Introduction

Dance comes in different forms. All dance styles are not alike and have
their own characteristics. In this lesson, we will discuss the history of Philippine
Folk Dances. Also, we will learn and experience some basic steps by performing
the fundamental dance steps of Philippine Folk Dances. Lastly, we will learn how
to create a small dance routine from the basic dance steps of Philippine Folk
Dances.

Content

TRADITIONAL (ETHNIC AND FOLK) DANCES

“Dance is an art which deals with the motions in the human body”. –
James K. Feilbleman, a great philosopher.
Rites and Dances are still being executed because they serve as the belief
and social systems of the Filipinos. If life is believed hard, these rites and
dances gives expression and comfort to their needs, sometimes it gives them
courage and determination. These rites and dances are refreshed by action and
movements, and by the motivation and spirits that encourages or require them.

According to Basilio Esteban Villaruz, ethnic dance lives on in the

Philippines. These are ethnological dances that performed in primitive tribes
and have retained their close kinship with religious ritual and community
custom. The types and purpose are many, performed by a variety of ethnic
groups over 7,107 islands. Many of these dances have changed through time to
time, but a lot of what it is are still alive in all color and rhythm, in any style
and performances. Ethnic dances are found among the ethno-linguistics
grouped spread all over the Philippine islands. These dances are important to
the community’s way of life, which are the: ritual dances that connects the
material world to the spiritual; the lifecycle dances that celebrate an
individual’s birth, baptism, courtship, wedding, and failure; and the
occupational dances that transform defences and livelihood activities to
celebratory performances. In ethnic group, dancing is a form of survival as
much as it is spiritual and social expression.

On the other hand, folk dances are the indigenous dances if any specific
“folk” or the common people. They are traditional customary or recreational
dance forms of a given country which have evolved naturally and were handed
down across generations. Folk dances are related to everything importance in
our daily lives, such as customs, rituals, and occupations of a specific group of
people. Most of these dances are related in origin to religious beliefs, stemming
from emotions, superstitions, festivals, ceremonies of birth, courtship,
marriage, death, war, and countless themes common to all people around the
world.

Lopez (2006) defined Philippine folk dances as “a traditional form of

expression that make use of bodily movements of redundant patterns linked to
definitive features of rhythmic beats of music”. She stated that Philippine Folk
Dance should have the following characteristics:

1. It is traditional.
2. It has an expressive behaviour. Did you
3. Simple, basic rhythm dominates the folk know?
dance and establishes the pattern of movement.
4. It is created by an unknown choreographer or The first
by communal efforts. National
5. It performs a function in the life of the (folk) Artist for
people. Dance and
Oftentimes, the term folk dance is being confused or the other of
used interchangeable with ethnic and national dance. Philippine
Folk
What are the different types of Philippine Folk Dances?
Dances is
Francisca
There are several ways to classify Philippine Folk Dances.
Reyes-According to
Francisca Reyes-Aquino, folk dances may be classifies by geographical
Aquino.
extent of original, nature, speed of movement, formation, and distinguishing
feature.

The three (3) major regional classifications of Philippine folk dances are
tribal dances from Cordilleras, dances from lowland Christians and Muslim
Dances.

1. Tribal dances from the Cordilleras- include non-Christian dances

from the Cordilleras.
2. Lowland Christian dances- dances coming from places with Western
influences such as that of the Tagalogs, ilokanos, Pampagueños,
Pangasinense, Bisayans, Bicolanas. These are influences by Hispanic
and European cultures.
3. Muslim Dances- dances from the people of the Southern islands of
the Philippines in Mindanao and Sulu. These dances are influenced
by Arabic and Indo-Malayan cultures.

Philippines Folk dances may be categorized as:

1. Life-cycle dances- dances that serve as ritual as one passes to a
different stage in life such as from birth to childhood to adulthood; from
singlehood to marriage; and from life to death. Below are the different
dances that portray life cycle.
 a. Courtship dances
b. Wedding dances
c. Funeral dances
2. Festival dances- dances are either religious or secular and are
connected with the celebration of recurring events of special
significance.
3. Occupational dance- dances that depict the means of livelihood of the
Filipino people.
4. Ritual and ceremonial dances- dances performed as part of the rituals
and ceremonies of a certain tribe or group of people.
5. Game dances- derivations from local folk games. Example is “Pukol
Dance” which means to strike or bump each other.
6. Joke and trickster dances- include jokes or tricks played by a dancer
on another or a group of dancers who is one of them. The intention is
to render that individual to a physical or mental indignity or discomfort.
Example of these is the Pandaggo sa Sambalilo dance which a girl
teases her male partner by playing with his hat then pushes him when
he is about to succeed in getting back and putting on his hat from the
floor.
7. Mimetic or drama dances- these are dances that imitates animals,
objects, or other people.
8. War dances- dances that express argument and hate. Example is
Manglalatik dance as it depicts a battle between Muslims of Southern
Philippines and the Christian Filipinos over “Latik”
9. Social amenities dances- dances that express social graces,
hospitality, and offerings of gifts to friends.

What are the fundamental folk dance steps?

Dance Time Rhythmi
Step Signatur c Counts
e Per Step-by-Step Description
Measure (download the link for reference)

(count 1) Step left (right) foot in front.

Waltz 2/4 or 1,2,3
3/4 time (Count 2) Step right (left) close to left (right) in
rear.

(count 3) Step left (right) foot in front.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emTydO9gdrw

(count 1) Step left (right) foot in front.

Gallop 2/4 1, ah, 2,
ah
 (Count ah) cut the left (right) foot with the right
(left) thus displacing it and at the same time
taking the weight of the body with the right (left)
foot.

(Count 2, ah) repeat counts 1 and ah.

There are two gallops in one measure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emTydO9gdrw

(count 1) Step left (right) foot in front.

Change 2/4 time 1, and, 2
step (Count and) Step right (left) close to left (right) in
rear.

(count 2) Step left (right) foot quickly in front.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emTydO9gdrw&t=83
s

(count 1) Step left (right) foot in front.

Polka 2/4 time 1, and, 2,
and (Count and) Step right (left) close to left (right) in
rear.

(count 2) Step left (right) foot in front.

(count and) pause.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emTydO9gdrw&t=83
s

(Count 1) slide to the right (left) foot.

Mazurk ¾ time 1,2,3
a (Count 2) cut right (left) foot sideward with the left
(right),

(count 3) hop on the left (right) foot and beat in

rear or in front the right (left) foot close to the
ankle or the left(right) foot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emTydO9gdrw&t=83
s

(Count 1) step right (left) foot obliquely forward

Sway ¾ time 1,2,3 right (left)
balance
with a (Count 2) step left (right) across the right (left) foot
point in front

(count 3) step right (left) obliquely backward

(counts 1,2,3) point left (right) in front.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emTydO9gdrw&t=83
s

1,2 A spring from one foot, landing on the other foot

Leap 2/4 or in any direction.
4/4 time 1 count
per leap

(Count 1) step right (left) close to left (right).

Touch 2/3 time 1,2
Step (Count 2) step left (right) across the right (left) foot
in front.

(Count 1) step right (left) foot sideward.

Three- ¾ time 1,2,3
step- (Count 2) turn left (right) about and step right
turn (left) sideward.

(Count 3) turn left (right) about and step left

(right) to second to face front.

(Count 1) close right (left) foot to left (right) foot.

(count 2,3) pause.