Folk Dance Overview and Types

Folk Dance

• Folk dance is a traditional dance of a country, a natural and spontaneous expression of a culture.
• It reflects the everyday activities, experiences, and feelings of the people.
• It expresses ideas, customs, and thoughts through body movements.

Types of Folk Dance

• National: Traditional dances common throughout the country. Examples include: Rigodon, Nabua, Binigan Bigat.
• Regional: Local dances unique to specific provinces. Examples include: Nabua, Subli-Batangas, Biniganbigat-Abra.

General Classification of Folk Dance

• Geographical Extent of Origin:
  • National dances: Found throughout the islands, with little modification. Examples include Rigodon, Carinosa, Jota, Balitaw, and Pandanggo.
  • Local dances: Found in specific localities. Examples include Kuratsa (courtship dance), La Jota Moncadena (combining Spanish and Ilocano steps), Maglalatik (mock war dance), and Pandanggo sa Ilaw (balancing oil lamps).
• Nature:
  • Occupational: Depicting actions from professions or labor. Examples include planting, harvesting, and pounding.
  • Religious or Ceremonial: Performed during ceremonies or religious events. Examples include Dugsu, Sua-sua, Putong, and Sta. Clarang Pinong-pino.

Additional Dance Types

• Comic dances: Funny movements for entertainment (Kimbo-kimbo, Makonggo, Kinoton).
• Game dances: Dances with playful elements (Lubi-lubi, Panasahan).
• Wedding dances: Performed during wedding feasts (e.g. Hele-hele, Bago Quiere, Maramion, Tadek).
• Festival dances: For special occasions or social gatherings (Pandanggo, Habanera, Jota, Surtido).
• War dances: Showing imaginary combat or duels (Sagayan, Palu-palo, Tinikling, Salakot).

Dance Movements

• Active: Fast, energetic movements (e.g., tinikling, maglalatik, sakuting).
• Moderate: Fast or slow, varying movements (e.g., cariñosa, tagala, habanera, pupuri).
• Slow: Slower movements (e.g., pasakat, amorosa, taliday, kundiman).
• Slow and Fast: Combining speeds and movements (e.g., putritos, ba-ingles, habanera, alcamfor.)

Dance Formations

• Square/Quadrille: (e.g., rigodon de honor)
• Long Formation: e.g. (sa kuting-stick).
• Partner Formations: Partners facing each other or side by side (e.g., binadyong, kakawati, haplik).)

Values of Dancing

• Physiological and neuromuscular development: Enhances the body's systems.
• Social and recreational: Promotes interactions and communication among people.

Factors Affecting Folk Dance

• Geographical location
• Economic conditions

Common Dance Terms

• Arms in lateral position: Arms at one side (chest, waist, shoulder level)
• Brush: Weight on one foot, dragging the other.
• Cabeceras/Costados: Specific dance formations for couple/pairs in dancing.
• Clockwise/Counter-clockwise: Direction of movement.
• Crossed arms: Positioning arms – one pair in front and the other behind.
• Cut: Displacing one foot with another.
• Do-si-do: Partners passing each other.
• Free foot: The foot not bearing the weight.
• Inside/outside foot/hand: Positioning based on the partner.
• Hayon-Hayon: Positioning one arm in front and the other at the back.
• Hop: Springing on one foot.
• Jump: Springing on both feet.
• Kumintang: Movement from one hand to the other.
• Leap: Springing on one foot, landing on the other.
• Place: Putting a foot into a specific position.
• Pivot: Turning on one foot.
• Point: Touching the floor lightly with the toe.
• Salok: Waving the arm in front of the body.
• Saludo: Bowing to the audience.
• Sarok: Crossing one foot in front of the other.
• Stamp: A heavy step.
• Star/Star with right/left hand: Dance formation where dancers form a star shape.
• Step: Moving one from the other in formations.
• Tap: Touching the floor.
• Touch: Touching the floor lightly
• Whirl: Turning quickly.

Explore the essence of folk dance as a vibrant expression of culture, reflecting various customs and everyday activities. This quiz covers national and regional folk dances, including their classifications based on geographical origin and nature. Test your knowledge on traditional dances that symbolize the spirit of different communities.