Dance as an art
foot and head.
 rhythmic and expressive movement of
the body in successive movement
usually accompanied by music.
 It has been said to be the mother of
the arts, for it’s the oldest of the art
which actually reflects man’s age old
need to communicate different
emotions such as joy, grief, excitement
and others.
Features of dance
1. Music- It is closely related to dance for it plays a
significant role in it. It is used as accompaniment
that somehow motivates the dancer’s
movement.
2. Movement- It refers to action of dances with the
use of their bodies to create organized patterns.
3. Theme- It pertains to the content or main
ingredient of the dance. It actually conveys the
message of the dance.
4. Properties and Costume- These contributes to
the visual effect of the dance. The costumes can
somehow relate closely to the beliefs and
environment of people.
Elements of dance
1.) Body - is the mobile figure or shape, felt by the
dancer, seen by others. The body is sometimes
relatively still and sometimes changing as the
dancer moves in place or travels through the
dance area
2.) Action- is any human movement included in the
act of dancing— it can include dance steps, facial
movements, partner lifts, gestures, and even
everyday movements such as walking.
3.) Space- Dancers interact with space in myriad
ways. They may stay in one place or they may
travel from one place to another. They may alter
the direction, level, size, and pathways of their
movements.
4.) Time- Rhythmic patterns may be metered or free
rhythm. Dance movements may also show
different timing relationships such as
simultaneous or sequential timing, brief to long
duration, fast to slow speed, or accents in
predictable or unpredictable intervals.
5.) Energy is about how the movement
happens. Choices about energy include
variations in movement flow and the use of
force, tension, and weight.
Kinds of dance
1. Ethnological Dance
o This is a dance that is indigenous to a certain
race or country. The term ethnic is used to
distinguish religious dances, and designed as
hymns of praise to a god, or to bring on good
fortune in peace and war. They are symbolic in
meaning that can’t be understood easily by
persons who don’t belong to the ethnic group
2. Social Dance
o These are popular type of dancing for pleasure
as generally performed by pairs or groups of
people following a definite step or pattern. Most
of these have specific rhythms and coordinated
with the movement and steps of the body, hand,
Folk dance
 Form of social dance that has become part of the
customs and traditions of people.
 Tells us about our culture. They portray in dance
form our customs, traditions, beliefs, and even
the livelihood of certain communities.
Philippine Folk Dances from Luzon
1. Banga
Tribe: Kalinga
The Banga or pot dance is a contemporary
performance of Kalinga of the Mountain
Province in the Philippines. This dance illustrates
the languid grace of a tribe otherwise known as
fierce warriors
2. Maglalatik
Maglalatik was originally performed in Biñan,
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 town’s patron saint, San Isidro
Labrador.
3. Pandanggo sa Ilaw
Pandanggo sa Ilaw - The word pandanggo comes
from the Spanish dance
“fandango”characterized with lively steps and
clapping while following a varying ¾ beat.
Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skill to
maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil
lamps, placed on head and at the back of each
hand. This famous dance of grace and balance
originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.
Other dances in Luzon:
4. Balse
Balse was a popular dance in Marikina, Rizal
during the Spanish times. Balse (valse in Spanish)
means waltz. This dance was performed after
the lutrina (a religious procession) and the music
that accompanied the dancers was played by the
musikong bungbong (musicians using
instruments made of bamboo).
5. Jotabal
It is derived from the words Jota and valse. Jota
is a popular dance introduced in the Philippines
by the Spaniards. Valse means waltz, a step or a
dance in 3/4 time. This lively festival dance
originated in Camohaguin, Gumaca, Quezon
(formerly Tayabas).
6. Makonggo
It is a comic dance from Santa Maria, Bulacan.
Makonggo is derived from the Tagalog word
chonggo or unggo which means monkey. In this
dance, the dancer imitates a monkey - its
characteristic movements, gestures, grimaces,
etc. when it is in a happy, playful or angry mood,
while it is playing, eating, or resting. Only one
man performs this dance. Most of his
movements are his own improvisations.
B. Philippine Folk Dances from Visayas
1. Tinikling
Tinikling means "bamboo dance" in English. The
dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds
 as they walk between grass stems, run over tree
branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice
farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's
legendary grace and speed by skillfully
maneuvering between large bamboo poles.
2. Kuratsa
The Kuratsa is highly favored by the Waray
people of the Eastern Visayan region in the
Philippines. Strictly speaking, The Kuratsa must
be done the amenudo; that is, only one couple
dances it at a time. the Kuratsa is however, very
different in the manner of execution to the
Mexican counterpart.
3. Mazurka Boholana
Mazurka Boholana is a Spanish-inspired ballroom
dance from the Bohol province of the
Philippines. Although the mazurka is the Polish
national dance, it was wildly popular throughout
Europe in the 19th century and even in colonized
lands overseas.
Other dances in Visayas
4. Escotis
It is popularly known in Capiz and is performed
in any social gathering of the people inhabiting
the mountains of Capiz in the barrios of Tinpas
and Panitan and also in the town of Panay.
C. Philippine Folk Dances from Mindanao
1. Itik-Itik
The Itik-Itik is a dance from Surigao del Norte, in
which the movements of a duck are imitated. An
itik is a species of duck.
others use bamboo drums, still others, bamboo
guitars.
2.) Pagdidiwata (palawan)- Originating from the
Tagbanua tribe, this dance is a festival of
thanksgiving to the Gods for their blessings and
healing powers. This ritual celebrates three
goddesses that heal the sick and give the people
a bountiful harvest and hunting expedition.
3.) Salip (apayao)- A courtship dance centered on
the use of kain, a hand-woven Kalinga cloth used
as clothing or blanket. To the accompaniment of
crowd singing of Ela-lay, the man thrusts his arm
initiating the movements of roosters while the
woman simulates the movements of a hen. The
dance ends when the woman finally gives the
kain cloth to the man.
4.) Binasuan (Pangasinan)- The dancers balance
glasses on their heads and in their hands as they
move. The glasses are filled with rice wine, which
makes any misstep a messy mistake. People
dance binasuan at weddings and festivals.
5.) Mananagat (Cebu)- occupational dance which
originated from Bogo, Cebu. This dance imitates
the work of a fisherman and his companions.
Maria Neis, a native of Bogo taught the dance to
her friends in Flihan, a barrio of Fabogon, near
Bogo. Performers are composed of girls wearing
kimona (sleeveless blouse) and boys wearing
cotton shirt and colored pants.

2. Singkil
The Maranao dance called Singkil is in the
repertory of all Filipino dance troupes. In 1958
the Bayanihan Dance troupe started with a
simple version and has since developed it into a
theatrical and stylized spectacle to the point of
it’s becoming the troupe's signature piece.

3. Kandingan
Performed at Tausog weddings in Jolo, the
Kandingan consists of figures and steps based on
classical and traditional Indian dance forms.
Dancers perform with slightly bent knees turned
outward, fingers held stiffly together with the
thumb outward and apart.

Ethnic dance

o Developed a distinct traditional style, a technical

terminology, and a clearly defined school of
instruction.

o any dance form which can be identified as

originating with an ethnic culture and expressing
the movement aesthetics of that culture.

Examples of Ethnic Dance

1.) Dugso (Bukidnon) - is danced during harvest time

and upon the birth of a male heir. Colorful
costumes and ornaments enhance the
appearance of the participants: women wearing
feathered headdress and plaid costumes steps
rhythmically, some using bell anklets as the sole
accompaniment, to punctuate their movements,