Filipino Folk Dance Steps

Filipino Folk Dance Steps
By Robin Raven
Professional Dancer and Actress
Filipino folk dances are diverse and varied with a long cultural history.
Their history includes the coming of Roman Catholicism through the
Spanish, and many of the early folk dances were influenced by these
Spaniards. However, each dance type retains its own unique culture
and style in addition to the Spanish influences. If you want to learn to
perform some of the dances, whether just for fun or to learn more
about the rich culture of the Phillipines, try out these moves and steps.
Tinikling
As the best known and most popular dance of the Phillipines, Tinikling
is the country's national dance. To perform Tinikling, two dancers beat,
tap, and slide bamboo poles on the ground. The bamboo serves as
both a percussion instrument and a part of the dance itself. Tinikling
can be tricky because both primary dancers must move quickly to
avoid getting a foot caught by the fast-moving poles.
Click on the images below for printable PDF guides to doing the
Tinikling dances. Refer back to the guides any time while learning the
dance for a quick refresher.
Singles Tinikling Dance

At the start of this dance, the poles are placed on the left sides of two
dancers. They have the left foot lead.
Do these steps outside the bamboo poles:

1. Hop on your right foot.
2. Hop another time on the right foot.
Perform these steps between both poles:
3. Step on the left foot.
4. Step on the right foot.
Do these steps outside the poles:
5. Hop on the left foot outside the poles.
6. Hop again on the left foot outside both poles.
Return to between the poles for these steps:

7. Step on your right foot.
8. Step on your left foot.
Doubles Tinikling Dance

For the foot work for these Tinikling steps, both dancers should start to
the right side by the bamboo poles.
Do these steps outside the bamboo poles:

1. Hop on both feet.
2. Hop another hop on both feet.
Hop between the poles for these steps:
4. Do another hop using both feet.
Straddle the poles as you jump outside them for these steps:
6. Again, hop on both feet.

Go between the poles again to finish the dance:
8. Do another hop on both feet.
These are the basics of the Tinikling, though the dance can be
embellished with other steps for both singles and doubles, including
arm movements.
Binasuan
The Binasuan is performed by dancers as they carry full wine glasses
in both hands and on top of their heads. Wine is traditionally used in
the dance, but any dark-colored beverage will do. The dance often
involves balancing tricks, so there are no specific moves that are set in
stone. If you'd like to try the Binasuan though, these steps will get you
started. Consider practicing with empty, plastic cups until you get the
hang of the movements.
1. Step in a flowing motion onto the center of your
performance area. As you step, balance the wine glass
carefully on your head. Also, keep your hands turned up to
balance both wine glasses.
2. Sway your hips to the right while lifting the wine glasses
high above your head.
3. Sway your hips to the left while lifting the wine glasses high
above your head.
4. Twirl in place quickly while balancing the wine glasses for
thirty seconds, concluding the twirl with your face to the
audience.
5. Step forward with your right foot and bring your right arm
forward in a flowing motion.
6. Step forward with your left foot and bring your left arm
forward in a flowing motion.
7. Rotate your arms over your shoulder in small, circular
motions as you step from left to right in small, quick motions
for 30 seconds.
8. Twirl and rotate your arms below shoulder height.
Sinulog
The Sinulog is a ritual dance that is performed in honor of Santo Nio.
It's now a part of the annual Sinulog festival, and dancers wear
brightly colored, traditional costumes for it. Drum music must
accompany this entire dance.
1. Stand straight and offer candles (real or symbolic) towards a
painting or other depiction of Santo Nio.
2. Recite a prayer to the saint.
3. Using slow, steady movements, bounce with your torso in a
wave-like, circular motion.
4. Continuing the flowing movements, take two steps forward.
5. Take one step backward as you try to keep the steady
movements.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for as long as the drums are playing.
7. Conclude the dance with a prayer.
Seedling
The Seedling dance pays homage to the rich history of farming within
the culture. Before the start of this dance, take a round basket in your
arms. A wicker or wooden basket best represents the feel of the
traditional dance.
1. Bend your knees as that represents climbing and
descending.
2. Keeping your knees bent, step forward with one foot, then
with the order. Go left and right as you do this.
3. In a fluid motion, lift the basket to the left. Doing the same
motion, lift the basket to the right. Keep your steps
alternating between stepping to your left and stepping to
your right. When you step to your left, coordinate the lifting
of the basket to the left. When you step to the right, lift the
basket to the right. The fluidity of motion is key to doing the
dance correctly.
4. Repeat step 3 multiple times - the length will depend on the
music. You should appear to be effortlessly carrying the
basket.
5. Keeping your movement fluid, sit the basket down in front of
you. Step to the left and step to the right around it. Never
stop moving. You may improvise in your dance around the
basket.
6. Take the pretend "seeds" from the basket and make tossing
movements as you would offer them to Diwata, a dryad-like
spirit in Philippine mythology.
Dugso, a Tribal Dance
While the majority of the Philippines' cultural dances are formed by

adding the influences of foreign groups to their own traditional dances,
there are corners of the country where no foreign influence has yet
changed the traditional dances of the region. These areas are in the
hills and mountains of the country and dance is used as a form of
worship, bringing a special and significant meaning that goes beyond
basic folk dance. Dugso is a stand-out among tribal dances, and it is
choreographed in portions to please and entertain the various tribes'
gods and deities.
Dinatag
As part of the Dugso, the Dinatag serves as the introduction to the
dance. For the Dinatag, dancers should join arms in a T-shaped
position and movements should be as fluid as possible.
1. Brush your left foot backwards, then bring your left foot to
meet your right foot.
2. Step to the left with your left foot, bringing your body
sideways.
3. Brush your left foot backwards from your new position, then
bring your left foot to meet your right foot.
4. Step to the left again with your left foot, bringing your body
sideways again, so you are now turned around from your
original position.
5. Step to your right, then tap your left foot to meet your right
foot.
6. Step to your left in a sideways motion.
7. Step to your right again, then tap your left foot to meet your
right foot.
8. Step to your left in a sideways motion.
9. Brush your right foot backward, then tap your right foot to
meet your left foot.
10.
Step to your right in a sideways motion.
11.
Step your left foot across in front of your right foot.
12.
Tap your right foot to meet your left movement,
moving to the right.
13.
Step your left foot behind you, across your right foot.
14.
Step to the right sideways.
15.
Step your left foot behind you again, across your right
foot.
16.
Step to the right sideways.
17.
Repeat all steps 1 to 16.
The Itik-Itik
Have fun with this dance. The Itik-Itik is sometimes described as
humans making the motions of a duck, so feel free to improvise along
with these basic steps.
1. Step to your left and raise your left arm up in a flowing
motion.
2. Step to your right and raise your right arm up in a flowing

motion.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 seven times.
4. Step forward and bring your hands into your chest, bending
your elbows and making sure to point your hands inward.
Repeat seven times.
5. Step in a circle as you sway your arms to the right, then to
the left.
6. Raise your arm and step hop to the left.
7. Raise your arm and step hop to the right.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 five times.
9. Sway to the right, then to the left. Repeat six times.
10.
Repeat all steps three times.

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Filipino Folk Dance Steps

Singles Tinikling Dance

Do these steps outside the bamboo poles:

Return to between the poles for these steps:

Doubles Tinikling Dance

Do these steps outside the bamboo poles:

6. Again, hop on both feet.

Dugso, a Tribal Dance

While the majority of the Philippines' cultural dances are formed by

Step to your right in a sideways motion.

Step your left foot across in front of your right foot.

Step to the right sideways.

Step to the right sideways.

Repeat all steps 1 to 16.

2. Step to your right and raise your right arm up in a flowing

Repeat all steps three times.

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