LESSON 1: Dancing
Enhance the quality of relationships between
 Dancing
- is an expressive art form that communicates
ideas through movement. It allows people to be
more active, socialize within local communities,
and develop creative skills. It is good physical
recreation activity that contributes to a lifestyle
of a healthy community and society.
- Dance also offers an activity for people who
may not be sporty. The benefit of dance is not
only increased exercise but the participation in
an art form that is based on technique and giving
the opportunity for a creative outlet.
- Dance also opens new opportunities in terms of
career-dancing, teaching, choreography or
dance notation. In addition to this, people work
in the dance industry as community dance
practitioners, promoters, producers, designers,
publicist, therapists, etc.
LESSON 2: Types of Dance
- The skills developed in dancing can also be
valuable transferable skills. The confidence
gained through achievements in dance helps to
build social skills, increases self-esteem, and the
ability to communicate well in a group.
- Community dance creates opportunities and
experiences for people irrespective of where
they live, their age, gender, sexuality, race,
disability, educational attainment, or economic
circumstance.
- It is not confined to any specific type of dance
and is concerned with engaging people
creatively and safely in a dance style, or
exploring ideas and forms of their own.
 Community dance can:
1. Contribute to the development of dance as an
artform and support the artistic development of
professional and non-professional dancers
2. Impact positively on people’s health and
wellbeing, their personal motivation, and their
social relationships
3. Provide people with an important focus for
their lives, overcome barriers to participation
and enhance people’s sense of community
4. Offer people new ways of relating to other
people, based on respect and valuing difference
5.
people, their communities their dancing and
their dances
6. Make a positive contribution to wider social
change, and artistic and learning agendas
 Reasons to dance:
1. Keeps both the body and the brain active, vital
for people of every age
2. Offers a way to improve strength and
flexibility, which helps keep the muscles and
joints healthy
3. Helps meet new people with similar interests
as yours
4. Helps you learn about your body, improving
posture and balance
5. Helps you reduce stress levels
6. Offers insight to other cultures
7. Leads to new career opportunities
8. Helps increase self-esteem and confidence
 Traditional dance - It can be another term for
folk dance, or sometimes even for
ceremonial dance. The term 'Traditional' is more
frequently used when the emphasis is on the
cultural roots of the dance.
 Contemporary dance - is a style of
expressive dance that combines elements of
several dance genres including modern, jazz,
lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary
dancers strive to connect the mind and the body
through fluid dance movements.
 Ballroom - is a set of partner dances, which are
enjoyed both socially and competitively around
the world. Because of its performance
and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is
also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and
television.
 Cheer dance - is an activity wherein the
participants (referred to as "cheerleaders")
cheer for their team as a form of
encouragement. It can range from chanting
slogans to intense physical activity. It can be
performed to motivate sports teams, to
entertain the audience, or for competition.
Competitive routines typically range anywhere
from one to three minutes, and contain
components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers,
and stunting.

 Hip-hop - refers to street dance styles primarily
performed to hip-hop music or that have
evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a
wide range of styles primarily breaking which
was created in the 1970s and made popular
by dance crews in the United States.
 Festival dance - Are cultural dances performed
to the strong beats of percussion instruments by
a community of people sharing the same culture
usually done in honor of a Patron Saint or in
thanksgiving of a bountiful harvest.
LESSON 3: Traditional Folk Dances of the Philippines
 The Itik-Itik - The best description of the Itik-Itik
is that the steps mimic the way a duck walks, as
well as the way it splashes water on its back to
attract a mate. According to popular tradition,
the dance was created by a lady named Kanang
who choreographed the steps while dancing at a
baptismal party. The other guests copied her
movements, and everyone liked the dance so
much that it has been passed along ever since.
 The Tinikling - The Tinikling is considered by
many to be the Philippines' national dance. The
dance's movements imitate the movement of
the tikling bird as it walks around through tall
grass and between tree branches. People
perform the dance using bamboo poles. The
dance is composed of three basic steps which
include singles, doubles and hops. It looks similar
to playing jump rope, except that the dancers
perform the steps around and between the
bamboo poles, and the dance becomes faster
until someone makes a mistake and the next set
of dancers takes a turn.
 The Sayaw sa Bangko - The Sayaw sa Bangko is
performed on top of a narrow bench. Dancers
need good balance as they go through a series of
movements that include some impressive
acrobatics. This dance traces its roots back to the
areas of Pangapisan, Lingayen and Pangasinan.
 The Binasuan - The Binasuan is an entertaining
dance that is usually performed at festive social
occasions like weddings and birthdays. Dancers
carefully balance three half-filled glasses of rice
wine on their heads and hands as they gracefully
spin and roll on the ground. The dance originated
in Bayambang in the Pangasinan province, and
though it's usually performed alone, it can also
become a competition between several dancers.
 The Pandanggo sa Ilaw - The Pandanggo sa Ilaw
is similar to a Spanish Fandango, but the
Pandanggo is performed while balancing three
oil lamps - one on the head, and one in each
hand. It's a lively dance that originated on
Lubang Island. The music is in 3/4 time and is
usually accompanied by castanets.
 The Pandanggo Oasiwas - The Pandanggo
Oasiwas is similar to the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and
is typically performed by fishermen to celebrate
a good catch. In this version, the lamps are
placed in cloths or nets and swung around as the
dancers circle and sway.
 The Maglalatik - The Maglalatik is a mock war
dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a
highly-prized food. The dance is broken into four
parts: two devoted to the battle and two
devoted to reconciling. The men of the dance
wear coconut shells as part of their costumes,
and they slap them in rhythm with the music.
The Maglalatik is danced in the religious
procession during the fiesta of Biñan as an
offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron
saint of farmers.
 The Kuratsa - The Kuratsa is described as a dance
of courtship and is often performed at weddings
and other social occasions. The dance has three
parts. The couple first performs a waltz. In the
second part, the music sets a faster pace as the
man pursues the woman around the dance floor
in a chase. To finish, the music becomes even
faster as the man wins over the woman with his
mating dance.
 La Jota Moncadeña - The La Jota Moncadeña is
adapted by the Filipinos from an old Spanish
dance. It's a combination of Spanish and Ilocano
dance steps set to Spanish music and castanets.
A more solemn version of this dance is
sometimes used to accompany a funeral
procession, but it is also performed at
celebrations.
 The Kappa Malong-Malong - The Kappa Malong-
Malong is a Muslim-influenced dance. The
malong is a tubular garment, and the dance
 essentially shows the many ways it can be worn.  History Through Dance
There are men's and women's versions of the Dancing plays an important role in Filipino
dance since they wear malongs in different ways. culture, telling their history and preserving
traditions through folk dances and music. These
 The Habanera Botolena - The Habanera dances are entertaining to observe, and even
Botolena is a strongly flamenco-influenced more fun to learn and perform yourself.
dance that comes from Botolan, Zambales. It
combines Filipino and Spanish steps, and is a LESSON 4: Ballroom
popular dance at weddings. It is also considered  2 Main Styles of Ballroom Dances:
a courting dance in some situations. 1. International Style
a) International Latin
 The Pantomina - Also known as the Dance of the - Cha Cha
Doves, the Pantomina mimics the courtship - Samba
between doves and is often also a courtship - Rumba
dance between the couples that perform it. This - Paso Doble
dance is an important part of the Sorsogon - Jive
Kasanggayahan Festival held each October, b) International Standard
where it is mainly performed by the elders of the - Waltz
community. - Tango
- Foxtrot
 The Cariñosa - The Cariñosa is a dance made for - Viennese Waltz
flirting! Dancers make a number of flirtatious - Quickstep
movements as they hide behind fans or 2. American Style
handkerchiefs and peek out at one another. The a) American Rhythm
essence of the dance is the courtship between - Cha Cha
two sweethearts. - Rumba
- Swing (East Coast)
 The Surtido - Surtido literally means - Mambo
"assortment," and this square dance combines - Bolero
influences of French, Spanish and Mexican b) American Smooth Style
dance. Traditionally the Surtido is performed by - Waltz
a head couple accompanied by two other - Tango
couples who lead all the dancers through various - Foxtrot
formations that resemble an old-fashioned - Viennese Waltz
quadrille.
 Non-traditional Ballroom Dances:
 The Singkil - The Singkil is a dance traditionally 1. Swing Dances
performed by single women to attract the - West Coast Swing
attention of potential suitors. Dancers perform a - East Coast Swing
series of graceful movements as they step in and - Lindy Hop
out from between bamboo poles which are - Balboa
rhythmically clapped together. Fans and scarves - Charleston
are often used to enhance the dancers' 2. Latin Club Dances
movements. - Salsa
- Merengue
 The Polkabal - The Polkabal shows some - Bachata
European influence in its steps. The dance is - Club Cha Cha
composed of nine different steps which include - Kizomba
various movements such as fluttering, stepping 3. Other Dances
heel-to-toe, a reenactment of a bull fight, and - Hustle
even a leisurely walk. - Nightclub 2 Step
- Country 2 Step
- Polka