Folk dance is a celebration of cultural roots, often performed at social gatherings, and reflects the traditional life of specific regions or countries. Various styles such as tarantella, polka, and bhangra illustrate unique cultural stories and practices, while dances like tinikling and pangalay show the significance of these traditions in specific communities. These dances can be spontaneous or structured, often passed down through generations and used for social or educational purposes.

1. What is Folk Dance?
Folk dance celebrates the cultural roots of a particular group of people. Folk dance is
typically performed as a form of ritualistic entertainment at social gatherings. Some
kinds of folk dance tell a culture’s foundational stories, while others may simply
emphasize cultural pride. Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people
that reflects the traditional life of a certain country or region. Folk dancing represents the
dance forms of the common people as opposed to those from the upper classes. Folk
dances may emerge spontaneously among groups of people or derive from previous
styles. The style can be free-form or rigid structures. Once established, folk dance steps
are passed down through generations and rarely change. Usually associated with social
activities, some dances are also performed competitively, and in some regions, folk
dancing is even involved in cultural education.
FOREIGN FOLK DANCE
TARANTELLA DANCE
The Tarantella is an Italian folk dance named for the town it originated in—Taranto,
Italy. It is a light, upbeat dance characterized by quick steps, and performed in 6/8 time.
It started as a couples’ dance, but can also be danced with multiple couples. This is one
of the most popular folk dances in Italy and the hypnotic music is set at a high tempo. In
the past, people broke into a dance to ward off death from the bite of a Tarantula. This
frantic and hysterical dance to fast music became known as Tarantella.

2. POLKA DANCE
Originated in the Czech Republic, this popular folk-dance form is performed all over the
world. The Polka is a fast-paced routine usually danced by a couple, who rotate in a
circle in the same direction, smoothing out any rough bounces in their quick steps. This
is a lively courtship dance of Bohemian origin and its movements include 3 steps and a
hop. The couples cover as much of the dance floor as possible as they circle about it.
SQUARE DANCE
This is the most popular folk dance in the United States in which four couples stand in
square formation. Singing calls are made by a “caller” while the couples perform
movements based on a smooth, shuffling walk. Originating in England, this traditional
American dance involves four pairs of dancers arranged in a square, and is typically
accompanied by country music. Each couple stands on each side facing the square’s
center, performing specific moves in a set order. Early forms of square dancing include
the Cotillion, the French Quadrille, as well as a number of English country dances.

3. HORA DANCE
The Hora is often recognized as the Jewish wedding dance, but it is also danced in
Romania, Bulgaria, Israel, and other countries. The dancers join hands and move in a
circle around the bride and groom, who are sometimes seated in chairs and hoisted up
into the air as the patrons continue dancing around them.
BHANGRA DANCE
It originated as a folk dance celebrated during the time of the harvest. Bhangra is
traditionally danced to the dhol instrument, a large drum, and boliyan, short sets of lyrics
that describe scenes or stories from Punjab. These lyrics most commonly reference
themes of love, patriotism, strength, and celebration.

4. PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE IN VISAYAS
MAGLALATIK DANCE
The Maglalatik is an indigenous dance from the Philippines in which coconut shell
halves are secured onto the dancer’s hands and on vests upon which are hung four or
six more coconut shell halves. The dancers – all-male – perform the dance by hitting
one coconut shell with the other. Originally performed in Biñan, Laguna as a mock-war
dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros and the Christians, this dance is
also performed to pay tribute to the town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. Moro
dancers wear red trousers while the Christian dancers wear blue. All dancers are male
with harnesses of coconut shells attached to their chests, backs, thighs, and hips.

5. TINIKLING
This is the most popular and best known of the Philippine dances and is honored as the
Philippine National Dance. Dancers imitate the tikling bird’s legendary grace and speed
by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles. The name “Tinikling” means
“bamboo dance” in English. Considered as one of the oldest dances from the
Philippines, Tinikling originated on the island of Leyte in the Visayas. The bird was
named “tikling” from which the Tinikling dance got its name. Because of the creativity of
the people, they imitate the Bird’s movement between branches and stems using
bamboo poles

6. PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE IN LUZON
.
BANGA DANCE OR POT DANCE
A contemporary performance of the kalinga of the Mountain Province in the Philippines.
This dance illustrates the languid grace of a tribe otherwise known as fierce warriors.
This dance shows the skill and strength of the women as they carry heavy-laden clay
pots, or banga, full of water. Their grace and agility while balancing the heavy pots is a
testament to how the Filipino strength and determination to survive hardship. Young
Igorot girls start only one pot. But, of course, as they become older and more
experienced, they are expected to provide more water for their family. Pots could be as
high as five or six stacks. Women would all gather and march to the river each day,
singing a native song accompanied by the flute and banging of bamboo on iron pots in
the dance.

7. IDUDU DANCE
The family is the basic structure of family life among the Itneg or Tinggian people. 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. You can see in the dance how the women will take the bamboo baskets and shake
them in the manner of drying rice, while the men are going in circles in the background
like they are tilling the land. Then, the women put down the baskets, fold the cloth into a
baby while the husbands stand aside. Afterward, the women will turn over the baby to
their husbands, pick up the bamboo, and start tilling the land while the men hold and
cradle the babies.

8. PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE IN MINDANAO
PANGALAY DANCE
The pangalay is native to the badjao, who is also known as “Sea Gypsies”. It is a dance
that emphasizes the agility of the upper body. The pangalay is commonly performed at
weddings and other social gatherings. One will also see some parts of the Singkil in this
dance. This dance is sometimes called the Muslim Dance of Four Bamboos. Pangalay
is a traditional Tausug dance characterized by elaborate body postures and gestures
and the graceful arm and hand movement of the dancer, amplified by the use of
janggay or metal claws. The dance is performed to the music of the kulintangan,
gandang, agong, and gabang. Commonly referred to as the fingernail dance, Pangalay
is usually performed during weddings and other festive celebrations.

9. SINGKIL DANCE
The Singkil Dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim
Princess. 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 nymphs of the forest.
The faces of the dancers are formal and they maintain a dignified pose. Dancing begins
at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo in which dancers skillfully
manipulate fans that represent the winds that prove to be auspicious.