Folk dance is a series of physical movements accompanied by music, reflecting the traditional life of a particular country or region.
Unlike formal dances with strict rules, folk dances often emerge spontaneously among common people and represent their cultural heritage.
Significance
Folk dances are related to everything of 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 belief, stemming from emotions, superstitions, festivals, ceremonies of birth, courtship, marriage, death, war, and countless themes common to all people around the world.
According to Duggan, Schlottmann, 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."
Major Classifications of Philippine Folk Dances
Cordillera Dances
Rural Dances
Tribal Dances
Muslim Dances
Spanish Influenced Dances
1. Cordillera Dances
Reflect rituals which celebrate their daily lives - a good harvest, health, peace, war, and other symbols of living.
Originated from people whose way of life existed long before any Spaniard or other foreigners stepped foot on the Philippines.
Commonly accompanied by gongsa (gongs), sulibao (hand drum), and other native instruments.
Every province has its own unique set of music and movements.
2. Rural Dances
Reflect the simple life of the people in barrio.
Widely performed in fiestas to honor patron saints and give homage to the barrio's namesake.
Show gaiety, laughter and festivities.
Depict common work, daily activities of the peasants.
Use indigenous materials, claping, rondalla, percussion instruments.
3. Tribal Dances
Reflect rituals and animals, belief in "spirit" & shamans, nature - "anito".
Also known as ethnic dances that intricate craftsmanship in clothing and jewelry.
Uses animal sounds, human singing and using indigenous materials in performing this dance.
Ethnic minorities found in different parts of the Philippines (T’boli, Bilaan, Manobo, Bagobo, etc.).
4. Muslim Dances
Influenced by Malay, Javanes and Middle Eastern Traders (Islams).
Focus more on arm movement and the fingers express feelings and emotions.
Reflects mysticism, royalty and beauty.
Performers uses and wears shimmering customs.
5. Spanish Influenced Dances
The Philippine aristocrates created Filipino adaptations of European dances.
Danced by young socialites to the stringed music of rondalla.
Reflect Christianity, and European Art and Culture.
Categories of the Philippine Folk Dances
A. Life-cycle Dances
Relates to the cycle of human life such as birthing, courtship, wedding and funeral.
Dances that are served 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.
Courtship Dances
Wedding Dances
Funeral Dances
B. Festival Dances
This dances are either religious or secular and are connected with the celebration of recurring events of special significance.
C. Ritual and Ceremonial Dances
Dances performed as part of the rituals and ceremonies of a certain tribe or group of people.
D. Game Dances
Derivations from local folk games.
One example of these dances is the Pukol dance from Aklan and Capiz in the Panay region. Pukol means "to strike or bump each other" (Aquino, 1979).
E. Jokes and Trickster Dance
It 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" (Lopez, 2006).
Example of these is the Pandanggo sa Sambalilo dance from the Tagalog regions wherein 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.
F. Mimetic or Drama Dances
These dances that mimic animals, inanimate objects, or other people.
The dancers get into roles other than themselves and become actors totally immersed in the story the dances tell.
The Itik-Itik dance from Surigao is an example of a mimetic dance as it imitates the movements of a duck.
G. War Dances
War dances express feud and enmity, with two male dancers engaging in physical combat.
Maglalatik, a war dance in Biñan, Laguna, depicts a battle between Muslims and Christian Filipinos over latik, with the Muslim winning and Christians seeking conciliation to convert the Muslim Moros to Christianity.
H. Social Amenities Dance
Dances that express social graces, hospitality, and offerings of gifts to friends.
All social ballroom dances and most of the "Filipinized" Western dances that show camaraderie merriment belong to this group (Lopez, 2006).
Examples are Minuete Yano (Iriga, Camarines Sur), Alay (Tagalog regions), and Habanera Botoleña (Botolan, Zambales) dances.
Minuete Yano, for instance, is performed by people from high social standing in the community during special occasions honoring high government officials and church dignitaries (Aquino, 1979).
Objectives of Philippine Folk Dance
To foster patriotism and nationalism through the study of our dances.
To arouse better appreciation of Philippine music and Folk dances.
To provide through dancing, a healthful form of relaxation and recreation.
To develop a graceful and rhythmic coordination of the body movements that will improve posture.
To preserve the posterity, folk dance and music indigenous to the different regions of the Philippines.
To demonstrate the growth of Filipino culture through the evolution of the Philippine dances.
Characteristics of the Philippine Folk Dances
It is traditional.
It has an expressive behavior.
Simple, basic rhythm dominates the folk dance and establishes the pattern of
It is created by an unknown choreographer or by communal efforts.
It performs a function in the life of the (folk) people.
Oftentimes, the term folk dance is being confused or used interchangeably with ethnic and national dance.
Factors Affecting Folk Dances
1. Geographical location
Geographical location significantly influences folk dance, highlighting the diversity of people in a particular area.
Highlands folk dances are intricate, dainty, and unique, mimicking their lifestyles.
Unlike lowlands or urban areas, these dances are influenced by other cultures and can be enjoyed by everyone, as they are mainstream.
2. Economic conditions
Economic conditions determine a country's growth and impact on folk dances.
High economic status leads to increased tourism, bringing cultural influences to local dances.
Conversely, low economic status hinders the development of folk dances, especially during the pandemic, where performances are often impossible due to the disruption caused by economic conditions.
3. Climatic conditions
Climatic conditions can hinder folk dance performances, as performers struggle with comfort and ease, and the audience may not watch due to these hindrances.
4. Customs and traditions
Folk dances are believed to be rooted in customs and traditions, and their existence is influenced by people's lifestyles and geographical areas, resulting in unique variations.
Do's in folk dancing
Dance in a natural, simple and direct manner
Dance with ease and smoothness
Use the proper costume for the dance
Follow directions and dance instructions as closely as possible
Dance with feeling and expression
Dont's in folk dancing
Do not exaggerate the dance steps.
Do not make the dance too dainty and graceful like ballet.
Do not make entrance and exit long.
Don't make steps too elaborate and complicated.
Don't call a dance a folk dance unless steps come from traditional dances.