Most Filipino dances were originally patterned after European dances during the Spanish colonial period. Pandango Sa Ilaw, Carinosa, Rigodon, and Balitao are examples of these dances that Filipinos are known for. In addition to these western-influenced dances, ethnic-created dances such as Tinikling made their way to nationwide recognition. Despite their evident adaptation to western dances, Filipinos still pay tribute to their cultural roots. Every region in the islands has its own folk dance, which is beautifully interpreted in festivals and local shows, contributing to the country’s reputation in the world’s illustration of traditional arts.
The following are examples of popular Philippine folk dances:
- Binasuan: originated in the Pangasinan Province, which means “with the use of drinking glasses.” This lively dance mainly showcases the performers’ balancing skills. Glasses filled with rice wine are placed on the head and in each hand, carefully maneuvered with graceful motions. This dance is common in weddings, festivals, and special occasions.
- Rigodon: originated from Spain, this dance is typically performed at formal events such as inaugural balls where prominent members of the government participate and enjoy.
- Pandanggo sa Ilaw: the word “pandanggo” comes from the Spanish dance “fandango,” characterized by lively steps and clapping while following a changing round. Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skills to maintain the stability of three tinggoy or oil lamps placed on the head and at the back of each hand. This celebrated dance of grace and balance originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.
Pandanggo Sa Ilaw
Sublian – The term “subli” comes from two Tagalog words, “subsub” meaning falling on the head and “bali,” which means broken. Hence, the dancers appear to be feeble and crooked throughout the dance. This version is originally a ritual dance of the indigenous people of Bauan, Batangas, which is shown during festivals as a ceremonial worship dance to the town’s icon, the Holy Cross.
Kuratsa – Commonly performed during festivals in Bohol and other Visayan towns, this dance portrays a young playful couple’s effort to get each other’s attention. It is performed in a moderate walking manner.
Itik-Itik – According to the 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 celebration, she was asked to dance the Sibay and began improvising her steps in the middle of her performance, copying the motions of an “itik,” a duck, as it walks with jerky steps and splashes water on its back while attracting its mate. Because of its unusual steps and intriguing interpretation, the audience began copying her.
Tinikling
Tinikling is considered the national folk dance with a pair of dancers skipping between two bamboo poles held just above the ground and struck together in time to music. Originating from Leyte Province, this dance is, in fact, a mimic motion 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.
Maglalatik – Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a battle 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 conflict, the walk, and the escaramusa, the reconciliation. Moro dancers wear red pants while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are male, with harnesses of coconut shells attached to their chests, backs, thighs, and hips.”
“Maglalatik – Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a battle 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 conflict, the walk, and the escaramusa, the reconciliation. Moro dancers wear red pants, while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are male, with harnesses of coconut shells attached to their chests, backs, thighs, and hips.
Maria Clara – Maria Clara is the main female character in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, a literary piece that features the colonial situation of the Filipinos during the Spanish government. She was characterized as a Filipina woman of virtue and nobility. This dance is a mix of Spanish gracefulness and customized native props, such as bamboo bones and Asian fan. Female dancers wear Maria Clara dress that typifies the European style, while men are in barong Tagalog, a traditional Filipino embroidered long-sleeve shirt made of pineapple fiber.
Carinosa – Carinosa is a word that describes an affectionate, friendly, and lovable woman. This dance is performed in a coquettish manner with fans and handkerchiefs to help the dancers’ hide-and-seek motions.
La Jota Manilena – It is a dance named after the capital city of the Philippines, Manila, where an adaptation of Castilian Jota floats with the clacking of bamboo bones played by the dancers themselves. The costume and the graceful motions of the performers are noticeably inspired by Spanish culture.
Sakuting – Originating in Abra, this dance interprets a mock battle between Ilokano Christians and non-Christians with training sticks as props. It is traditionally performed during Christmas at the town square or from house-to-house as a caroling show. As a return, the dancers receive presents or money locally known as “aguinaldo”.
Pantomina – Meaning “Dance of the Doves,” this dance is the highlight of Sorsogon’s Kasanggayahan Festival every third week of October. Groups of participants, mainly elderly in colorful costumes, dance to the melody of Pantomina song. It is a wooing dance originated from imitating the wooing and courtship of doves that are shown during the dance where men try to please the women.
Other Philippine Ethnic Dances
Banog – Cordillera. In this dance, performers portray hunters shielding their chickens from the starving hawk. The hawk ends up trapped and dies in the hands of the hunters.
Salisid – Kalinga, Cordillera. This is a wooing dance that symbolizes a rooster seeking to attract the attention of a hen. This is performed and portrayed by both male and female dancers as the rooster and hen, respectively. The dance starts when each of them is given a piece of cloth known as “ayob” or “allap”.
Palok – Kalinga, Cordillera. A tribal dance, the natives of Kalinga perform this dance in most of their social events. Male dancers hold gangsa or gong, a percussion instrument made of copper, and beat it with wooden sticks.
Lumagen – Kalinga, Cordillera. A tribal dance, this is a traditional Thanksgiving dance by the Kalinga people performed to celebrate good harvests and events such as the birth of the first-born child, victory in conflicts, and weddings.
Idudu- Abra, Cordillera. A tribal dance, this dance stages a typical family life in the Itneg or Tinguian society. It illustrates the family as the main foundation of the tribe’s community. Several traits of an ordinary household are shown. It depicts a father plowing the field while the mother takes care of the children. But as soon as the father finishes work, the mother takes over planting, sowing, and all the remaining tasks to do in the field. At this time, the father is left to take care of the kids. During the dance, a local singer breaks into an Idudu or lullaby to put the baby to sleep. Idudu, a dance taken from the Idudu lullaby, evidently portrays the different roles in a Tinguian family.
Dinuyya – Cordillera. Ifugao dance famous in the Ifugao region, this dance is regularly staged during festivals in Lagawe. Three types of gong instruments, such as ordinary tam-tams, tobtob – a brass tam-tam played by crushing with open palms, and hibat – a kind of gong played by hitting the inner surface with a stick, are used in this dance.
Bendayan – Benguet. This dance, more commonly known as Bendian, is performed to mark the arrival of headhunters in their territory.
Performers dance in a circle and demonstrate their lively traditional steps.
Binaylan – Agusan This is a ritual dance that originated from the Bagobo people in the central highlands of Mindanao. It copies the motions of a bird, her banog or baby birds, and a hawk. The hawk is sacred and is believed to have power over the well-being of the community. The hawk tries to capture one of the baby birds and is killed by the hunters.
Malakas at maganda – Leyte A tribal dance that depicts the birth of the first man and woman who came out of a bamboo tree. It is said that the woman named “maganda” (beautiful) and the first man “malakas” (strong) are the parents of the whole community on the island. The dance demonstrates how a bird discovered the noise coming from inside the bamboo and perched until it opened. A man and a woman came out of the large bamboo tree, and the birth of this legendary couple is entertainingly interpreted in this dance.
Burung-Talo – Sulu The dance is a unique combat dance in the form of martial arts by the Tausug people. Performers demonstrate a conflict between a hawk and a cat. With their athletic movements and fierce facial expressions, this dance is highlighted with the accompanying energetic beats of drums and gongs.
Kadal-Blelah- South Cotabato A tribal dance where the dancers perform a simulation of the movements of birds.
Kadal Tahaw – Tiboli dance- South Cotabato A tribal dance performed by Tiboli people. This dance that mimics the hopping and flying behavior of the Tahaw bird is performed to celebrate good crop.
Sayaw sa Cuyo – Palawan Cuyo is a small island and the capital of Palawan. There, the feast day of St. Augustin is traditionally celebrated with parades, processions, and small performances by groups coming from all over Cuyo Island and the nearby islets. Island dances blended with strong old Cuyo ethnicity and Spanish-influenced steps are all brought out when Cuyo celebrates its festivals. Today, pretty young girls daintily swirl hats to the waltz and other European steps designed to bring out the freshness and liveliness of the performers.
Karatong – Palawan: A Muslim dance. During the festival of San Agustin in the island of Cuyo, the celebration also includes the flowering of mango trees. The parade starts from the church terrace and ends at the town plaza with ladies waving their colorful props “Bunga mangga” that symbolize the flowers of the mango tree, while men play their karatong instruments, creating a scene of joy among the delighting townspeople.
Dugso – Bukidnon: A thanksgiving dance from the Talaindig folk.
Gayong-gayong – Capiz: A Muslim dance. In rural villages, this dance offers much merriment. Gayong is a favored name for Leodegario. According to the fable and to the words of the song, Gayong and Masiong (favored name for Dalmacio) once attended a banquet marking the death of a townsman.
While eating, Masiong choked on a piece of Adobo, so he called “Gayong! Gayong!” to ask for help to free a bone from the Adobo meal from his throat. In this dance, Masiong’s desire for banquets and the effect of his gluttony are held up to playful ridicule.
Kapa Malong-Malong – Cotabato: A Muslim dance. This Maranao dance is performed with women wearing malong and shawl, mantle or headpiece, whereas men wear sash or waistband, trunks or bahag, and headgear or turban traditionally worn in the fields.
Pagapir – Lanao del Sur: This dance is normally performed to start an important matter. Dancers of this dance are usually from the royal court or high society group of Lanao Province. They use an apir or fan to coordinate with their small steps called kini-kini, which symbolizes their good manners and outstanding family background.
Pangalay- Zamboanga Del Sur: A Muslim dance. Originally performed by affluent families during a wedding celebration, this fingernail dance is now a popular festival dance in Sulu.
