Uyaoy/Uyauy Ifugao Folkdance

HISTORY

Dance is very common ritual across a multitude of cultures. It is a both a form of expression and
an art. For the Igorots, they use it to mark the different stages of their life cycles. For instance, each
cultural area has a different dance to represent mourning, wedding celebrations, the courtship process,
or even ubiquitous activities like the role of a man and woman in society. Dance is both a celebration, as
well as a representation of everyday life.

Ifugao people are said to be the "children of the earth." The term Ifugao is derived from the
word ipugao which literally means "coming from the earth." The Spaniards, however, changed it to
Ifugaw, a term presently used in referring not only to these people but also to their province. The rice
terraces of Banue are home to hundres of small and large feasts called canao. Each canao has a different
purpose: weddings, hope for good harvest, success in war, or the death of prominent villagers. The
grandest of all canao is the uyaoy. The uyaoy is mainly celebrated by a Kadangayan or chieftain of the
village In order to reaffirm his social status In the community. Men spread their arms to imitate the
sakpaya hawk’s majestic glide and stamp their feet to affirm their affinity with the cosmic earth as the
women throw their arms upward while scratching the ground with their toes. Uyaoy is a display of
various levels of composition, form, depth, and perspective brought by inspiration and gansa-based
music.

The Uyaoy/Uyauy Dance is mostly performed in wedding festivals. This dance mimics the mighty
animals such as the Sakpaya Hawk. The purpose of this dance is to reinforce one's social status in the
community. For instance, chieftains of villages or Igorots belonging to the wealthy class, (also known as
the Kadangyans) stomp their feet, glide in the air and utilize the most majestic movements to reveal
their influential social status in the community. The same dance is performed by the people who desire
to reach the second level of the wealthy class. The Uyaoy is usually accompanied by loud beating gongs
in a rhythmic syncopation.
DRESS

The men wear long strips of handwoven loin cloth called “wanes”. The woman wear a kind of
wrap-around skirt called “lufid”.

CONTENT

Reinforcement of one's social status in the community.

THEME

A wedding dance that mimics the mighty animals such as the Sakpaya Hawk.

MUSIC

 Loud beating gongs in a rhythmic syncopation.

 Gansa-based music

MOVEMENT

Men spread their arms to imitate the sakpaya hawk’s majestic glide and stamp their feet to
affirm their affinity with the cosmic earth as the women throw their arms upward while scratching the
ground with their toes.