Folk dances Essay

Tinikling Tinikling is a pre-Spanish dance from Leyte that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. Maglalatik Maglalatik is an indigenous dance from Binan, Laguna in which the dancers – all male – perform the dance by hitting one coconut shell with the other. The shells were worn by the performer, all in time to a fast drumbeat.

Itik-Itik.

Itik-Itik is a mimetic folk dance in Surigao that imitate the movements of ducks among rice paddies and swamplands, such as wading, flying, and short, choppy steps. “Sayaw sa Bangko” Sayaw sa Bangko is a dance from Lingayen and Pangasinan that is performed on top of narrow benches. The dancers need to have good balance to perform this dance. “Philippine Folk Dances” Binasuan Binasuan is a Filipino folk dance from Pangasinan in which the performer holds full wine glasses in each hand while performing balancing tricks.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw is a popular dance of grace and balance from Lubang Island, Mindoro that requires skill in balancing three lighted oil lamps or tinghoy, one on the head and at the palms of each hand. Sayaw sa salakot Sayaw sa salakot is a folk dance from Luzon that is carried in manner in which the dancers make use of head gears (salakot). Singkil Singkil is a famous dance of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao, 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 which are rhythmically clapped together.

Fans and scarves are often used to enhance the dancers’ movements. “Philippine Folk Dances” La Jota Manilena La Jota Manilena is dance named after the capital city of the Philippines, Manila, where an adaptation of Castilian Jota floats with the clacking of bamboo castanets played by the dancers themselves. The costume and the graceful movements of the performers are noticeably inspired by Spanish Culture. Subli Subli is a dance devotion performed in honor of the Mahal na Poong Santa Cruz, a large crucifix of anubing wood with the face of the sun in silver at the center Kuratsa.

Kuratsa is a folk dance of Waray that portrays a young playful couple’s attempt to get each other’s attention. It is performed in a moderate waltz style. Carinosa Carinosa is a Philippine dance of Hispanic origin from the Maria Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it places the couple in romance scenario. “Philippine Folk Dances” Pantomina Pantomina is a courtship dance originated from Sorsogon imitating the courtship and lovemaking of doves that then showed during the dance where men attempt to please the women.

Sakuting Sakuting is a dance from the province of Abra. It was originally an all-male dance performance presenting a mock fight between Ilocano Christians and non-Christians using sticks. The dance is traditionally performed during Christmas at the town plaza or throughout the town, from one house to another. Banga Dance Banga 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. Kappa Malong-Malong Kappa Malong-Malong is a Muslim-influenced dance.

The malong is a tubular garment, and the dance essentially shows the many ways it can be worn. There are men’s and women’s versions of the dance since they wear malongs in different ways. “Philippine Folk Dances” Habanera Botolena Habanera Botolena is a strongly flamenco-influenced dance that comes from Botolan, Zambales. It combines Filipino and Spanish steps, and is a popular dance at weddings. It is also considered a courting dance in some situations. Pasigin Pasigin is a folk dance interpreting toil in the life of the fishermen in the river called Pasig, manifesting the native means of catching the fish.

Pangalay Pangalay is is the traditional “fingernail” dance of the Tausug people of the Sulu Archipelago that requires the dancer’s dexterity and flexibility of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists– movements that strongly resemble those of “kontaw silat,”. Salidsid Salidsid is the Kalinga courtship dance, performed by a male and female. The dance starts when each of the dancers is given a piece of cloth called ayob or allap. The male simulates a rooster trying to attract the attention of a hen while the female imitates the movements of a hen being circled by a rooster. “Philippine Folk Dances”.

Uyaoy Uyaoy is an Ifugao wedding festival dance accompanied by gongs and is performed by the affluent to attain the second level of the wealthy class. Wealthy people who have performed this dance are entitled to the use of gongs at their death. Dugso Dugso is a ceremonial dance that is usually performed during important occasions like kaliga (feasts) or kaamulan (tribal gatherings) among the Manobo people in Bukidnon, Agusan and Misamis Oriental. Sayaw sa Cuyo Sayaw sa Cuyo is a mazurka danced by eight girls swaying small delicate handkerchiefs to accent turns and twirls.

Tiny paper crowns make the dancers feel like young princesses. The dance originates from Cuyo, Palawan. Pagapir This dance from Lanao del Sur Province in Mindanao is usually performed to commence an important affair. Its dancers are usually from the royal court or high society group of Lanao Province. They use apir (or fan) to coordinate with their small steps called ‘kini-kini’, which symbolizes their good manners and prominent family background “Philippine Folk Dances” Lumagen Lumagen is Another Kalinga tribal dance.

This is a traditional thanksgiving dance performed to cele brate good harvest and events such as birth of first-born child, victory in battles and weddings. Idudu Idudu is a tribal dance from the Abra province in Cordillera. This dance depicts a day inthelif- family life in the Itneg or Tinguian tribe. It tells the story of a father plowing the field as the mother cares for her children. In time, the father and mother exchange duties as the mother finishes planting and other chores in the field, and the father tends to the kids. Kini Kini Kini means the Royal Walk.

Maranao women performed this dance with scarves. The beauty of the scarves and the talent and grace in which it is displayed shows their elite social upbringing. Asik Asik is a solo slave dance from Mindanao that is usually done before the performance of singkil. The umbrealla-bearing attendant performs this dance to win her sultan master’s favor. “Philippine Folk Dances” Imunan Imunan is a courtship dance of Ilokano origin. A beauty enters for an afternoon promenade with her suitors. At the end of the dance, the lovable and charming lady cannot select from any of her suitors.

Balse Balse derived from the Spanish “valse” (waltz), this dance was popular in Marikina, Rizal province, during the Spanish times. Balse 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). Sapyata This dance, from Manibaug barrio, Porac, Pampanga, is usually presented by the farmers during the planting season as an offering for a good harvest. The dance is usually accompanied by a corrido, or musical narrative. Gaway gaway.

This dance originates from a small town of Leyte called Jaro that celebrates the bountiful harvest of the gaway–a plant of the taro family that is grown both for the vegetable and its roots. The female dancer hold a nigo (bilao in Tagalog) laden as she dances. “Philippine Folk Dances” Lawiswis Kawayan Lawiswis kawayan is a known as the Waray folk dance. It is dance in the Visayas region by the Waray people. Through the years Lawiswis kawayan is not only dance by the Waray but also among the Filipinos who have lived in the different regions of the country.

It is danced during house blessings. Kuradang Kuradang is a lively festival dance performed during fiestas, wedding, baptismal parties and other occasions that call for a celebration. It originated from Eastern Visayas especially in the northern part of the province of Eastern Samar. Gayong-gayong Gayong-gayong is a playful Muslim dance which originated from the province of Aklan on the island of Panay in Capiz. In most rural areas that have get-togethers, they opt to use this dance which gives so much joy and pleasure – both to the dancers and the audience. Kalapati.

Kalapati is a lovely dance patterned after the characteristic movements of the kalapati or doves as they court–bowing, billing and cooing. It depicts the typical traits of the Ilocanos (simplicity, naturalness and shyness). It originated from Cabugao, Ilocos Sur “Philippine Folk Dances” Kasanduayan Kasanduayan is a folk dance that came from Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Maranao women living near the shores of Lake Lanao walk nobly with their distinctive movements, most particularly their graceful sway. Girl wears tight long-sleeved blouse in royal colors such as golden yellow, green, pink, violet and velvet red.

Panderetas This dance is also called “Panderetas de Amor”. Panderetas means “tambourines” in Spanish. This dance portrays a heavy Spanish influence. The dance is from Manila and has been included in their Maria Clara Suite. Ragragsakan Ragragsakan is an adaptation of a tradition in which Kalinga women gather and prepare for a budong, or peace pact. This dance portrays the walk of the industrious Kalinga women, carrying water pots on their heads and wearing the colorful hand-woven “blankets of life” around their necks. Their walk imitates the climb up the Rice Terraces in the Mountain Provinces of the Philippines.

Sapatya Sapatya reveals traces of Spanish and indigenous Filipino. Sapatya originates in Pampanga, Luzon. The dance is presented to farmers as an offering for good harvest. The name is Sapatya may have originated from the Spanish term, Zapateado. “Philippine Folk Dances” Polka sa Plaza Polka sa Plaza is a grand parade of beautiful ladies in their traditional Spanish gowns called Maria Clara and parasols (umbrellas). With their partners, wearing their traditional Barongs, they gladly parade, beginning from the church yard going around the town.

Pandanggo Oasiwas Pandanggo Oasiwas literally means the ‘Fandango with the Light’ in English language.. This dance is from the Lubang Island, Mindoro. The term ‘pandanggo’ which means ‘fandanggo’ in the Spanish language is actually dance that is characterized by marking time with the use of clack of castanets, the snapping of the fingers and the stomping of the feet in the triple-time rhythm. Maglangka Tausug dancers are trained by highly-skilled dance trainers that strictly adhere to traditional style of their dances.

The Maglangka (means ‘to dance’) rehearses young [girls] trainees to the correct posturing or hand movements and placements which are in turn very basic in learning more elaborate Tausug dances like the Pangalay. Binoyugan Binoyugan is a dance originally from the Ilokano region of Pangasinan. Binoyugan (beeh-noh-YOOH-gahn) features women balancing on their heads a banga or clay pot which they use to fetch water from the river or well, or in which to cook rice. The dance culminates with the women laying stomach down on stage, and rolling from side to side, all while balancing the pot.

“Philippine Folk Dances” Alcamfor Its name is derived from the plant of the same name having a peculiar hot and aromatic smell. Female dancers hold handkerchiefs scented with the “alcamfor” (naphtalene balls) believed to induce romance. The dance came from Leyte. B’laan B’laan is a Courtship dance of Davao del Sur imitating forest birds during the mating season. All movements of the Blit-B’laan are done with the knees slightly bent. Pasikat na baso Pasikat Na Baso (Pangapisan, Pangasinan) Pasikat means to show off and baso means drinking glass.

Dancers display good balance, graceful movements and unusual skill on the top of a bench with the use of four glasses half full of water or wine. Tiklos The Tiklos is a native peasant dance of Leyte. Tiklos (also called “pintakasi”) is the Waray equivalent to the “bayanihan”. Groups of people work for somebody without hoping for anything in return. The peasants cooperate for the social and economic progress of their community. “Philippine Folk Dances” Tinolabong Tinolabong is dance of the mountain people of Panilan and Loctugan, Capiz. This dance named after a bird called tolabong in Capiz.

Carabaos like the birds as they peck at the ticks, flies, mosquitoes and other insects. The danced imitates the movements of the birds. Girl dancer wares red or white skirt and white loose blouse with long sleeves and close neck like a chambra. Boy wares red or white trousers and white camisa de chino. Both are bare foot. Polka Sa Nayon This dance comes from the province of Batangas in the Tagalog Region of the Philippine Islands. In the old days it was very popular and was usually danced at all the big social affairs and at the town fiestas.

You may also be interested in the following: reflection about philippine folk dance

Still stressed from student homework?
Get quality assistance from academic writers!