, although they did establish in an island with little modification
strongholds and convert the local populace to - Ex. Rigodon, Pandanggo, Carinosa
Islam. o Local Dances- dances that are found in a
o They also created their own folk dances in the specific locality
areas where they settled. Singkil is one of the - Ex. Pampilpilalecan- Pangasinan
most famous. It depicts the plight of a princess - Karatong- Cuyo, Palawan
caught in a magical earthquake in a forest. Her
faithful servant tries to shield her with a II. NATURE OF FOLK DANCE
parasol as the princess gracefully dodges o Comic Dances- dances that depicting funny
falling trees and is eventually saved by a movements to entertain audience.
prince. - Ex. Kinoton,
- Ex. Kinoton, Makonggo
III. SPANISH COLONIZATION o Courtship Dances- dances that depicting
o Folk dances survived the European invasion, love making
and the dancers adapted imposed Christian - Ex. Hele-hele, Bago Quire, La Simpatika,
belief and culture to their own dances, Kuratsa Zarraga
borrowing court choreography but imbuing it - Kuratsa – Commonly performed during
with Philippine spirit. The Maria Clara dances festivals in Bohol and other Visayan towns,
merged Spanish court style (and its stylized this dance portrays a young playful
courtship conventions) with Philippine couple’s attempt to get each other’s
exuberance. Maria Clara is the pure and noble
 attention. It is performed in a moderate 3. Set - consist of two or more pairs as
waltz style. a unit facing each other or standing
o Festival Dances - danced during social side by side.
gatherings and occasions.
- Kalibo, Aklan – this Sto. Niño festival 5 MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS OF PHILIPPINE FOLK
started it all. One of the oldest religious DANCES
celbrations in the country. Ati atihan is a. Cordillera Dances
characterized by a parade filled with face- b. Spanish Influenced Dances
painted celebrants, indigenous costumes c. Muslim Dances
and weapons, tribal dances, amd loud d. Tribal Dances
drumbeats. e. Rural Dances
o Game Dances - danced with play elements
- Ex. Sayaw sa Bangko CORDILERA DANCES
o Occupational Dances - dances that depicting o Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Apayo, & Kalinga
action of a specific occupation or human tribes
labor. o a people whose way of life existed long before
- Ex. Pasiguin – is about a fisherman trying any Spaniard or other foreigners stepped foot
to catch bangus, shrimps and sugpo with on the Philippines
the use of a sibot (fish net), not knowing it o Gongs, ganza
has big hole in it. This gives him a difficult o Dances reflects rituals which celebrate their
time because the fish keeps slipping out of daily lives - a good harvest, health, peace,
the net. The movements of the girls imitate war, and other symbols of living.
those of the bangus, shrimps and sugpo. o Bontoc – “Pattong”
o Religious Dances – performed in relation with o Kalinga – “Banga”
religios vows and ceremonies.
- Ex. Subli – is considered a favorite of the SPANISH INFLUENCED DANCES
people of the barrios of the municipality of o Philippine aristocrats created Filipino
Bauan, Batangas. It is a ceremonial adaptations of European dances.
worship dance performed in homage to o Jotas, fandanggos, mazurkas, waltzes
the Holy Cross referred to in the vernacular o Danced by young socialites to the stringed
as Mahal Na Poong Santa Cruz. music of the rondalla.
o War Dance – dances depicting combat or o Dances reflects Christianity, and European
duel. art and culture.
- Ex. Idaw o “Jota”, “Habanera”
- The tourism department has called on
Cordileras on tone down the presentation MUSLIM DANCES
of war dances to avoid imparting the wrong o Influenced by Malay, Javanese & Middle
impression that some tribes still practice Eastern Traders (Islam)
tribal wars giving the impression that the o Mysticism, royalty, and beauty.
region is not a safe place to visit, thus o Uses intricate hand and arm movement.
affecting the growth of the local tourism o The fingers exoress feelings and emotions.
industry. o Uses shimmering costumes.
o Wedding Dance – dance during wedding o Maranao – “Singkil”
ceremony. o Tausug – “Pangalay”
- Ex. Pantomina - was originally a wedding o Dances from Southern Island of the
dance from the towns of Bicol's Philippines such as Mindanao.and Sulu .
Estandante and Sorsogon sub regions. o These dance are influenced by Arabic and
This dance is traditionally performed Indo Malayan cultures.
during wedding festivities by the couple
and their visitors. The dance is still popular TRIBAL DANCES
in the Bicol Region even up to this time. o intricate craftsmanship in metal, clothing,
o Imitative – dances imitating actions of and jewelry
animals and other species. o reflects rituals & animals, belier in
- Ex. Itik-itik "spirits" & shamans, nature - "anito"
o animal sounds, human singing, indigenous
III. MOVEMENTS materials
1. Active- fast movements o Also known as Ethnic dances; Ethnic
Ex. Polka sa Nayon, Tinikling, Oasioas minorities found in different parts of the
2. Moderate Philippines (T'boli, Bilaan, Manobo, Bagobo.
Ex. Basulto o T’boli – “Madal Tahaw”
3. Slow o Manobo – “Bangkakaw”
Ex. Habanera de Soltera
4. Slow and Fast RURAL DANCES
Ex. Ba-Ingles, Pandanggo Rinconada. o Shows gaiety & laughter, festivities
o Performed in fiestas to honor patron saints
IV. FORMATION o give homage to the barrio's namesake for a
1. Square or Quad good harvest, health, &
2. Long Formation perseverance
 o Indigenous materials, clapping, rondalla,
percussion instruments.
o Reflects the simple life of the people in the
barrio.
o Ex. “Saut sa Rarug”, “Maglalatik”, “Oasioas”
o Depicts common work, daily activities of the
peasants.

Low Land Christian Dances

o Dances coming from Western influences
such as that of the
Tagalog, Ilokanos, Pampanguenoes, Pang
asinense,Bisayan,and Bicolanos.
o These dances are influence by Hispanic
and European cultures.

COSTUMES IN PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE