What is inamo-amo dance?

Inamong-among, formerly known as inamo-amo, refers to a traditional social dance that originated in the indigenous B’laan tribe in the municipality of Malapatan in Sarangani Province, Philippines, and is now prevalent throughout Sarangani, and other provinces of South Cotabato and Davao del Sur. It is usually performed during community gatherings and festivals, such as the annual Inaul Festival, named after the intricate handwoven tapestry indigenous to T’boli people, which is celebrated every February.

Inamong-among is traditionally performed by several couples at once, in an open area like village squares or multipurpose covered courts, with the dancers standing in two facing rows. It symbolizes courtship, with pairs of dancers mirroring or imitating each other's movements. Inamong-among is performed with both hands up, and the steps may be modified to make the dance more challenging.

Some believe the term was derived from the word namong or “swaying”. The word among is also connected to the word mong, which means "to walk around" in the Binukid dialect of the B’laans, hence, the dance could also mean “to walk swaying and moving around with music.”