Introduction to the Folk Dance of the Philippines and it's classifications according to its origin.

1. PHILIPPINE
FOLK DANCE

2. FOLK DANCE
• a folk dance is a traditional dance of a group of
people with a definite pattern of movements.
• oldest form of dance and the earliest form of
communication
• the traditional dance of a given country which
evolved naturally and spontaneously with
everyday activities (e.g. occupations, customs,
festivals, rituals.

3. FOLK DANCE
• it is handed down from generation to generation
• it has more or less a fixed movement in their
pattern, but may differ in various areas or
provinces

4. OBJECTIVES
• to foster patriotism and nationalism through the
study of our dance.
• to arouse better appreciation of Philippine music
and folk dances.
• to provide through dancing, a healthful form of
relaxation and recreation.

5. OBJECTIVES
• to develop a graceful and rhythmic coordination
of body movements that will improve posture.
• to preserve for posterity, folk dances and music
indigenous to the different regions of the
Philippines.
• to demonstrate the growth of Filipino culture
through the evolution of Philippine dances.

6. CHARACTERISTICS
• in general, dancers stand apart.
• there is little, if any, bodily contact.
• most of the dances are done by pairs or couples.
• hand movements play an important part.

7. CHARACTERISTICS
• most dances are in long formation.
• most dances begin and end with “saludo.”
• dances from the lowlands have more foreign
elements those found in the uplands.
• war dances are found among non-Christian
tribes.

8. CLASSIFICATION
ACCORDING TO
ITS ORIGIN

9. CORDILLERA DANCES
• These are dances of the kalingas, ifugaos and
other ethnolinguistic groups of the cordillera
mountains. They are known for their distinct
costumes such as g-strings and tapis and
grounded movements which is a reflection of
their daily routine

12. SPANISH-INFLUENCED DANCES
• These dances are a reflection of Spanish culture
merged with that of ours. From the costumes
alone, you can really tell whether it’s a Spanish-
influenced Folk Dance or not. Males wear barong
tagalog and females wear the maria clara of
different elaborate designs

16. RURAL DANCES
• These are dance which reflect the true spirit and
character of the Filipino people. They wear
peasant – occupational costumes but reflect in
their movements activities of fishing, farming,
courtship and merrymaking. Some mimic
movements of animals like birds, fish and others.

19. MUSLIM DANCES
• These are dances of the exotic southern part of
the country. They mirror the character and
colorful culture of Muslims as seen in their
discrete expression and brightly colored silk
costume

23. TRIBAL & INDIGENOUS DANCES
• These dances are of tribal origin. They reflect the
culture and ways of a specific tribal group in any
point of the country. They may be from Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao

25. COMMON DANCE TERMS
• Arms in lateral position – both arms are at one side either
right or left, at shoulder, chest or waist level.
• Brush – weight on one foot, hit the floor with the ball or
heel of the other foot and lift that foot from the floor to
any direction.
• Crossed arms – partners facing each other or standing side
by side join their left hands together and the right hands
together; either right over left or left over right hands.
• Cut – to displace quickly one foot with the other.

26. COMMON DANCE TERMS
• Do-si-do – partners advance forward, pass each other’s right (
left ) side, step across to the right move backwards without
turning around, pass each other left side to proper places.
• Hayon-hayon – to place one forearm in front and the other at he
back of the waist.
• Hop – a spring from one foot landing on the same foot in place
or in any direction.
• Jaleo – partners turn around clockwise (with right elbows almost
touching ) or counterclockwise (with left elbows almost
touching ) using walking or any kind of dance step.

27. COMMON DANCE TERMS
• Jump – A spring on one foot or both feet landing on both
feet in any direction.
• Kumintang – moving the hand from the wrist either in a
clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
• Leap – a spring from one foot landing on the other foot in
any direction.
• Place – to put foot in a certain position without putting
weight on it.

28. COMMON DANCE TERMS
• Pivot – to turn with the ball, heel or whole foot on a fixed place
or point.
• Point – touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight
of the body on the other foot.
• Panadyak – to stamp in front or at the side with the right foot
and tap with same foot close to the left foot. This is a tagalog
term.
• Patay – to bend the head downward and to support the forehead
with the r forearm or with the crook of the r elbow while the
left hand supports lightly the palm of the right hand. This is
usually done with the left foot pointing in rear and knees
slightly bent. This is an ilocano term and the movement is

29. COMMON DANCE TERMS
• Salok – T o swing the arm downward-upward passing in front of
the body as if scooping, the trunk is bent following the
movement of the arm doing the salok. This is a tagalog term.
• Saludo – partners bow to each other, to the audience, opposite
dancers, or to the neighbors with feet together. This is of
spanish origin and is used in almost all philippine dances.
• Sarok – cross the r foot in front of the l , bend the body slightly
forward and cross the hands down in front of the r hand over
the l. This is a visayan term.
• Slide – to glide foot smoothly along the floor. The movement
may be finished with or without transfer of weight.

30. COMMON DANCE TERMS
• Stamp – to bring the foot forcibly and noisily on the
floor with or without transfer of weight.
• Tap – to rap slightly with the ball or toe of the free
foot, flexing the ankle joint keeping weight of the
body on the other foot. There is no change or
transfer of weight.
• Whirl – to make fast turns by executing small steps in
place to right or left.

31. BASIC DANCE STEPS
DANCE STEPS STEP PATTERN COUNTING
BLECKING STEP Heel-place, close 1, 2
TOUCH STEP Point, close 1, 2
CLOSE STEP Step, close 1, 2
HOP STEP Step, hop 1, 2

32. BASIC DANCE STEPS
DANCE STEPS STEP PATTERN COUNTING
CROSS STEP
Step, cross / cross,
step
1, 2
CHANGE STEP Step, close, step 1 and 2
HABANERA STEP Step, close step 1, 2 and
CONTRAGANZA STEP Leap, cross-step, step 1 and 2

33. BASIC DANCE STEPS
DANCE STEPS STEP PATTERN COUNTING
NATIVE WALTZ Step, close step 1, 2, 3
CROSS WALTZ Cross-step, close, step 1, 2, 3
WALTZ BALANCE
Step, close-heels raise,
heels down
1, 2, 3
MAZURKA Slide, cut, hop 1, 2, 3

34. BASIC DANCE STEPS
DANCE STEPS STEP PATTERN COUNTING
REDOBA Slide, cut, cut 1, 2, 3
SWAY BALANCE
Step, cross-step, step,
close
12, 3/1, 23

35. PHILIPPINE
FOLK DANCES
Prepared by:
ANGELA MAE C. ALBA
Instructor I