Philippine Folk and Ethnic Dances

I. Classification of Philippine Folk Dance

Dances of the Cordillera:

Most of the Dances are reflection of Daily Living. They used metal gongs called Gangza and other
percussive instruments to accompany their Dances during rituals, festivities, and other social gatherings. The
groups that lives in the Cordillera Region are namely BIBAKIIG stands for Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet,
Apayao, Kalinga, Itneg, Ilonggot, Gaddang

Western Influence Dance

Dances in which was influenced by the dances from Spain, France, and other European Countries.
E.g: Quadrille Dances, Jota, Fandango, Mazurka, Polka

Rural or Dances of the Countryside

Dances that typically characterize the nature and kind of work of the people. Commonly performed
by ordinary groups of people depicting activities. Dances were light and informal

Dances of Ethnic or Lesser-known-Groups

Also known as the lesser-known-groups are the ethnic groups living in the different locations in the
country that are untouched and never been influenced by the Westerns. These tribal groups believe in
“Shamans” or Spirits Which are primarily reflected in most of their Dances

Dances of the Muslim Groups

The dances performed by these groups describe the everyday living of the people. Common to their
Dances are the use of fingers to express feelings and emotions. Some believe that Muslim dances are
influenced by the Malays and Indonesians due to their Geographical Setting. The Muslim groups are;
Maranao, magindanao, Samal, Yakan, Tausug, Badjao and Jama Mapun.

II. Basic dance Terms

1. Arms in Lateral Position – Both arms are at one side, either right or left, at shoulder, chest or waist
level.
2. Brush – Weight on one foot, hit the floor with the ball or heel of the other foot and lift that foot from
the floor to any direction
3. Bilao – To turn palms of hands up and down alternately, hands at waist level in front, elbows close
to waist
4. Cabeceras – The couples occupying the width of the of the hall when the dancers are in square
formation (head couples)
5. Clockwise – Like the motion of the hands of the clock. R shoulder is towards the center of an
imaginary circle.
6. Counterclockwise – The reverse direction of clockwise, L shoulders towards the center. Movement
is toward right when facing center of circle.
7. Costados – The couple occupying the length of the hall when dancers are in square formation (side
pairs).
8. Crossed Arms – Partners facing each other or standing side by side join their L hands and the R
hands together; either R over L or L over R hands.
9. Cut – To displace quickly one foot with the other.
10. Do-si-do (Dos-a-dos) – Partners advance forward, pass each other’s right (or left) side, step across to
the right (or left) move backwards without turning around, pass each other left (or right) side to
proper places.
11. Free Foot – The foot not bearing the weight of the body.
12. Free Hand – The hand not placed anywhere, or not doing anything
13. Hayon – Hayon – To place one forearm in front and the other at the back of the waist
14. Hop – A spring on one-foot landing on the same foot in place or in any direction.
15. Inside Foot – The foot nearer the partner when partners are standing side by side.
16. Jaleo – Partners turn around clockwise (with R elbows almost touching) or counterclockwise (with L
elbows touching) using walking or any kind of dance step.
17. Jump – A spring on one foot or both feet landing on both feet in any direction.
18. Kumintang – Moving the hand from the wrist either in clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
19. Leap – A spring on one foot, landing on the other foot in any direction.
20. Outside Foot – The foot away from one’s partner, when partners stand side by side.
21. Outside Hand – The hand away from one’s partner when partners stand side by side.
22. Place – To put foot in certain position without putting weight on it; the sole of the foot rests on the
floor.
23. Pivot – To turn with the ball, heel or whole foot; on fixed place or point.
24. Point – Touch the floor lightly with the toes of one foot, weight of the body on the other foot.
25. Salok – Swinging the arm downward – upward passing in front of the body as if scooping; the trunk
is bent forward following the movement of the arm doing the salok.
26. Saludo – Partners with feet together bow to each other, to the audience or to the neighbors.
27. Sarok – Cross the R (or L) foot in front of the L (or R) bend the body Slightly forward and cross the
hands down in front with the R (or L) hand over the L (or R).
28. Set – A dance formation like a square or a unit formation composed of two or more pairs.
29. Slide – To glide foot smoothly along the floor.
30. Stamp – To bring the foot forcibly and noisily on the floor.
31. Step – To advance or recede by moving one foot to another resting place with a complete transfer of
weight from one foot to another
32. Supporting foot – The foot that bears the weight of the body.
33. Tap – To tap slightly with the ball or the toe of the free foot keeping weight of the body on the other
foot. There is no Transfer of weight.
34. Whirl – To make fast turns by executing small steps in place, to right, or to left.

III. Common Dance Steps.

Dance Steps/ Time Counting Step Pattern No. of

Signature Measures
Polka Series – 2/4
 Plain Polka 1&2& Step, close step (pause) 1
 Hop Polka Ah, 1 & 2 & Hop, step, close step pause 1
 Heel and Toe 1, 2, & 2 & Heel place, Toe Place; step, close step 2
Polka (pause)
 Slide Polka 1 & 2 &, 1 & 2 & Slide, close step (Pause) 2
Waltz Series – ¾
 Native waltz 1, 2, 3 Step, Close, Step 1
 Waltz balance 1, 2, 3 Step, Close, and raise heels up, down 1
 Cross waltz 1, 2, 3 Cross-step, close, step 1
Sway Balance Series –
¾ 1,2,3 1,2,3 Step, cross-step/Step, point 2
 With a point 1, 2 3 1 2 3 Step, cross-step/Step, close, step 2
 With a waltz 1, 2 3 1 2 3 Step, cross-step/Step, raise, hop 2
 With a hop 1, 2 3 1 2, 3 Step, cross-step/Step, brush 2
 With a brush 1, 2 3 1 2, 3 Step, cross-step/Step, raise 2
 With a raise 1, 2 3 1 2 3 Step, cross-step/Step, close 2
 With a close 1, 2 3 1 2 3 1, 2 3 1 Step, cross-step/Step, point/ Cross- 4
23 Step, step/point
 Double sway
Balance
 Bacui – 3/4 1, 2 3 1, 2 3 1, 2 3 Cross-point step/Cross-step (rear) step/ 4
1, 2 3 cross-step (front) Step/Close (Pause)
 Bleking 2/4 12 Heel-place, close 1
 or 3/4 1, 2 3 Heel-place, close 1
 Change Step – 1&2 Step, Close, Step 1
2/4
 Cross Change 1&2 Cross-step, step 1
Step – 2/4
 Cross Change 1&2 Cross-step, close, step 1
Step – 2/4
 Contra-ganza 1&2 Leap (sideward), cross-step, step 1
2/4
 Haplik 12121&2121 Step, Step, Hop, Hop, Three step turn, 8
& 2 1 2 1 2 1, 2 Hop, Hop, Three step turn, Hop, Hop,
Three step turn, Hop, Hop, Step, Step,
Close
 Mazurka – 3/4 123 Slide, cut, hop
 Mudansa – 3/4 1 2 3 (4x) R & L Step, heel brush, heel-step (3x to the 16
Alternately right) repeat same to the left. Step,
123123 close, step, step, close, step. Step,
123123 close, step, step, close, step (turning)
9turning)
 Redoba 123 Slide, cut, cut 1
 Sagamantica 1 2, 3 1 2, 3 1 2, 3 1 Step, close, step, close, step, close, 4
2, 3 raise, heel-place
Engaňo Series – ¾
 With a waltz 1, 2 3 1, 2 3 Step (Sideward) cross; step, close, step 2
 With a close 1, 2 3 1 2, 3 Step (sideward) step, close 2
 Paso Espaňol – 123123123 Step, close heels up, (forward) down; 4
3/4 123 step, close, and heels up, down
(backward); Step, brush-swing hop,
step, brush-swing, hop
 Papuri – 3/4 1, 2 3 1, 2, 3 1, 2 3 Step, cross-step, cross-point, step, 4
1, 2, 3 cross-step, cross-step
 Sangig – 3/4 123 Step, close, circle in air 1
 Escotis – 4/4 1234 Step, close, step, hop 1

Tiksiw- Coutryside Classification - "Tiksiw" is a Philippine folk dance that originated in the farthest
town of Buruanga, a province of Aklan, Panay Island. Tiksiw is a playful dance characterized by jumps,
leaps, or hops. It imitates the actions or movements of a person who is surprised or happy.
Note please check your book for the steps in the tiksiw figures below
Saludo-introduction
Figure 1- Tika-Tika
Figure 2- Siko-Siko
Figure 3- Tiksiw- Tiksiw
Figure 4- Saylo-Saylo
Figure 5- Pondag-Pondag
Figure 6- Tikang- Sipa
Figure 7- Eagari-Eagari
Saludo-closing

Idudu- Idudu is a tribal dance from the Abra province in Cordillera.

This dance depicts a day inthelif- family life in the Itneg or Tinguian tribe.
It tells the story of a father plowing the field as the mother cares for her children.