Comprehensive Study Guide on Dance History, Folk Dance, Festivals, and Cheerdance Motions
Introduction and History of Dance
Definition of Dance: Dance refers to a movement set to music where organization, structure, and patterns emerge. It stands as one of the oldest forms of human expression.
Primary Functions of Dance: Throughout history, dance has served key functions across cultures:
Communication
Celebration
Storytelling
Religion
Entertainment
Historical Journey of Dance:
Ancient Egyptian Dance:
An integral part of daily life, religious rituals, and funerary practices.
Documented primarily through tomb paintings and wall reliefs.
Movement ranged from slow, rhythmic movements and acrobatics to vigorous athletic displays.
Often accompanied by clapping, percussion instruments, harps, and flutes.
Four main types of Ancient Egyptian dances:
Religious and funerary dances
Acrobatics and gymnastics dances
Pair and group dances
Entertainment and banquet dances
Ancient Greek Dance:
Deeply integrated into daily life, serving religious, social, and military functions.
Inseparable from music and poetry.
Ancient Indian Dance:
Deeply rooted in spirituality and storytelling, originating in Hindu temples over two millennia ago.
Governed primarily by the Natya Shastra, an ancient foundational treatise on performing arts.
Characterized by rhythmic footwork (Nritta) and expressive hand gestures (Mudras).
Popular contemporary derivative: Bollywood dance.
Ancient Roman Dance:
Deeply woven into military, religious, and theatrical life.
Key traditions included rhythmic war dances, sacred leaping rites, and expressive mythological storytelling.
Famous theatrical form: Pantomime.
Middle Ages and Renaissance:
Middle Ages: Provided opportunities for communities to gather and socialize.
Renaissance: Flourished in Europe as royalty developed sophisticated court dances to showcase power and wealth.
18th and 19th Century:
Transitioned from formal, mathematically precise baroque court styles to romantic, free-flowing social and classical ballet forms.
20th and 21st Century:
Revolutionized dance by shifting from rigid classical ballet to free-form modernism and globally accessible street and pop styles.
Saw the rise of modern and contemporary dance.
Definition of Folk Dance: Refers to traditional, recreational dances that originate among the common people of a specific country or region.
Philippine Folk Dance
Overview: Traditional dances that reflect the rich history, culture, and daily life of various Filipino communities.
Characteristics and Nature of Philippine Folk Dance:
Occupational Dances: Depict actions and movements of a particular occupation or profession.
Religious / Ceremonial Dances: Associated with religious devotion, sacred vows, and ritual ceremonies.
Comic Dances: Depict funny or humorous movements designed for entertainment.
Mimic Dances: Depict or imitate the movement of animals.
Wedding Dances: Performed during wedding celebrations.
Courtship Dances: Depict the art and rituals of courtship.
Festival Dances: Suitable for special occasions and community celebrations.
War Dances: Showcase imagery, tactics, and movements of combat.
Classifications of Philippine Folk Dance:
Cordillera Dances:
Reflect rituals celebrating daily life, such as a good harvest, health, peace, war, and other living symbols.
Originate from tribes such as the Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Apayao, and Kalinga.
Traditional Cordillera Attire:
Bahag: Loincloth
Tapis: Wrap-around skirt
Examples: Banga, Bendayan (Bendi-an), Lumagen (Tachock), Man-manok, and Ragrasakan.
Rural Dances:
Reflect the simple, everyday life of the people living in the barrio.
Examples: Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Pandanggo Oasiwas, Maglalatik, Tiklos, and Subli.
Tribal Dances:
Symbolize the origin of one's connection with culture, performed as a basic part of life primarily for the gods.
Examples:
T'boli tribe: Kadal Tahaw
B'laan tribe: Blit
Bukidnon tribe: Dugso
Additional tribal traditions from Bagobo, Palawan, and Manobo groups.
Muslim Dances:
Renowned for their mysticism, royalty, and beauty, which are evident in both music and movement.
Examples: Singkil, Pangalay, Asik, Daling-dali, Janggay, and Pang Apir.
Western-Influenced Dances:
Spanish-influenced dances through which Filipinos celebrated social class and distinction, often referred to as Maria Clara dances.
Examples: Lanceros, Rigodon, Cariñosa, Kuratsa, Jota, Mazurka, Polka, Pantomina, and Habanera.
Fundamental Dance Positions and Steps
Fundamental Arm Positions:
First Position: Both arms raised in front of the chest in a rounded curve.
Second Position: Both arms extended sideways at shoulder level with a graceful curve.
Third Position: One arm raised overhead in a curve while the other arm remains extended sideways.
Fourth Position: One arm raised overhead while the other arm is kept in front in first position.
Fifth Position: Both arms raised overhead, forming an oval or circular shape.
Fundamental Steps and Step Patterns of Philippine Folk Dance:
Touch Step: Point-Close
Bleking Step: Heel-Close
Close Step: Step-Close
Hop Step: Step-Hop
Slide Step: Step-Slide
Cross Step: Cross-Step-Step
Change Step: Step-Close-Step
Cross Change: Cross-Change Step
Contraganza: Leap-Cross-Close
Plain Polka: Lift(knee) Step and Step
Hop Polka: Hop Step and Step
Heel-Toe Polka: Heel-Toe Step and Step
Philippine Festivals and Festival Dances
Overview of Festivals:
A festival is a communal event, typically marked as a local or national holiday, centering on characteristic aspects of a community and its religion or tradition.
Festivals are commonly associated with harvest, thanksgiving, appreciation, and religious commemoration.
In the Philippines, the Spanish term fiesta denotes a communal religious feast held in honor of a patron saint.
Fiestas are deeply important to many Filipinos as a way to express gratitude to patron saints for good fortune and favors received.
Major Philippine Festivals:
Sinulog Festival (Cebu):
Official Name / Variants: Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival (also known as Sinug and Sulog).
Location: Cebu (centered in Cebu City).
Timing: Held annually on the third Sunday of January.
Significance: Serves as the center of Santo Niño Christian celebrations in the Philippines.
Moniker: Nicknamed the "Grandest Festival in the Philippines."
Ati-Atihan Festival (Kalibo, Aklan):
Official Name: Kalibo Santo Niño—Ati-Atihan Festival.
Location: Kalibo, Aklan (Panay Island).
Timing: Held annually on the third Sunday of January.
Meaning: Ati-Atihan means "to imitate the Ati people."
Street Parade: Known as Sadsad, a local dance style where the foot is momentarily dragged along the ground to the drumbeat of marching bands.
Moniker: The oldest festival in the Philippines and inspiration for many other celebrations, earning it the title "Mother of All Philippine Festivals."
Dinagyang Festival (Iloilo City):
Location: Iloilo City.
Timing: Held annually on the fourth Sunday of January.
Etymology: Derived from the Hiligaynon word dágyang, meaning "merrymaking."
Significance: Honors the Santo Niño and commemorates the historic pact between native datus and local inhabitants following the arrival of Malay settlers and the barter of Panay Island.
Key Features: Famous for its Ati Tribes Competition, where tribu (tribe) performers in warrior costumes perform choreographed formations, patterns, and rhythmic chants to heavy percussion.
Moniker: Recognized as the "Queen of All Philippine Festivals" and repeatedly awarded Best Tourism Event by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines (ATOP).
Panagbenga Festival (Baguio City):
Alternate Name: Baguio Flower Festival.
Location: Baguio City.
Timing: Month-long annual flower festival.
Etymology: Derived from the Kankanaey term meaning "season of blooming."
Moriones Festival (Marinduque):
Location: Marinduque Island.
Timing: Held annually during Holy Week (Lenten season).
Features: Participants called Moriones wear elaborate masks and costumes replicating biblical imperial Roman soldiers as interpreted by local artists.
Pahiyas Festival (Lucban, Quezon):
Location: Lucban, Quezon.
Timing: Held annually on May 15.
Patron Saint: St. Isidore the Labourer (patron saint of farmers).
Activities: Begins with a 6:00 AM mass at Lucban Church; houses along the street parade are decorated with fruits, vegetables, agricultural produce, handicrafts, and kiping (a colourful leaf-shaped rice decoration that can be eaten grilled or fried).
Pintados Festival (Tacloban, Leyte):
Location: Tacloban, Leyte.
Origin: Cultural-religious celebration based on the body-painting traditions of ancient tattooed Pintados warriors encountered by 16th-century Spanish colonizers.
Kadayawan Festival (Davao City):
Location: Davao City.
Significance: A celebration of life, thanksgiving for nature's gifts, cultural wealth, bountiful harvest, and peaceful living.
Former Name: Formerly known as the Apo Duwaling Festival, named after three Davao icons: Mount Apo, Durian, and the Waling-Waling orchid.
MassKara Festival (Bacolod City):
Location: Bacolod City (sites include Bacolod Public Plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip, and Bacolod City Government Center).
Timing: Highlights take place on the fourth Sunday of October.
Etymology: Coined by artist Ely Santiago from mass (multitude of people) and Spanish cara (face) to form MassKara ("multitude of faces"), while serving as a pun on maskara (Filipino for mask).
Moniker: Featuring smiling masks, it earned Bacolod the title "City of Smiles."
Sapatos Festival (Marikina City):
Location: Freedom Park, Marikina City (in front of City Hall).
Purpose: Celebrates locally manufactured footwear and bags to support the local shoe industry.
Moniker: Highlights Marikina as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines."
Basic Cheerdance Motions
Cheerdance Stances and Motion Definitions:
Beginning Stance: Feet together, hands placed straight down by the side in blades.
Cheer Stance: Feet set wider than shoulder-width apart, hands down by the side in blades.
Clasp: Hands clasped together at the chin with elbows tucked in.
Clap: Hands flat in blades placed at the chin with elbows tucked in.
High V: Arms extended upward forming a "V" shape, shoulders relaxed.
Low V: Arms extended downward forming a "V" shape.
Touchdown: Arms extended straight up parallel to each other, fists facing inward.
Low Touchdown: Arms extended straight down parallel to each other, fists facing inward.
Bow and Arrow: One arm extended straight out to the side, the other arm bent at the elbow in a half "T" motion.
Overhead Clasp: Arms straight overhead in a clasp, positioned slightly in front of the face.
Tabletop: Arms bent at elbows with fists held upright directly in front of the shoulders.
Low Clasp: Arms extended straight down in a clasp slightly in front of the body.
Punch: One arm extended straight up in a fist, the other hand placed on the hip in a fist.
L Motion: One arm extended to the side, the other arm extended straight up in a punch position.
Diagonal: One arm extended in a High "V" and the opposite arm extended in a Low "V".