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Philippine Traditional Dance

1. Tinikling involves two people hitting bamboo poles on the ground and against each other
in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a
dance. It originated in Leyte among the Visayan islands in central Philippines as an
imitation of the tikling bird.

2. Ifugao Dance
The Ifugaos inhabit the rugged and mountainous part of Northern Philippines. They built
the magnificent payo or rice terraces, the grandest manmade structure of antiquity not
made by slave labor. They dance at weddings, planting and harvest rituals, funerals and
rites of passage.
Full of symbolism, their dances reflect their values and aspirations, civility and spirituality.
For instance, palms facing upward mean stopping and warding off evil spirits. The
womens slow and meek movements, constant looking to the ground and getting cues
from movements from the men reflect humility and deference to their menfolk. Arms
thrust upward with palm facing heaven express thanksgiving to God, while stooping,
balancing and tilting of the body symbolize affinity with the earth.

Ayangan-Hingantot
Dance like an eagle.
A festival dance from the Ayangan tribe depicting movements of an eagle in flight.
Bendian
To dance, to soar.
Another dance involving movements that mimic eagles in flight. Men and women perform this
dance during the caao or feast, to the beat of the percussion instrument gangsa.

Dinuy-a

Sayaw ng Baki

Tobab
3. Singkil is a dance traditionally performed by single women to attract the attention of
potential suitors. Dancers perform a series of graceful movements as they step in and out
from between bamboo poles which are rhythmically clapped together. Fans and scarves
are often used to enhance the dancers' movements.

4. MAGLALATIK Traditional Filipino dance involving coconut shells.


Coconut shell halves are attached to the chest, back and knees of male dancers who hit
those shells with shell halves attached to their hands.
The maglalatik dance is said to have originated in Laguna province.

5. The Itik-Itik
The best description of the Itik-Itik is that the steps mimic the way a duck walks, as well as
the way it splashes water on its back to attract a mate. According to popular tradition, the
dance was created by a lady named Kanang who choreographed the steps while dancing
at a baptismal party. The other guests copied her movements, and everyone liked the
dance so much that it has been passed along ever since.
6. Pandanggo sa Ilaw is a very popular folk dance in the Philippines. It is said to have
originated from Mindoro, the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. This dance of lights
simulates fireflies at dusk and at night.

7. Cariosa is a Philippine folk dance of Hispanic origin. It is closely associated with the
island of Panay and the Visayas region in general. The word cariosa is from the Spanish
cariosa meaning the affectionate one. Most Filipina women can be described as
karinyosa.
This is a courtship dance that portrays acts of flirtation between a man and a woman. The
dancers perform steps resembling hide-and-seek movements. The woman holds a
handkerchief or sometimes a fan.

8. Balse Marikina Derived from the Spanish word "valse," meaning waltz, the dance was
popular in Marikina and Rizal province during the Spanish times. Balse was performed
after the Lutrina, a religious procession, and the music that accompanied the dancers was
played by the musikong bungbong or musicians using instruments made of bamboo.

9. Lerion is a festival dance adapted from the popular folk song, "Leron, Leron, Sinta". This is
a favorite dance of the old people of Parang, Marikina.

10-11. Abalayan and Saluyot Balse traditional Ilocano Waltz Wedding Dance

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