Dance

Dance

is an art of rhythmic bodily movements that projects ordered sequence of moving visual patterns of line, solid shape, and color

Folk dances

are the indigenous dances of any specific "Folk" or the common people. They are traditional customary or recreational dance forms of a given country which evolved naturally and were handed down across generations.

Folk dances

are related to everything of importance in our daily lives such as customs, rituals and occupations of a specific group of people.

Duggan, Schlottman and Rutledge (1948)

"Folk dance became the overt expression of emotions and ideas which were peculiarly significant or the re-enactment of customs and events constituting an important part of their history and patterns of daily living."

Lopez (2006)

defined Philippine folk dance as "a traditional mode of expression that employs bodily movements of redundant patterns linked to definitive features of rhythmic beats or music."

Francisca Reyes-Aquino

The first National Artist for dance and the mother of Philippines Folk Dance

Folk dances

are traditional dances found in a certain country

National Dances

are also traditional folk dances but have a national scope.

Ethnic or Ethnological Dances

are those performed in primitive tribes and have retained their close kinship with religious ritual and community custom. These dances may "require a certain level of special performing skills" (Kraus, 1962) that symbolic in meaning, making it harder for those outside the group to understand.

Ritual, Life-cycle, & Occupational

Ethnic dances can be performed in three different categories

Ritual dances

dances that depict ritual ceremonies. Examples are Dugso (Bukidnon) and Pagdidiwata (Palawan)

Life-cycle dances

dances relating to the cycle of human life such as birthing, courtship, wedding and funeral. Examples are Binasuan (Pangasinan) and Daling-daling (Muslim courtship dance from Sulu).

Occupational dances

dances that exhibit work and occupation of the dancers. Examples are Mag-Asik (Cotabato) and Mananagat (Cebu) dances.