Gutierrez, Smile O.

February 14, 2019

BSA-AC101 Thursday 3:00-5:00pm

FOLK DANCE

A. History and Types of Folk Dance

With each passing year, customs and beliefs of groups of people are built little by little,
slowly with time forming into traditions. Folk dances represent one of the strongest ways these
(sometimes truly ancient) traditions of countries and regions can be showcased to the public. Even
though many traditional dances bear the name of an ethnic dance, not all of them remained folk
dances, but all of them try to emphasize the cultural roots of the particular dance. Some of them
morphed over time into religious dances, and as such, they are not primarily used to display
tradition but to enhance religious ceremonies and beliefs. Such dances are often called religious or
ritual dances.

Folk dances are usually danced at social gatherings (which can be formed spontaneously
or during yearly celebrations) that can but are not required to have a particular dancing stage and
are usually so simple to dance that new dancers and amateurs are encouraged to start dancing with
everyone else. Such dances almost never have an official governing body that is keeping the
development of folk dance in check. Instead of that, the morphing of the folk dances in their
countries and local regions happens spontaneously by the changes with local traditions. Modern
dances that have developed spontaneously such as hip-hop are not regarded as folk dance, and they
are often called as “street dances”.

 Hora - Traditional folk dance of

B. Different Types of Folk Dance
Balkans, danced in Montenegro,
Some of the most notable folk dances from Macedonia, Bulgaria and several
all around the world are: other countries.

 Kolo – Folk dance of that is danced

 Ball de bastons – Weapon dance
in South Slavic countries such as
from Spain and Portugal
Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia,
 Céilidh – Gaelic folk dance and Slovenia.
originating from Scotland and
 Irish Dance – Traditional folk dance
Ireland
that has several forms of dancing,
 Clogging – Folk dance that features including popular Irish Step Dance.
beating of heavy footwear on the
 Italian folk dance – Italy is a home
floor
of many popular folk dances such as
 English country dance – Traditional Tarantella, Pizzica, Monferrina,
English folk dance that is also Calabrian Tarantella and Ballu
danced in France and Germany tundu.

 Fandango – Traditional Spanish  Jota – Popular Spanish folk dance.

couples dance that is accompanied
 Morris Dance – Traditional English
by guitars and clapping hands or
dance is originating from the 15th
castanets.
century.
 Georgian folk dances – They
 Polka – Very popular traditional
include dances such as Kartuli,
dance from the Czech Republic that
Khorumi, Acharuli, Partsa,
is danced today all around the world.
Kazbeguri, Khevsuruli and many
others.  Turkish dances – Bar, Halay,
Horon, Zeybek and Sufi spinning
 Greek dances – Rich Greek history
dance.
has borne over 100 of traditional folk
dances, including a dozen that was  Hungarian dances – Most famous
danced at ancient feasts such as Hungarian folk dances are Verbuňk,
Angelica, Carpaea, Cordax and Ugrós, Karikázóm, Legényes and
others. Csárdás.
  Polska – Traditional folk dance of  Bhangra – Famous Punjabi harvest
Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, dance.
Finland and Norway)
 Attan - The national dance of
 Square Dance – Traditional dance Pashtun regions of Afghanistan and
originating from England, it involves Pakistan.
four pairs of dancers.
 Khigga – Celebration or Wedding
 Sword (or Weapon) dances – Genre circle dance of Assyria
of folk dances, consisting of dozens
 Odori – Japanese folk dance,
upon dozens of individual dances
performed at streets during
from all around the world
celebrations and parades
 Dollu Kunitha – Very popular
 Buyō – Japanese geisha and artist
drum-based dance from India.
dance.

C. Philippine Folk Dance

The history of dancing incorporates influences from immigrants and conquerors while at
the same time maintaining distinctly Filipino roots. Philippine folk dancing is a true reflection of
daily life in past centuries while enchanting modern audiences at the same time.
The Philippines enjoys a rich cultural heritage, which includes a diverse collection of
traditional dances. From the well-known national dance the Tinikling, which pays homage to the
movements of a much-loved bird, to dances that reflect elements of daily Philippine life, these folk
dances all offer a glimpse into the history of the country.

D. Traditional Folk Dances of the Philippines

The Philippines has many popular folk dances, which have evolved and changed as they have been
passed down from generation to generation. Although a particular dance might be performed
slightly differently from one region to the next, its remains true to its roots. Here are some of the
most popular dances from the region.

 The Itik-Itik
The best description of the Itik-Itik is that the steps mimic the way a duck walks, as well as the
way it splashes water on its back to attract a mate.

 The Tinikling
The Tinikling is considered by many to be the Philippines' national dance. The dance's movements
imitate the movement of the tikling bird as it walks around through tall grass and between tree
branches. People perform the dance using bamboo poles.
  The Sayaw sa Bangko
The Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on top of a narrow bench. Dancers need good balance as they
go through a series of movements that include some impressive acrobatics.

 The Binasuan
The Binasuan is an entertaining dance that is usually performed at festive social occasions like
weddings and birthdays. Dancers carefully balance three half-filled glasses of rice wine on their
heads and hands as they gracefully spin and roll on the ground.

 The Pandanggo sa Ilaw

The Pandanggo sa Ilaw is similar to a Spanish Fandango, but the Pandanggo is performed while
balancing three oil lamps - one on the head, and one in each hand.

 The Maglalatik
The Maglalatik is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly prized food.
The dance is broken into four parts: two devoted to the battle and two devoted to reconciling. The
men of the dance wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, and they slap them in rhythm with
the music.

 The Pantomina
Also known as, the Dance of the Doves, the Pantomina mimics the courtship between doves and
is often a courtship dance between the couples that perform it.

 The Cariñosa
The Cariñosa is a dance made for flirting! Dancers make a number of flirtatious movements as
they hide behind fans or handkerchiefs and peek out at one another. The essence of the dance is
the courtship between two sweethearts.

 The Surtido
Surtido literally means "assortment," and this square dance combines influences of French,
Spanish and Mexican dance.

 The Singkil
The Singkil is a dance traditionally performed by single women to attract the attention of potential
suitors. Dancers perform a series of graceful movements as they step in and out from between
bamboo poles that are rhythmically clapped together.

 The Magkasuyo
The Magkasuyo is a variation of the balse - the one-two-three graceful triple meter that Filipino
traditional dance borrowed from the Spanish waltz. It is a formal series of close-step-close
movements with a couple facing each other in a courtship configuration.