LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE

WHAT IS DANCE

It is an art performed by individuals or group of human

being, existing in time, space, force and flow in which the human body is the instrument and movement is the

medium. - Richard Krauss.DANCE

Commonly performed with music or other accompaniment and has a primary purpose of expressing the inner feelings and emotions, although it is often performed for social, ritual, entertainment or other purposes.

UNIVERSAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DANCE

1.Use of human body2.Extends through time3.Exist in space4.Exist in force5.Accompanied by

rhythm6.Serves to

communicate7.Has movement and

style

CLASSIFICATION OF DANCE FORM1. Ballet2. Modern Dance3. Classical Dance

4. Ethnic Dance5. Folk Dance 6. Ballroom Dance

7. Exercise Dance

8. Dance Exercise9. Dance Drama10. Allied Movement Form11. Street Dance12. Interpretative dance

FOLK DANCE

•Usually performed by a group of consisting of members of a community.•Its steps and patterns are not creation of an identifiable choreographer but are passed from generation to another.

ETHNIC DANCES

Ethnic dances are found among the ethnolinguistic groups scattered all over the Philippine islands, who have not been substantially Westernized, either by Spain or the United States.

In Bukidnon there are the hinaklaran (offering) festival and the ritual of the three datu. In the first there is chanting and dancing around an altar. The women dance the well-known dugso while a baylan ceremoniously chants her own invocation.

The ritual can go on for some six hours to assure the blessings of the spirits, a good harvest or good fortune. Also for everyone’s well-being, the rite of the three Kaamulan datu (chieftain) enacts a regional unity where the datu offer chicken of various colors, pouring their blood beside offertory water and coins.

Ritual Dances Closely attuned to nature, believing in the

spirits that keep their environment fruitful and their selves alive.

The ethnic Filipinos enact these rites—always with instrumental music, chanting, and often dancing—as “part of communal life cycles, but they also serve as a popular medium of dramatic expression and entertainment that reflects the people’s nature, culture and aspirations”

Ethnic dance

The Aeta of Zambales stage the anituan to drive away the evil spirits that cause sickness. The patient or patients are covered with a red cloth and are surrounded by the shaman and the patient’s relatives. They threaten the spirits to go away with their bows and arrows, spears and sticks.

ETHNIC DANCEThe Occupational Dances

Life in the ethnic communities is characterized by a variety of activities relating to livelihood or defense. These activities are joyfully celebrated in mime and dance. Most common to the varied ethnic cultures of the Philippines is the transformation of the rice cycle into dance.

Countries in the world have their own cultures made more

colorful, beautiful and vibrant because of Folk Dances that are

reflection of who they are.

THE LUZON

REGION

CARIÑOSAo meaning the loving or affectionate oneo is a Philippine dance of Hispanic origin

from the Maria Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it places the couple in romance scenario.

IDAW This dance sometimes has many names and

different versions. Most common is this dance depicts the hunting ritual performed before a tribal war. The tribes men would go out and look up and watch for the scared Idaw bird. Which is said to lead the tribe to victory. Also look at the clothing, Philippines being a very hot climate, plus the use of as little material as possible, the traditional clothing was not made to cover much of the body....

This dance displays the Igorot women on their way to the river to fetch the daily water supply for their families. It shows the skill and strength of the women as they would carry heavy laiden clay pots (Banga) full of water. Their grace and agility while balancing the heavy pots, sometimes stacks 5 high, is a testament of the Filipino and how hardships become a art form and talent.

BANGA

This dance displays the Igorot women on their way to the river to fetch the daily water supply for their families. It shows the skill and strength of the women as they would carry heavy laiden clay pots (Banga) full of water. Their grace and agility while balancing the heavy pots, sometimes stacks 5 high.

IDUDU The family is the basic structure of family life

among the Itneg / Tinggian people. The caring for the Children is shared by both the mother and father. While the men are clearing the fields, breaking the soil with bamboo and their feet, the women watch the children. Soon as the men are done, they take care of the children while the women do back breaking work.

BINASUAN The Binasuan is an entertaining dance

that is usually performed at festive social occasions like weddings and birthdays. Dancers carefully balance three half-filled glasses of rice wine on their heads and hands as they gracefully spin and roll on the ground. The dance originated in Bayambang in the Pangasinan province.

MAGLALATIK Originally performed in Biñan, 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.

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

KURATSA The Kuratsa is described as a dance of

courtship and is often performed at weddings and other social occasions. The dance has three parts. The couple first performs a waltz. In the second part, the music sets a faster pace as the man pursues the woman around the dance floor in a chase. To finish, the music becomes even faster as the man wins over the woman with his mating dance.

SAYAW SA BANGKO This dance is native to the barrio of

Pangapisan, Lingayen, Pangasinan, and demands skill from its performers who must dance on top of a bench roughly six inches wide.

SAKUTING A dance of the Ilokano Christians and non-

Christians from the province of Abra. Sakuting was originally performed by boys

only. It portrays a mock fight using sticks to train for combat. The stacatto-inflected music suggests a strong Chinese influence. The dance is customarily performed during Christmas at the town plaza, or from the house-to-house.

TheVisayas Region

TINIKLING Tinikling is considered the national folkdance 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.

MAZURKA BOHOLANA

Mazurka Boholana is a Spanish-inspired ballroom dance from the Bohol province of the Philippines. Although the mazurka is the Polish national dance, it was wildly popular throughout Europe in the 19th century and even in colonized lands overseas. The Philippine dance is ordinarily performed by men and women partners.

THE POLKABAL The Polkabal shows some European

influence in its steps. The dance is composed of nine different steps which include various movements such as: fluttering, stepping heel-to-toe, a reenactment of a bull fight, and even a leisurely walk.

TheMindanao

Region

SINGKIL Singkil dance takes its name from the bells

worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the 14th century, tells the fateful story of Princess Gandingan, who was caught in the middle of a forest during an earthquake caused by the diwatas, or fairies or nymph of the forest.

The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling, which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her throughout her ordeal. Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining a dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo skillfully manipulate, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. The dancers weave expertly through criss-crossed bamboos.

KINI-KINI Kini means the Royal Walk. Maranao

women performed this dance with scarves. The beauty of the scarves and the talent and grace in which it is displayed. Shows their elite social upbringing

PANGALAY A pangalay native to the Badjao, sometimes

known as the "Sea Gypsies." Pangalay is a dance that emphasizes the agility of the upper body. The rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with simultaneous alternating waving of arms are the basic movement of this dance.

The pangalay is commonly performed at weddings and other social gatherings. You will also see some parts of the Sinkgil in this dance also. Another part of this dance is also called the Muslims four Bamboos.

ASIK This is performed by a solo maiden, adorned

with fine beads and make up, long head scarf. She would dance to win the favor of her Sultan master. Many time the girls would dance to win the hearts of her master or to make up for a wrong she had done. She would give her whole heart and soul into this performance to soften the heart of her master to accept her...

End.