Dance in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to several folk dances such as Tinikling, Pandanggo, Cariñosa, and Subli. Dance has integrated itself in Philippine society over the course of many years and is imbedded in Philippine culture.

Types of dances by ethnic group

The following are various indigenous dances of the major ethnic groupings of the Philippines

Igorot

There are six Igorot ethnolinguistic tribes living in Luzon's mountain terrains: the Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Apayo, and the Kalinga tribes, which retained much of their anito religions. Their lives have been centered on appeasing their gods and maintaining a harmonious relationship between spirits and man. Dances are usually linked to rituals for a good harvest, health, prayers for peace, and safety in war.

Type of Dance	Origin	Tribe	Purpose
Banga		Kalinga	One popular contemporary performance in the Philippines is named after the large banga pots. This performance originated in the province of Kalinga of the Mountain Province. As many as seven or eight pots are balanced on the heads of maidens as they move to the beat of the gangsa, a type of gong, while they go about their daily routine of fetching water while balancing the banga. This is why the tribesmen are known as fierce warriors.
Bendayan	Benguet Province, Northern Luzon		The Bendayan, which is also referred to as Bendian, is a dance that was adapted from the tradition of the Benguet Mountain Province in which hunters are honoured. Although it is an adaptation or rendition of the original, it is still included in each festivity in Benguet and its significance remains preserved. Furthermore, the circles lead to an unambiguous meaning.
Manmanok		Bago	Manmanok is a dance that dramatizes is a dance that portrait the rooster and the hen, Lady Lien. They try to attract her by making use of blankets that depict their feathers and wings.
Lumagen/Tachok	Luzon	Kalinga	Tachok is a Kalinga Festival Dance that is performed by unmarried Kalinga women who imitate the movement of the flight of birds as they move through the air. People come together and perform this dance to celebrate their birth first-born baby boy, weddings, or people who are able to make peace with each other. This dance is accompanied with music with the use of gongs.
Turayen	Cagayan Valley	Gaddang	The word Gaddang originated from the combination of two words which are “ga”, meaning heat, and “dang” which is to burn. The Gaddang people live in the center of Cagayan Valley. Furthermore, some of their groups have resided in Isabela, Kalinga, and Eastern Bontoc. They are mostly Christian, and are agricultural in nature. Those that have resided in the areas stated mostly preserved their culture which is rooted in indigenous and swidden agricultural traditions. For an instance, they commonly practice the burning of existing crops to construct short-term plots for farming. Additionally, they also practice hunting and fishing. In the Gaddang dance, the people emulate the movements of birds that are drawn to tobacco trees.
Tarektek		Benguet	Tarektek dramatizes two male tarektek woodpeckers who try to get the attention of three females. The first woodpecker tries doing this by showing his good voice. This was portrayed by the banging of a brass gong. On the other hand, the second tries impress the females by showing off his feathers. This was portrayed by the use of colorful blankets that are moved around in bird like movements.
Salidsid		Kalinga	The Salidsid, or the “cayoo dance”, is known as a romantic dance in which a male courts a female. That being said, it is commonly performed with one male and a female dancer. It starts with each of the dancers holding an “ayob” or “allap” which is a small cloth. Customarily, the most powerful people in the village are in the dance following the host's signal of the opening of the affair. Both the context and the significance of the dance are apparent. Additionally, the male imitates a rooster that is attempting to gain attention from a hen which is represented by a female dancer. On the other hand, the female dancer imitates the gestures of a hen that is being orbited by a rooster.
Salip		Kalinga	Tribes from the mountain provinces in Luzon give great importance to their identity. Thanksgiving, birth, wedding, and victory in war among others, are some things that these people celebrate through the art of dance. The Kalinga wedding ritual, to be particular, is a dance wherein a bride is offered protection and comfort by the groom. The man tries to show his love by imitating the movements of a rooster. Meanwhile, the bride's friends prepare “bangas” that contain fresh water from the mountain spring to offer to the groom.
Ragsaksakan		Kalinga	Ragsaksakan dance portrays the walk of the industrious Kalingga women who climb up the rice terraces in the Mountain Provinces of the Philippines. They carry pots that are placed above their heads. They also wear small hand woven blankets around their necks which represent the “blankets of life.”
Uyauy/Uyaoy		Ifugao	Coined from the word ipugao meaning “coming from the earth” is the term Ifugao, pertaining to the people of the province who are called to be the “children of the earth.” As well as to the province itself, according to the Spaniards. Those who belong to the wealthy class, the Kadangyans, have the privilege to use the gongs that are used at the wedding festival dance. The same dance is performed by the people who desire to reach the second level of the wealthy class.

Moro

The Moro people are the various usually unrelated Muslim Filipino ethnic groups. Most of their dances are marked by intricate hand and arm movements, accompanied by instruments such as the agong and kulintang.

Type of Dance	Origin	Tribe	Purpose
Pangalay	Zamboanga del Sur	Badjao	Pangalay, a dance native to the Badjaos meant to highlight the power of the upper body, is executed through the rhythmic bounce of the shoulder while simultaneously waving the arms. Most times, this dance is performed in social gatherings like weddings.
Burung Talo	Sulu	Tausug	Burung Talo is a dance in the form of martial arts. Performers portray a battle between a hawk and a cat. This dance is accompanied with lively beats from gongs and drums as the performers do acrobatic movements.
Asik	Cotabato	Maguindanao	The Asik is solo dance performance portrays an unmarried young woman who tries to gain the approval and support of her sultan master. She can dance for two reasons. The first is to try to win the heart of her master and the second is to be able to make up for a mistake she has done. In this dance, the performer dances and poses in doll like motionsand is dressed with fine beads, long metal finger nails, and heavy make up.
Singkil	Lanao	Maranao	Singkil is a Filipino dance that narrates the epic legend of “Darangan” of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This 14th century epic is about Princess Gandingan getting trapped in the forest during an earthquake that was said to have been caused by the forest nymphs or fairies called diwatas. The name “Singkil” is derived from the bells worn by the Princess on her ankles. The dance uses props that are representative of the events in the epic. The criss-crossed bamboos are clapped together to signify the falling trees the Princess gracefully dodges as they fall while her slave follows her around. The Prince then finds her and the other dancers begin to dance slowly and progress to faster tempo with fans or their hands moving in a rhythmic manner which signify the winds in the forest. With skillful handling of fans, the dancers cross the bamboos precisely and expertly. In Sulu, Royal Princesses are required to learn the dance. The Royal Princesses in the dance, specifically in Lanao are usually accompanied by a waiting lady holding an elaborately decorated umbrella on her head and follows her as she dances.
Tahing Baila	Basilan	Yakan	Tahing Baila is a Yakan dance, a low land tribal Philippine folk dance, in which it tries to imitate movements of fish.
Pangsak	Basilan	Yakan	From the highlands of Mindanao, is a Musim ethnic group called the Yakan. They are known to wear body-hugging elaborately woven costumes. One of their popular dances, called Pangsak, involves a man and his wife performing complicated hand and foot movements while their faces are painted white to hide their identity from evil spirits.
Panglay ha Pattong		Badjao	To imitate themovements of the beautiful southern boat with colorful sails which journeys through the Sulu Sea, the Panglay ha Pattong is a dance performed by a royal couple that balances on top of bamboo poles.
Panglay sa Agong	Sulu	Tausug	Panglay sa Agong is a dance that portrays two warriors who try to gain the attention of a young woman. By banging on gongs, it was the way they showed their courage and skills.
Pagapir	Lanao	Maranao	Maranao people from the around the Lake Lanao have a royal manner of “walking” called the Pagapir. The ladies of the royal court perform this dance for important events and to show their good upbringing. It involves a graceful manipulation of the Aper or fan while doing the “Kini-kini” or small steps.
Sagayan	Cotabato	Maguindanao	Sagayan is a dance often performed before celebrations, and to get rid of bad spirits and to welcome good ones. The performers are fierce warriors who portray movements that depict a warrior trying to protect his master in battle. This means that many acrobatic movements are involved in this dance. They carry a shield on one hand and a kampilan on the other, a double-sided sword made of either wood or metal. These dancers also wear bright colored materials for their three tiered skirts, toppers and headgear.
Kapa Malong Malong	Lanao	Maranao	Kapa Malong Malong, also known as Sambi sa Malong, is a dance that shows how the malong can be used or worn. A malong is a hand woven piece of cloth that is tubular that can come in many colors. For women, they usually make use of it as a skirt, shawl, mantle, or headpiece. On the other hand, for men, they make use of it as a sash, waistband, shorts or bahag, and headgear for the fields or as a decorative piece.