Philippine Folk Dances

PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES
HUMANITIES 2
COMPILATION OF FOLK DANCES IN THE THREE

ISLANDS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Submitted By: Maribel G. Glodove
Submitted to: Mrs. Helen P. Cabrera

LUZON
1. ABARURAY
“Abaruray” is a contraction of the words “Aba” and “Ruray”. “Aba!” is an

exclamation which is equivalent to “Hey!”,”Hi!”, or “Hail!” in English. “Ruray” is a
nickname for Aurora.This dance is known in the Philippines be several names, suchas
“Hapayan”, “Tagayan”, “Pandango sa Baso”, and “Abaroray”.In any social gathering in
the remote “barrios” of the Philippines,it is customary to offer wine to the visitors. The
offering isusually made by a young lady. She goes around with a glass and abottle of
native wine offering a drink to the visitors. This wine offering is a signal for the beginning
of folk dancing and singing.The musicians play the introduction of “Abaruray” music.
The girl who is offering the wine picks out a young man from among the guests and
offers him a drink. This is her way of hinting at her desireto dance with him. The young
has to accept it or he commits a breach of etiquette and the girl is offended. His
acceptance of the drink will signify that he will dance with the girl. He then stands and
they begin dancing, with the girl leading him on. The girl dances with the glass of wine
on her head from which the young man drinks.Her dancing skill is shown in her ability to
keep the glass on her head and in not spilling a drop of the wine. The audience sing and
clap their hands in time with the music. The description given below is the “Abaruray”
from Tayabas.
COSTUME: The girl is dressed in “balintawak” and the boy in “barong tagalog” and long
red trousers. Both dancers are bare footed.
MUSIC is divided into three parts: Introduction, A and B.
COUNT: one, two, three to a measure.
FORMATION. Partners stand opposite each other about eight feet apart. The girl stands
at her partner right side when facing the audience. A few boys and girls may take part in
this dance to represent the townsfolk attending a social gathering girls are dressed like
the dancer. The boys are dressed in “barong tagalog” or “camisa de chino” and long
trousers. They clap hands in time with the music.
2. CARINOSA
Cariñosa (IPA: [ˌkariˈɲosa]) is a flirtatious Philippine group dance in the Maria Clara
suite of Philippine folk dances where the fan or handkerchief plays an instrumental roll
as it places the couple in a hard-to-get romance scenario. Despite popular belief,
Cariñosa has always been the national dance of the Philippines, whereas the Tinikling
is just a worldwide favorite.
3. KALAPATI
The dance Kalapati originated from from Cabugao, Ilocos Sur province.It
symbolizes peace and is represented by imitating the movements of a graceful dove.It
portrays the typical traits of the Ilokanos: simplicity, naturalness, and shyness.
4. La Jota Manileña
This is a dance named after Manila, the old capital of the Philippines.The dance is
an adaptation of the Castilian Jota where dancers where where dancers use bamboo
castanets and clack them to provide music.The costumes are inspired by Spanish
culture.
5. Maglalatik
Maglalatik- This a mock war dance between the Muslims and the Christians that
originated from Binan, Laguna, Philippines.The dance is about a fight for the latik or
coconut meat during the Spanish era.Today, this dance is performed in honor of the
town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador.All dancers are male and are naked to the
waist except for the coconut shells attached to their chests, backs and hips.The Muslim
dancers wear red trousers while the Christian dancers wear blue.There are also
coconut shells on their thighs and knees.As they dance, they touch these shells with
their coconut shells on their hands.
6. Palu-Palo Dance from Batanes

One is from Ivatan, Batanes. The steps are just like sakuting and other stick
dances like in this video. Palu-palo, is a war dance that shows how the community joins
forces as one to defend themselves. It is a dance showing how the Ivatans defended
themselves against the Christian intruders and how they learned to accept Christianity
and live a virtuous life. The dance was a simple one performed by men who wore
simple flesh-colored garments. The tapping of wooden sticks as background music to
the dance produced an echoing sound as the Ivatans reenacted their battle with the
Christian invaders.
7. Chotis-FolkDance from Luzon-Camarines Sur
CHOH-tees) Chotis (or “Shotis”) was one of the ballroom dances introduced by early
European settlers. This dance, from Camarines Sur, has been adapted by the Bicolano
people and is characterized by a brush-step-hop movement
8. Aray
A dance whose words are sung in “Chabacano-ermitense,” a hybrid of Spanish

that was only spoken in the Ermita district before the turn of the century and today is
extinct. The dance itself is a flirtatious one that involves graceful use of the pañuelo, or
shawl, and tambourines. Aray means “ouch” in Tagalog.
9. BINDIAN
Bindian originated from Northern Luzon. It also falls under Mountain and Igorot
Dance.
BIHN-deeh-ahn)
The Ibaloy who inhabit the southernmost mountain regions in Northern Luzon perform
victory dances to extol the bravery of the warriors of yesterday. In this version from the
barrio of Kabayan, hand movements are downward, suggesting the people’s affinity with
the earth. The basic step consists of a stamp by the left foot and a light, forward
movement by the right. Instrumentalists lead the line, followed by male dancers, while
the female dancers bring in the rear.
10. Sayaw sa Bangko

This dance is native to the barrio of Pangapisan, Lingayen, Pangasinan, and
demands skill from its performers who must dance on top of a bench roughly six inches
wide.
VISAYAS
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.
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.
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.
4. Escotis
It is popularly known in Capiz and is performed in any social gathering of the
people inhabiting the mountains of Capiz in the barrios of Tinpas and Panitan and also
in the town of Panay.
5. Pandanggo
Is a Philippine folk dance which has become popular in the rural areas of
the Philippines. The dance evolved from Fandango, a Spanish folk dance, which arrived
in the Philippines during the Hispanic period. The dance is accompanied by castanets[1].
This dance, together with the Jota, became popular among the illustrados or the upper
class and later adapted among the local communities. In the early 18th century, any
dance that is considered jovial and lively was called Pandanggo.
6. Itik-itik
Is a mimetic folk dance in the Philippines. It originated in Cantilan, Surigao del

Sur. Itik-itik was discovered in this town by National Artist for Dance Francisca Reyes-
Aquino. Originating from a dance called Sibay and performed to the tune of Dejado, the
story was told that an expert young dancer named Cayetana at a barrio of Cantilan
during a baptismal party had become so carried away with the rhythm that she began to
improvise short, choppy steps similar to ducks and then splash water on their backs.
The dance immediately became popular in the province for stage performances and
social dancing. Later, Mr. Antonino Arreza, a native of Cantilan and a grandfather
of Prospero Pichay, Jr. was believed be the one who compose the lyrics of Itik-itik.
Below is original version of Itik-itik in native Cantilangnon dialect.
7. Basulto (Pampango)
Basulto is a love song in satirical form. The dance is usually performed with the
accompaniment of the song. One verse of the song is sung, then a figure of the dance
is performed. The singing and dancing are done alternately.
8. Sinulog
The word “Sinulog” means “graceful dance”, wherein it all started in 1980 with a

simple dance that represents the “sulog” (or current) of a river in Cebu. With the
celebration's evolution, the Sinulog Festival has become a month long tradition in
Cebu.
9. Balitaw
The balitaw is a debate or dialogue song in which a young woman and a young

man compete to see who is better at improvising romantic verses.
10 .The Surtido Cebuano
Is a square dance said to have originated in Bantayan, Cebu. It is a cobbling

together of Spanish, Mexican, and French influences along with indigenous
elements. Surtido (literally, assortment) is performed by several pairs of dancers,
with the head pair called cabeceras and the side pairs, costados, guiding the other
dancers in varied quadrille formations. It used to be a dance of long duration
performed by a big group to the tune of beautiful Visayan folk airs. The modern
arrangement is more lively and suitable for dancing by small groups.

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PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES

COMPILATION OF FOLK DANCES IN THE THREE

Submitted By: Maribel G. Glodove

Submitted to: Mrs. Helen P. Cabrera

“Abaruray” is a contraction of the words “Aba” and “Ruray”. “Aba!” is an

6. Palu-Palo Dance from Batanes

7. Chotis-FolkDance from Luzon-Camarines Sur

A dance whose words are sung in “Chabacano-ermitense,” a hybrid of Spanish

10. Sayaw sa Bangko

Is a mimetic folk dance in the Philippines. It originated in Cantilan, Surigao del

The word “Sinulog” means “graceful dance”, wherein it all started in 1980 with a

The balitaw is a debate or dialogue song in which a young woman and a young

Is a square dance said to have originated in Bantayan, Cebu. It is a cobbling

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