Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of the people of a certain

country or region. Folk dancing usually involves a group of happy people following dance instructions from an experienced caller. The dancers perform steps in certain formations, such as a circle or a straight line. Folk dancing is great exercise and a fun recreational activity for people of all ages. Anyone can learn to folk dance, as no formal dance experience is necessary to be able to learn most of the steps and formations.

The Philippine archipelago is composed of 7,107 islands. Because of this, a Filipino subculture has evolved in each specific region of the country. Yet, while Filipino folk dances are primarily influenced by religion and subculture in specific areas of the Philippines, there are similarities in how these dances originated and developed throughout history.

Origins
Most of the folk dances from the mountainous region in the northern part of the Philippines came from tribes' rituals, prayers and celebrations. The folk dances in the Tagalog region located between north and central Philippines (including the country's capital Manila) had significant Spanish and European influences. Dances in the central part of the country called the Visayan region were mostly inspired by animal movements. In the Mindanao region, located in southern Philippines, folk dances were mainly influenced by Muslim culture, as this was the only Philippine region never under Spanish rule.

Tribal and Ritual Dances

The cultural minorities living in mountain regions throughout the Philippines considered dancing a basic part of their lives. Their tribal and ritual dances predated the emergence of Christianity and Islam in the country. These Filipinos preserved their ancient dances, which were essentially performed for the gods, goddesses and nature. These dances were closely intertwined with ceremonies, rituals and sacrifices. In the Ifugao region in northern Philippines, the native Igorots dance to pray for good harvest, ask for blessings before going to war, appease ancestors, ward off bad luck, heal the sick, request family blessings, celebrate feasts and offer sacrifices. There are also dances used to congregate, socialize, express feelings and mark milestones in the cycle of life.

Spanish Influence
The more than 300-year Spanish occupation in the Philippines greatly influenced Philippine folk dancing. As the Spanish brought Christianity to the country, the religion reflected most of the stories and presentations of Filipino folk dances. Apart from using Spanish-style clothes slightly modified with Filipino elements, these dances also infused the Filipinos' everyday struggles during the Spanish rule. Filipino dancers also used local resources as props like the bamboo castanets and abanico (Asian fans). Some dances also utilized Spanish steps and footwork with Filipino modifications. For instance, Mindoro's pandanggo sa Ilaw, derived from the Spanish dance fandango, adapted the use of lively steps and clapping while balancing one oil lamp on the head and one on each hand throughout the dance.

National Dance
Tinikling is the Philippines' national dance. Its name originates from the word tikling, a native bird that roams around fields, crushes tree branches and avoids traps set by farmers. The dance comes from the province of Leyte in the Visayan region. It imitates the bird's unique movements, speed and grace by skillfully maneuvering between fast-moving bamboo poles. Tinikling involves two people beating, tapping and sliding the bamboo poles on the ground and against each other while one or more dancers step over and in between the poles without getting their feet caught between them. These poles are banged against the ground and each other. The sound and rhythm they make play significant parts on the tinikling's Iberianinfluenced staccato music.

Fight and Celebration Dances

Most Filipino folk dances, regardless of which region they come from, tell stories about fights and struggles or celebrations and feasts. For instance, the maglalatik dance of Binan, Laguna is a mock-war dance demonstrating a fight between the Moros (Muslim Filipinos from

Mindanao) and the Christians. The sakuting dance of abra uses the arnis, a native weapon made out of two sticks that serve as extensions of the hands, to demonstrate a fight between the Christian Filipinos and the non-Christian natives of the Cordillera region. The sinulog in San Joaquin, Iloilo is a ceremonial dance performed for the feast of San Martin (Saint Martin). The bulaklakan of the Tagalogs, meanwhile, is an annual procession followed by a social gathering where girls dance while holding a U-shaped garland held upside down. Each dancer uses one of these arch-like props filled with leaves and flowers.

Characteristics of folk dance

-Differed from place to place. - Give pleasure to dancers and audiences. -Reflects cultures introduced by invaders and conquerors -Provided socialization and a sense of community. -Passed down from generation to generation. -Some groups have a repertory of dances. -Sometimes done on specific occasions, social gatherings, and festivals. -They were originally danced in about the 19th century or earlier -Their performance is dominated by an inherited tradition rather than by innovation -They were danced by common people and not exclusively by aristocracy -They have been developed spontaneously and there is no governing body that has final say over what "the dance" is or who is authorized to teach it. This also means that no one has the final say over the definition of folk dance or the minimum age for such dances. -Folk dances are traditionally performed during social events by people with little or no professional training. New dancers often learn informally by observing others and/or receiving help from others. Folk dancing is viewed as more of a social activity rather than competitive, although there are professional and semi-professional folk dance groups, and occasional folk dance competitions."

Idaw
This dance sometimes has many names and different versions. Most common is this dance depicts the hunting ritual performed before a tribal war. The tribes men would go out and look up and watch for the scared Idaw bird. Which is said to lead the tribe to victory. Also look at the clothing, Philippines being a very hot climate, plus the use of as little material as possible, the traditional clothing was not made to cover much of the body....

Banga
This dance displays the Igorot women on their way to the river to fetch the daily water supply for thier familys. It shows the skill and strength of the women as they would carry heavy laiden clay pots (Banga) full of water. Their grace and agility while balancing the heavy pots, sometimes stacks 5 high, is a testiment of the Filipino and how hardships become a art form and talent. As a young girl you would start with only one pot. Of course as you become older and more experienced, along with the fact that you could provide more water for your family in one trip. Pots could be stacked as high as 5 or 6. The more pots you could carry showed your skill and also you standing amoung the women of that area. They would all gather and march to the river each day, singing a native song which is represented by the flute and banging of bamboo on iron pots in the dance......

Idudu
The family is the basic structure of family life among the Itneg / Tinggian poeple. The caring for the Children is shared by both the mother and father. While the men are clearing the fields, breaking the soil with bamboo and their feet, the women watch the children. Soon as the men are done, they take care of the children while the women do back breaking work. You can see in the dance how the women will take the bamboo baskets in a shaking fashion like drying the rice, while the men are going in circles in background like they are toiling the land. Then you will see the women put down the baskets fold the cloth into a baby while the husband stands aside. Then the women will turn over the baby to the husband, pick up the bamboo and start toiling the land while the men hold and cradle the babys.........

Ragsaksakan
The word means " Merriment". This dance would be performed after a successful headhunt and also for a peace pact between waring tribles. The colorful hand woven blankets " blankets of life"

are worn around the neck while baskets to carry produce or rice are worn upon the head. Some versions of this dance use the " Banga " instead of the basket. Dances of Mindanao * Dance : Singkil Sinkil dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the 14th century, tells the fateful story of Princess Gandingan, who was caught in the middle of a forest during an earthquake caused by the diwatas, or fairies or nymph of the forest. The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling, which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her throughout her ordeal. Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining a dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo skillfully manipulate apir, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. The dancers weave expertly through crisscrossed bamboos. * Dance : Kini Kini Kini means the Royal Walk. Maranao women performed this dance with scarves. The beauty of the scarve and the talent and grace in which it is displayed. Shows their elite social upbringing. * Dance : Pangalay A pangalay native to the Badjao, sometimes known as the "Sea Gypsies." Pangalay is a dance that emphasizes the agility of the upper body. The rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with simultaneous alternating waving of arms are the basic movement of this dance. The pangalay is commonly performed at weddings and other social gatherings. You will also see some parts of the Sinkgil in this dance also. Another part of this dance is also called the Muslium four Bamboos. * Dance : Asik This is performed by a solo madien, adorned with fine beads and make up, long head scarf. She would dance to win the favor of her Sultan master. Many time the girls would dance to win the hearts of her master or to make up for a wrong she had done. She would give her whole heart and soul into this performance to soften the heart of her master to accept her... Visayas Dances - ( see pictures in the side bar ) * Dance : Sayaw Sa Banko 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.

* Dance : Tinkling Tinnikling is considered the national folkdance with a pair of dancers hopping between two bamboo poles held just above the ground and struck together in time to music. Originated from Leyte Province, this dance is in fact a mimic movement of tikling birds hopping over trees, grass stems or over bamboo traps set by farmers. Dancers perform this dance with remarkable grace and speed jumping between bamboo poles. * Dance : Subli The term subli is from two tagalog words subsub meaning falling on head and bali, which means broken. Hence, the dancers appear to be lame and crooked throughout the dance. This version is originally a ritual dance of the natives of Bauan, Batangas, which is shown during fiestas as a ceremonial worship dance to the towns icon, the holy cross * Dance : Maglalatik Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut meat during the Spanish rule, this dance is also shown to pay tribute to the towns patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. It has a fourpart performance such as the palipasan and the baligtaran showing the intense battle, the paseo and the escaramusa- the reconciliation. Moro dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are male; with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips