Place of origin: Leyte

Tinikling is one of the most famous dances in the Philippines. The movements of this Filipino folk dance imitate the movements of the tikling bird as it walks around through tall grass and between tree branches. People use bamboo poles to perform this Filipino traditional dance. Tinikling is composed of three basic steps which include singles, doubles, and hops. 

Place of origin: Surigao del Sur

The itik-itk is named after a species of duck (itik), whose movements the dance imitates. This example of Philippine folk dance from Surigao del Sur mimics how the itik walks and splashes water to attract a mate.

Place of origin: Biñan, Laguna

Maglalatik, a folk dance in Luzon, is not just any other traditional dance in the Philippines that mimics the movements of animals. This dance in the Philippines has a meaning. It is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly-prized food. 

The Filipino folk dance is broken into four parts: two devoted to the battle and two devoted to reconciling. The dancing men wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, and they hit them in rhythm with the music. Maglalatik is danced in the religious procession during the fiesta of Biñan, Laguna as an offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.

Place of origin: Pangasinan

Another folk dance in the Philippines is binasuan. Binasuan, another folk dance in Luzon, originated in Bayambang, Pangasinan. The word “binasuan” means “with the use of drinking glasses.” It is one of the most challenging Filipino dances as the dancers need to balance glasses on their heads and in their hands as they move. What makes it more difficult is that the glasses are filled with rice wine, which makes any misstep a messy mistake. 

Place of origin: Lake Lanao

Singkil is a Mindanao folk dance that originated from the Maranao people and is based on the story in the Darangen, the pre-Islamic Maranao interpretation of the ancient Hindu Indian epic, the Ramayana. 

This tribal dance in the Philippines means “to entangle the feet with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path”. The lead dancer, in the role of Putri Gandingan (the Darangen name for Sita), graciously manipulates either fans, scarves, or her hands while she steps in and out of closing bamboo poles. The poles are arranged in either a parallel, rectangular, or criss-cross fashion. The singkil dance is one of the most popular Philippine folk dances.

Place of origin: Maranao tribe in Mindanao

The Kappa Malong-Malong is a cultural dance in the Philippines influenced by Muslims. The malong is a tubular garment, and the folk dance essentially shows the many ways it can be worn. This traditional dance in the Philippines is not only for women though, but there is also a men’s version of the dance since they wear malongs in different ways.

Place of origin: Panay Island

If there’s one type of folk dance in the Philippines that will surprise you, it’s Cariñosa Philippine folk dance. You might think that most of the Philippine folk dances include women characters that have a shy and Maria Clara personality. While it’s true, Carinosa dance is a Filipino cultural dance made for flirting, hence it’s a courtship dance in the Philippines.

The dancers make a number of flirtatious movements as they peek out at one another behind fans or handkerchiefs.

Place of origin: Pangasinan

Another example of Philippine folk dance that will test your skills is the Sayaw sa Bangko (dancing on a chair). It is performed on top of a narrow bench. To ace this ethnic dance in the Philippines, dancers need good balance as they go through a series of movements that include some impressive acrobatics. So if you want a challenging folk dance, try Sayaw sa Bangko.

Place of origin: Lubang Island, Mindoro

Just like Binasuan, Pandanggo sa Ilaw is a game of balancing glasses, only with candles inside. Dancers have to balance three oil lamps: one on the head, and one in each hand. It’s a lively Philippine folk dance that originated on Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro. The music is in 3/4 time and is usually accompanied by castanets. So if you’re always game for challenging Filipino dances, try Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

The Pandanggo sa Ilaw is similar to a Spanish Fandango, but the Pandanggo folk dance is performed while balancing three oil lamps.

Place of origin: Lingayen, Pangasinan

The Pandanggo Oasiwas is a type of dance in the Philippines similar to the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and is typically performed by fishermen to celebrate a bountiful catch. In Pandanggo Oasiwas folk dance, the lamps are placed in cloths or nets and swung around as the dancers circle and sway.

Place of origin: Samar Island

The Kuratsa is considered a courtship dance in the Philippines. This Filipino dance has three parts. First is where the couple performs a waltz. Second, the music sets a faster pace as the man pursues the woman around the dance floor in a chase. Lastly, the music becomes even faster as the man wins over the woman with his mating dance. What an interesting folk dance in the Philippines, right?

Place of origin: Bicol

Pantomina is another courtship dance in the Philippines. It is a regular feature of festivities in Bicol, and is said to mimic the movement of doves in courtship.