research paper

Philippine folk dance is one of the Philippine cultures that incorporate influences from immigrants and conquerors while at the same time maintaining their own national identity. The dances of the Philippines were developed while Filipinos were working in the fields, celebrating feasts, harvests, births and weddings. Thursday, April 21, 2011
Philippine Folk Dance
Here's the list of popular Philippine Folk Dances from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao:
A. Philippine Folk Dances from Luzon

Banga Dance
1. Banga
Tribe: Kalinga
The Banga or pot dance is a contemporary performance of Kalinga of the Mountain Province in the Philippines. This dance illustrates the languid grace of a tribe otherwise known as fierce warriors.

Maglalatik

2. Maglalatik
Maglalatik was 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.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw
3. Pandanggo sa Ilaw
Pandanggo sa Ilaw - The word pandanggo comes from the Spanish dance “fandango”characterized with lively steps and clapping while following a varying ¾ beat. Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skill to maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, placed on head and at the back of each hand. This famous dance of grace and balance originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.

B. Philippine Folk Dances from Visayas

Tinikling

1. Tinikling
Tinikling means "bamboo dance" in English. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles.

Kuratsa

2. Kuratsa
The Kuratsa is highly favored by the Waray people of the Eastern Visayan region in the Philippines. Strictly speaking, The Kuratsa must be done the amenudo; that is, only one couple dances it at a time. the Kuratsa is however, very different in the manner of execution to the Mexican counterpart.

Mazurka Boholana

3. 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.

C. Philippine Folk Dances from Mindanao

Itik-Itik

1. Itik-Itik
The Itik-Itik is a dance from Surigao del Norte, in which the movements of a duck are imitated. An itik is a species of duck.

Singkil

2. Singkil
The Maranao dance called Singkil is in the repertory of all Filipino dance troupes. In 1958 the Bayanihan Dance troupe started with a simple version and has since developed it into a theatrical and stylized spectacle to the point of its becoming the troupe's signature piece.

3. Kandingan
Performed at Tausog weddings in Jolo, the Kandingan consists of figures and steps based on classical and traditional Indian dance forms. Dancers perform with slightly bent knees turned outward, fingers held stiffly together with the thumb outward and apart.