Folk dances in the Philippines reflect the country's history and traditions. They developed from daily life and events like harvests or the arrival of colonizers like the Spanish. Popular folk dances include the Tinikling, which mimics birds hopping between bamboo poles; the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, a graceful dance balancing oil lamps; and the Itik-Itik, a mimetic dance imitating duck movements in rice paddies. Regional dances often tell stories through their choreography and costumes. Folk dances remain an important part of Philippine culture and a way to preserve historical customs.

1. PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE

2. Folk dance
- is a form of dance
developed by a group of people that
reflects the traditional life of the
people of a certain country or
region.
- is a recreational or
ceremonial dance performed usually
by members of the community to
which the dance is traditional.

3. History Folk Dance in the
Philippines
It is impossible to know when
exactly dancing became a part of life
in the Philippines.
Philippine folk dancing is a true
reflection of daily life in past
centuries.
Traditional dances were designed
to thank the gods for natural and
agricultural events, such as rain and
harvests.

4. Folk Dance History in the
Philippines
More recent dances done in the
Philippines derive from historical
events such as the arrival of the
Spaniards in the 16th century and the
conflicts with the Moors.
Several dances, especially those
influenced by Spanish dance forms, re-
enact the courtship of a man and a
woman in all its many aspects from
the sublime to the ridiculous.

5. Folk Dance History in the
Philippines
Dancing was considered a
religious activity among the early
Filipinos.
Among the Christianized Filipino
groups, the Kumintang was the oldest
Dance and song. It was a pantomimed
song and dance.
The Pampango is another dance
characterized by the movements of
the Lion and clapping of the hands.

6. Folk Dances Introduced by
the Spaniards
• Fandango
• Lanceros
• Rigodon
• Carinosa
• Curacha

7. Folk Dances with Spanish
Influence
•Estudiantina
•Mazurka Boholana
•Mazurka Mindorena
•Polka sa Nayon

8. Estudiantina
This is a lively dance which
originated from Unisan, Quezon
province (formerly Tayabas).During
the olden days, this dance was a
favorite in social gatherings and was
usually by young men and women who
were students of private school and
colleges in Manila.
The boys were called Estudiantes
by the barrio folks and the girls,
Estudiantinas.
Usually performed with the
accompaniment of a flute and guitar.

9. Costume:
Girl-Maria Clara
Boy- Barong Tagalog

10. Lanceros De Tayabas
A dance
honoring the
town of
Tayabas
Quezon. Its
name takes
from
chivalrous knights and
lanciers of King Arthur’s
fame.

11. Costume:
Girl- Baro’t Saya
Boy- Barong Tagalog

12. Properties:
Scarf(Baksa)-soft bandana
with floral design
Skirt(saya)
Overskirt (sobre falla)- plain
checkered of striped wrapped
around the waist and
gathered on the left side
reaching below the knee.

13. Polka sa Nayon
Popular in the province of
Batangas during the Spanish
time. Usually danced during
fiestas and in big social
affairs.

14. Costume:
Girl-Maria Clara or Balintawak
Boy-Barong Tagalog

15. Dance Steps
Plain Polka- with a step
pattern of step, close, step,
pause.
Heel and toe polka – heel
place. Toe point, step close,
step pause. (2M)

16. Cariñoza
Philippine national dance. It is a
Spanish word which means
affectionate or lovable.
Costume:
Girl-Balintawak or
Patadyong and Camisa.
Boy- Barong Tagalog
and any kind of
trousers.
Properties:
Girl-fan
Boy- handkerchief

17. Dance Terms
Bow- also called Saludo. It is a
sign of respect or courtesy.
Clockwise- motion in the
direction of the hands of the
clock
Counterclockwise- motion in a
reverse direction of the hands of
the clock.

18. Arms in Lateral Position- Both
arms on one side of the body either
left or right side.This can be done at
shoulder , chest or waist level.
Arms in Reverse T Position- Both arms
sideward, elbow bent at right angle
forearms parallel to head, palms
facing inward.
Kumintang- Ilocano dance term done
by turning the hand from the wrist
either clockwise or counterclockwise.

19. Dance Steps
Three Steps and point- done in a two
measures (2M). With a step pattern
step(1), ste(2), step(3), point (1,2,3)
Waltz- with a step pattern of step (1),
close (2), step (3).
Close step- with step pattern of step
(1, 2) close (3).
Touch Point- with a step pattern of
Point (1,2), close-step (3).

20. Dance Figures
---Saludo---
1. Three Steps and Point
2. Pointing
3. Back to Back
4. Hide ans Seek with Fan
5. Kneeling and Fanning
6. Hide and Seek with
Handkerchief
7. Flirting with Handkerchief
8. Flirting
--Saludo---

21. Subli
-well known ceremonial
worship dance in honor of Mahal
na Poong Sta. Cruz. Originate
some 300 years ago in the Barrio
of Dingin, Alitagtag, Batangas.
-derived from the Tagalog
words “subsub” (stooped or in a
crouching position and “bali”
(broken).

22. It is performed by the ladies
with their hats together with the
graceful movements of their arms
and hands, while the male dancer
performed in a stooping position
trying to attract the women by
stomping the ground and clicking
castanets.

23. This dance
performed for
nine days as
novena with the
accompaniment
of kalatong or
tugtugan, a
dried hollow
wood shaped
from the trunk
of a jack-fruit tree and covered by
dried skin of forest lizard called
bayawak.

24. Jotabal
-lively festival dance
introduce by the Spaniards
originated in Camohaguin,
Gumaca Quezon. Derived from
“jota” means popular dance
and” balse” means waltz.

25. Jota Gumaqueña
-very popular dance among the well-
heeled families of Gumaca, Tayabas
(now Quezon). A well-known local
musician at the time, Señor
Herminigildo Omana, introduced this
dance. It became popular with the
young people and was handed down
between generations.

26. Tinikling
- A folkdance of Visayas with a
pair of dancers hopping between two
bamboo poles held just above the
ground and struck together in time to
music. Originated from Leyte Province,
this dance is in fact a mimic
movement of “tikling birds” hopping
over trees, grass stems or over
bamboo traps set by farmers. Dancers
perform this dance with remarkable
grace and speed jumping between
bamboo poles.

27. Maglalatik
- Originally performed in Binan,
Laguna as a mock-war dance that
demonstrates a fight between the
Moros and the Christians over the
prized latik or coconut meat during the
Spanish rule, this dance is also shown
to pay tribute to the town’s patron
saint, San Isidro Labrador.

28. It has a four-part performance
such as the palipasan and the
baligtaran showing the intense battle,
the paseo and the escaramusa- the
reconciliation. Moro dancers wear
read trousers while the Christian
dancers show up in blue. All dancers
are male; with harnesses of coconut
shells attached on their chests, backs,
thighs and hips.

29. Pandanggo sa Ilaw
- The word pandanggo comes
from the Spanish dance
“fandango”characterized with lively
steps and clapping while following a
varying ¾ beat. Pandanggo requires
excellent balancing skill to maintain
the stability of three tinghoy, or oil
lamps, placed on head and at the back
of each hand. This famous dance of
grace and balance originated from
Lubang Island, Mindoro.

30. Binasuan
- Originated in Pangasinan
Province “meaning with the use of
drinking glasses”, this vibrant dance
basically shows off balancing skill of
the performers. Glasses filled with
rice wine are placed on the head and
on each hand carefully maneuvered
with graceful movements. This dance
is common in weddings, fiestas and
special occasions.

31. Itik-itik
-is a mimetic folk dance in The
Philippines. It originated in the
province of Surigao in Mindanao. In
Itik-itik (from the Tagalog word for
"duck"), the dance steps imitate the
movements of ducks among rice
paddies and swamplands, such as
wading, flying, and short, choppy
steps.

32. According to history of this dance, a
young woman named Kanang (short
for Cayetana) happened to be the best
performer in the province of Surigao
del Norte. At one baptismal reception,
she was asked to dance the Sibay, and
began improvising her steps in the
middle of her performance imitating
the movements of an “itik”, a duck, as
it walks with choppy steps and
splashes water on its back while
attracting its mate. Because of its
unusual steps and fascinating
interpretation, the audience began
imitating her.

33. Pantomina (Spanish for Pantomime)
-The dance was also called
Salampati during the Spanish
occupation.
It means"Dance of the Doves",
this dance is the highlight of
Sorsogon’s Kasanggayahan Festival
every third week of October. It is a
courtship dance originated from
imitating the courtship and
lovemaking of doves that then showed
during the dance where men attempt
to please the women.