Philippine Folk Dances and Their Music

The Philippines is a country with a rich and diverse culture, and this is reflected in its folk dances and music. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular Philippine folk dances and the music that accompanies them.

Introduction

Philippine folk dances display the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines. They are executed with grace, precision and vitality, and their music is often lively and upbeat.

There are many different types of Philippine folk dances, each with its own unique steps and music. Some of the most popular folk dances include the tinikling, cariñosa, maglalatik, singkil, Sayaw sa Bangko and Itik-Itik.

The tinikling is a popular folk dance that originated in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is characterized by its rapid movements and rhythmic stepping, and is often performed with two people holding bamboo poles. The music for the tinikling is typically fast-paced and upbeat.

The cariñosa is another popular Philippine folk dance that originated in the Spanish colony of Cariñosa. It is a slow and elegant dance that is often performed by couples. The music for the cariñosa is typically romantic and slow-paced.

The maglalatik is a folk dance that originated in the province of Laguna in the Philippines. It is a lively dance that features men hitting coconut shells together in time to the music. The music for the maglalatik is typically fast-paced and upbeat.

The singkil is a popular Philippine folk dance that originated in Mindanao. It is characterized by its intricate footwork and rhythmic stomping, and is often performed by women wearing traditional dress. The music for the singkil is typically fast-paced and energetic.

The Sayaw sa Bangko is a popular Philippine folk dance that originated in Pangasinan province. It features dancers balancing on top of narrow benches while performing acrobatic feats. The music for the Sayaw sa Bangko is typically fast-paced and energetic.

The Itik-Itikis a popular Philippine folk dance that originated in Surigao del Norte province. It features dancers imitating the movements of ducks as they waddle through puddles of water. The music for the Itik-Itikis typically fast-paced and upbeat

The tinikling

The Tinikling is a Philippine folk dance that originated during the Spanish colonial period. The dance is traditionally performed by a pair of dancers who rhythmically step over and around two bamboo poles, while moving their upper bodies in time with the music.

The tinikling is said to have originated in the Visayan region of the Philippines, specifically on the islands of Leyte and Samar. The name “tinikling” is derived from the Tagalog word “tinkling”, which means “to tread warily”. This describes the movements of the dancers as they skillfully avoid being caught between the bamboo poles.

The tinikling is now one of the most widely-known Philippine folk dances, and has been performed all over the world. The dance is often used to teach Filipino culture to children and foreign visitors, and has even been featured on television shows such as Sesame Street.

The maglalatik

One of the oldest dances in the Philippines is the maglalatik. It is a war dance that originated from the province of Batangas. The dance is performed during weddings and other special occasions.

The maglalatik is danced by two rows of dancers, with each row consisting of four people. Each row faces the other and they hold on to each other’s shoulders. The first two people in each row are called the latikers, while the last two are called the magdalisay.

The latikers use coconut shells tied together with a rope to rhythmically hit their chests. The magdalisay use bamboo sticks to hit their hips. As they hit their respective body parts, they move towards each other until they meet in the middle, then they move back to their original positions.

This dance is usually accompanied by a Philippine folk song called “Tinikling” which tells the story of two farmers who had to cross a rice field full of Tikling birds (a type of crane).

The singkil

The singkil is a Philippine folk dance from the Maranao people of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines. The singkil is a courtship dance which tells the story of a princess being rescued from danger by her suitor. The dance is performed by a man and a woman, who wear traditional Maranao clothing and use fans called bilao to keep time with the music.

The singkil is usually performed to the music of a kulintang ensemble, which consists of a set of small gongs called kulintang played with sticks, as well as drums and other percussion instruments. The movements of the dance represent the story being told, such as the princess walking through the forest, or her suitor fighting off pirates.

The singkil is just one of many Philippine folk dances that have been passed down through generations and continue to be enjoyed by Filipinos today.

The pandanggo sa ilaw

The pandanggo sa ilaw is a Philippine folk dance which originated from the province of Lubang, Mindoro in the Western Visayas region. The dance is also popular in the areas of Central and Southern Luzon. It is usually performed by three women who wear traditional Filipino clothing. The dancers hold oil lamps (or candles) in their left hands while balancing clay pots (or baskets) on their heads. As they dance, they skillfully move the pots and lamps to the rhythm of the music.

The pandanggo sa ilaw is often performed to live music, but it can also be danced to recorded music. The most popular musical instrument used in this type of dance is the kulintang, a set of eight small gongs arranged in a row and played with mallets. Other instruments used include the agung (a large gong), the plantsa (a small drum), and the maracas (also known as rumba shakers).

The pandanggo sa ilaw is usually danced in a slow and graceful manner, but there are also faster versions of the dance.

The kuratsa

The kuratsa is a popular Philippine folk dance from the Visayas region. It is usually performed at weddings and other special occasions. The dance is characterized by its fast tempo and energetic movements. Couples dance in pairs, holding hands and moving in a clockwise direction around the room. The kuratsa is often accompanied by live music, typically played on guitars and drums.

Conclusion

The Philippine folk dance is an important part of the country’s cultural heritage. These dances reflect the various traditions and customs of the different ethnic groups in the Philippines. Each dance has its own unique music, which adds to the richness and diversity of the country’s cultural heritage.