PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY

D
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Aguilar, Jerielle
Claros, Allyssa
Martinez. Rianne

11-HUMSS
 Introduction on Philippine
Contemporary dances
    * Popular on Philippines
Way to bond and share our talents with the rest
of the community
- Dance crazes online
Diverse form of dances
- Indigenous dances which are influenced and
molded by various factors:
~ experiences and events in the community; war dances
of the mountain province.
~ group’s values and beliefs; Samal’s pangalay for good
fortune and abundance
~ narratives of the community’s daily life; mimetic dances
  
Arrival of Spaniards
caused the change in dancing tradition and forms
~ indigenous ritualistic dances were adapted to be
vehicles of veneration to different figures in Christianity.
~ Social dances was influenced by the trends in Europe
which we then
adapted; pandango, polka, ballroom dance ‘rigodon de
honor’ in debuts.
 Arrival of Americans

  
American Occupation introduced many dance forms
from the west and its colonies
~ beginning of contemporary dance
~ exposed to the Afro-Cuban dance forms; tango, samba,
mambo, cha-cha
~ US dance crazes; foxtrot, Charleston, boogie woogie,
mashed potato,
twist

Early 20th Century

~ European Classical Ballet was introduced thru the
performance of foreign dance troupes. Some of these
classically trained ballet dancers stayed and taught the
Filipinos ballet, thus pioneering filipino ballet in the first
generation of dancers, teachers, and choreographers.
~ tradition of passing skills and skills is the basis of
continuing development
of PH contemporary dance.
 Contemporary Dance in the
Philippines
1. Aerobic Dance
A dance routine made into an exercise program.
Usually accompanied by upbeat pop music.
Formal Aerobic dance has three phases; one,
warm-up followed by aerobic dance and then cooldown
exercises
Over the years, many variations have emerged,
usually directed by the type of music used; jazzercise, aero
hip-hop, ballroom dancing, belly dancing, Brazilian-
developed Zumba.

2. Ballet

Both dance and theatre art.

A style and dance technique that follows strict
set of moves and performance.
Originated from European court spectacles and
was later brought to the PH by the AmericansThe different
contemporary reiterations of the ballet form:
-Modern ballet
-Opera ballet
-Folkloric ballet
 Contemporary Dance in the
Philippines
2. Ballet
A. Modern Ballet

- A modern dance that uses contemporary, and

sometimes experimental attitude toward traditional
dance techniques and style.
- Not limited to the confines of the stage and can
be presented outdoors and in other unconventional
venues.
- Tackles prevailing themes and accompanied by
modern music.
- The pioneer of modern dance in the PH is the founder of
Ballet Philippines, Alice Reyes.
- examples of modern ballet performances in the PH:
~ Limang Dipa by Tony Fabella (1981)
~ Beautiful Girls (1990)
B. Opera Ballet
Has a more modern version, called rock ballet
combines dance and song
Mahal - produced in 1975 and the first rock opera
ballet in the Philippines.
Rama Hari - produced in 1988 by Ryan Cayabyab,
Bienvenido Lumbera, and Alice Reyes.
 Contemporary Dance in the
Philippines

3. Folk Dance
they also depict communal activities such as planting
rice and harvesting. The examples of this is:
- Mananagat of Cebu which imitates movements of a
fisherman.
- Tanobong of Pangasinense's which imitates the steps in
making a broom
These traditional dances have been used by ethnic
groups to celebrate their identity.
It is based on their literature, legends, and beliefs.
Examples are:
- Tinikling of Waray which is also considered as PH's
national dance
- Subli of Batangas
Some of these dances are integral to festivals such as
Ati-Atihan of Aklan, Masskara of Bacolod, and Sinulog
of Cebu.
Some professional dance troups that specialize in
showcasing folk dance are:
- Bayanihan Dance Company
Darangan Cultural Dance Troupe of Marawi
- Tambuli Cultural Troupe of Tawi-Tawi
 Contemporary Dance in the
Philippines
2. Ballet
C. Folkloric Ballet
Presents subjects and themes based on the art and
culture of a community.
examples:
- Agnes by the Davao-born Agnes Locsin
- Tapestry/Bayanihan by Alice Reyes
- Baile de Aye by Corazon Generoso- Inigo
The three major ballet companies in the Philippines
- Ballet Philippines (1969)
- Philippine Ballet Theater (1987)
- Ballet Manila (1995)

3. Folk Dance
different dances performed by various cultural groups
throughout the country.
Changes from region to region and is performed by
non-professional dancers of the said community.
Often performed during rituals, festivals, fiestas, and
other community celebrations.
Mimetic Dances- dance movements imitating animals
like:
- Kadal Blelah of T'Boli
- Kinabuwa of Mandaya
 Contemporary Dance in the
Philippines

4. Street Dance
A vernacular dance that developed organically within a
community.
A dance form that began in urban open spaces, such as
parks, streets, yards, and night clubs rather than formal
dance studios.
Early forms of it gained popularity in 1970's
It is improvisational and social in nature, encouraged
interaction with audiences and other dancers.
It became more common in the PH during 1980's,
coinciding with the popularity of punk and rap music.
Popular street dance moves in the Philippines includes:
b-boying (breakdancing), popping, locking, and roboting.
It has been promulgated through television, music videos,
and internet and often adapted as an aerobic exercise in
PE classes.
Popular street dance groups include:
- Philippine All-star Dance Crew (2-time champion in world
hip-hop championship)
- A-Team (1-time world champion)
- XB Gensan (back-to-back champions in Dance2Dance
World streetdance competition