Philippine Folk Dances Overview

Philippine Folk Dances: Overview

• Philippine folk dances reflect the culture, customs, beliefs, and daily life of communities.
• Costumes, props, and implements reveal the dance's origin.
• Musical elements like gongs, kulintangs, and pentatonic scales show cultural exchange.
• Spanish colonization influenced traditional dances, according to Francisca Reyes Aquino.

Dance Terms: Arm Movements

• Abrasete: Girl holds partner's right arm with her left hand, free hands at the side.
• Arms in lateral position: Arms at one side (right or left).
• Arms in reverse T: Horizontally positioned arms with bent elbows.
• Crossed arms: Partners facing each other, hands joined.
• Hayon-hayon: One forearm in front, one at the back of the waist.
• Salok: Arm swings downward-upward, passing in front of the body.
• Star with the right hand: Four or more people join right hands centrally and circle clockwise.
• Star with the left hand: Same as above, but joining left hands and circling counterclockwise.

Dance Terms: Hand Movements

• Bilao: Palms turned up and down alternately.
• Free hand: Hand not positioned or moving.
• Inside hand: Hand closest to partner.
• Kumintang: Hand moves from wrist in clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
• Masiwak: Hand turns clockwise from the wrist, then wrist raises and lowers.

Dance Terms: Foot Movements

• Brush: Weight on one foot, heel of other foot hits the floor and is lifted.
• Cut: Quickly switching feet, transferring body weight.
• Draw: Pulling one foot along the floor near the weighted foot.
• Free foot: Foot not supporting body weight.
• Inside foot: Foot nearest partner.
• Hop: Landing on the same foot, in place or direction.
• Jump: Landing on both feet in any direction.
• Leap: Landing on the same foot from any direction.
• Place: Positioning a foot without weight transfer.
• Pivot: Turning with ball, heel, or whole foot on a fixed place.
• Point: Lightly touching floor with toes, while weight on the other foot.
• Slide: Smoothly gliding foot along the floor.
• Stamp: Forcibly bringing foot down, with or without weight transfer.
• Step: Moving one foot forward, backward or sideways, transferring weight.
• Tap: Tapping toe of free foot, ankle flexed, without weight change.

Dance Terms: Body Movements

• Jaleo: Partners turn clockwise or counter-clockwise by any step.
• Sarok: Right foot crosses in front of left, body bends slightly forward, hands cross in front with right over left.
• Saludo: Partners bow to each other.
• Whirl: Fast turning by executing small steps in place, right or left.

Sua-Ku-Sua

• Meaning: "My Pomelo Tree"
• Culture: Lowland Muslim (coastal)
• Origin: Jolo, Sulu
• Influences: China, Malaysia, Indonesia
• Group: Tausug
• Classification: Courtship dance
• Tausugs are seafarers and farmers, with pomelo orchards.
• The dance represents the relationship between the pomelo tree & Tausugs.
• Performed with white fans resembling leaves.

Binislakan (Lingayen)

• Meaning: "With the use of sticks"
• Culture: Christian Lowland
• Origin: Pangasinan
• Influences: China
• Group: Pangasinense
• Classification: Social dance
• Lingayen's name references a Chinese word.
• The dance commemorates a Chinese pirate's time in the area.
• Stick use imitates Chinese chopsticks.

Pangalay

• Meaning: "fingernail"
• Culture: Lowland Muslim (coastal)
• Origin: Sulu
• Influences: Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia
• Group: Tausug
• Classification: Social dance
• Emphasizes shoulder, elbow, and wrist flexibility – like a martial art.
• Performed mainly at weddings or festive events
• Originated from pre-Islamic Buddhist concepts.

Tiklos

• Meaning: Group of peasants
• Origin: Panay and Leyte
• Influences: China, Burma, Cambodia
• Classification: Recreational dance