Folk Dances

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Filipino Folk Dance |

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Pandanggo sa Ilaw

The word “pandanggo” comes from the Spanish dance "fandango" characterized with lively steps and clapping while following a varying beat. Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skill to maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, placed on head and at the back of each hand. This famous dance of grace and balance originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.

Maria Clara

Maria Clara is the main female character in Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, a literary piece that features the colonial situation of the Filipinos during the Spanish regime. She was characterized as a Filipina woman of virtue and nobility. This dance is a mix of Spanish gracefulness and customized native props, such as bamboo castanets and Asian fan. Female dancers wear Maria Clara dress that typifies the European style, while men are in barong tagalog, a traditional Filipino embroidered long-sleeve shirt made of pineapple fiber.

Sakuting

Originated in Abra, this dance interprets a mock fight between Ilokano Christians and non- Christians with training sticks as props. It is traditionally performed during Christmas at the town plaza or from house-to-house as a caroling show. As a return, the dancers receive presents or money locally known as "aguinaldo".

Pantomina

It means "Dance of the Doves", this dance is the highlight of Sorsogon's Kasanggayahan Festival every third week of October. Groups of participants, mainly elderly in colourful costumes, dance to the tune of Pantomina song. It is a courtship dance originated from immitating the courtship and lovemaking of doves that then showed during the dance where men attempt to please the women.

Banog

Originated in Cordillera, in this dance, performers portray hunters shielding their chickens from the famishing hawk. The hawk ends up entrapped and dies in the hands of hunters.

Salisid

Originated in Kalinga,Cordillera. It is a courtship dance...