Dance as an Art
“Dance is an art which deals with the motions of the
human body.”
James K. Feibleman, a great philosopher
• Dance is an art of rhythmic bodily movements that projects ordered
sequence of moving visual patterns of lines, solid shape, and color
(Thomas Munro in Kraus and Gautman, 1981).
• The postures and gestures of which these visuals patterns are created
suggest kinesthetic experiences of tension, relation, and emotional
moods and attitudes associated with them. Some of theses dances
that are considered an art form dance, ballet and contemporary
dance.
• move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of
steps.
What is Folk Dance?
• Folk Dances are the indigenous dances of any specific “folk” or the
common people.
• Traditional customary or recreational dance forms of given country
which have evolved and handed down to generations.
• Related to everything in our daily lives like customs, rituals and
occupations.
• Related to origin to religious belief, stemming from emotions,
superstitions, festivals, ceremonies of birth, courtship, death, war
etc.
• “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.” (Duggan, Schlottmann and Rutledge,
1948)
• “A traditional mode of expression that employs bodily
movements of redundant patterns linked to definitive features of
rhythmic beats or music.” (Lopez, 2006)
Characteristics of
Philippine folk dance:
• It is traditional
• It has expressive behavior.
• Simple, basic rhythm dominates the folk dance and established
the pattern movement.
• It is created by an unknown choreographer or by communal
efforts.
• It performs a function in the life of the (folk) people.
Differences between folk,
national and ethnic dances
• Folk dances are traditional dances found in a certain country.
• National dances are also traditional folk dances but have a
national scope.
1. Carniñosa
2. Curacha
3. Pandango
a. Pandango Ilocano
b. Pandango Visayan
c. Pandango Dumaguetaño
d. Pandango Ivatan
e. Pandango Rinconada
f. Pandango sa Ilaw
• Ethnic dances or ethnological dances are those
performed in primitive tribes and have retained close
kinship with religious ritual and community custom.
1. “require a certain level of special
performing skills” (Kraus, 1962)
2. Symbolic in meaning
3. Can be performed in three different
categories: Ritual, life-cycle and
occupational.
Examples of Ethnic Dances:
• Ritual Dances- dances that depict ritual ceremonies.
Dugsa (Bukidnon) Pagdididwata (Palawan)
• Life-Cycle dances- dances relating to the cycle of human life such
as birthing, courtship, wedding and funeral.
Binasuan (Pangasinan) Daling-Daling (Muslim courtship dance
from Sulu)
• Occupational Dances-dances that exhibit work and occupation of
the dancers.
Maglalatik (Cotabato) Mananagat (Cebu)
• All national and ethnic dances are folk dances, but not all folk
dances are considered national or ethnic dances.
• The origin of the dances may be seen by looking at the
costumes, props, and implements of a certain group or tribe.
• Due to acculturation, Philippine indigenous dances may have
evolved and modified by other countries.
Three major regional classification of
Philippine folk dances
• Tribal dances from the Cordilleras- include non-
Christian dances from the Cordilleras.
• Lowland Christian Dances- dances coming from places
with Western influences such as that of the Tagalogs,
Ilokanos, Pampangueños, Pangasinense, Bisayans, and
Bicolanas. These dances are influenced by Hispanic and
European cultures.
• Muslim dances- dances from the people of the
Southern Islands of the Philippines such as in Mindanao
and Sulu. These dances are influenced by Arabic and
Indo-Malayan cultures.
Other examples of Philippine folk
dances:
• Life-cycle dances- dances that serve 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.
1. Courtship dances
2. Wedding dances
3. Funeral dances
• Festival Dances- dances that are religious or secular and are
connected with the celebration of recurring events of special
significance.
• Occupational dances- dances that depict the means of livelihood
of the Filipino people.
1. Palay Festival- portrays different steps in rice growing.
• Ritual and ceremonial dances- dances performed as part of the
rituals and ceremonies of a certain tribe or group of people.
• Game dances- derivations from local folk games.
1. Pukol dance from Aklan and Capiz in the Panay Region.
• Joke and Trickster dances- include jokes or tricks played by a
dancer on another or a group of dancers who is one of them.
1. Pandanggo sa Sambalilo- from Tagalog regions wherein a
girl teases her male partner by playing his hat then pushes
him when he is about to succeed in getting back and putting
on his hat from the floor.
• Mimetic or Drama dances- dances that mimic animals,
inanimate objects or other people.
1. Itik-itik- from Surigao imitates movement of a duck.
• War dances- dances that express feud and enmity wherein two
male dancers engage in physical combat with Spartan-like
intensity.
1. Maglalatik (Biñan, Laguna)
• Social amenities dances- dances that express social
graces, hospitality and offerings of gifts to friends.
1. Minuete Yano (Iriga, Camarines Sur)
2. Alay (Tagalog regions)
3. Habanera Botoleña (Botolan, Zambales)
Did you know?
Francisca Reyes Aquino, “Mother of
Philippine Folk Dance”
• acknowledged as the pioneer of folk dancing in
the Philippines.
• Began her research on folk dances in the 1920s.
• Thesis entitled “Philippine Folk Dances and
Games”
• She received the Republic Award of merit given by late President
Ramon Magsaysay.
• She received an honorary doctor of science in Physical Education
degree from Boston university.
• Honorary doctor of humanities degree from Far Eastern University.
• UNESCO National Commission and presidential citation for
distinguished service to the 10th World jamboree from the Boy
Scouts of the Philippines in 1959.
