Folk Dance

- the oldest form of dance and the earliest form of communication

- traditional dance of a given country which evolved naturally and spontaneously with everyday activities (e.g.
occupations, customs, rituals, festivals)
- handed down from generation to generation
- has more or less a fixed movement in their pattern, but may vary in different areas, regions, or provinces.

OBJECTIVES OF PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES
1. To commit to the ideals of cultural development as a vital factor in nation-building.
2. To enhance the cultural values demonstrated in various folk dances aesthetically, morally, and physically.
3. To actively participate in folk dancing for its intellectual, moral, and aesthetic values.
4. To disseminate Philippine traditional dances in its pure and authentic form.
5. To instill the love for performing the folk dances as a cultural legacy and to show to other nations the identity of the
Filipinos as a people

Characteristics of Philippine Folk Dances
It is traditional.
It is an expressive behavior.
Simple basic rhythm dominates the folk dance and establishes the pattern of movement.
An unknown choreographer creates a folk dance.
It performs an action in the life of folk

Major Classifications of Philippine Folk Dances
1. Dances of the Cordillera Group
- reflection of daily living (a good harvest, health, peace, war, and other symbols of living)
Examples:
(a) Banga (Kalinga)
(b) Bendayan (Benguet Province)
(c) Lumagen / Tachok (Kalinga)
(d) Uyaoy / Uyauy (Ifugao)
(e) Turayen (Cagayan Valley)

2. Western Influenced Dances
- dances brought by the Spaniards reflecting Christianity and European arts and culture
Examples:
(a) Paseo de Iloilo
(b) Jota Paragua
(c) Habanera Jovencita
(e) Danza
(f) Abaruray
(e) Pandanggo sa Ilaw (Mindoro)

3. Dances of the Muslim Groups
- describes the everyday living of people that uses fingers to express feeling and emotions which is influenced by
Malay and Indonesian.
Examples:
(a) Pangalay (Zamboanga Del Sur)
(b) Asik (Lanao Del Sur)
(c) Singkil (Lanao)
(d) Kapa Malong Malong


4. Dances of the Tribal or Lesser Known or Ethnic Groups
- never been influenced by Westerners and other non-Filipino cultures and traditions which reflects rituals and
animals, belief in spirits and shaman, as well as nature (anito).

5. Dances of the Country Side / Rural Folks
- refelcts the nature and type of work of the people in the province; it also depicts common work, daily activities
of the peasants.
Examples:
(a) Tinikling (Leyte)
(b) Maglalatik (Laguna)
(c) Binasuan (Pangasinan)
(d) Itik-Itik (Surigao del Norte)



Basic Dance Steps of Philippine Folk Dance
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 off 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 yo 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.
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 developed in Vienna as a fast paced dance to the Strauss music of the
time, and eventually evolved into the slower version we now know as Waltz (or Slow Waltz)
















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