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What are the dance terms used in Philippine folk dance?

Philippine folk dances are rich in cultural heritage and traditions. Various dance terms are used to describe the movements, formations, and patterns in these dances. Here are some common terms:

1. Balintawak: A Filipino folk dance that involves a fan and various hand gestures.

2. Pandanggo sa Ilaw: A dance performed with oil lamps or candles balanced on the dancer's head or hands.

3. Tinikling: A bamboo dance where two or more people rapidly tap and move bamboo poles on the ground while dancers hop between and over them.

4. Sayaw sa Bangko: A dance performed on a bench, showcasing intricate footwork and balancing skills.

5. Maglalatik: A lively dance that reenacts the fight between coconut gatherers and tikog gatherers for the love of a maiden.

6. Cariñosa: A flirtatious dance where partners face each other and exchange courtship movements, such as twirling handkerchiefs and fanning each other.

7. Jota: A Spanish-influenced dance marked by lively foot stamping, hand clapping, and quick turns.

8. Singkil: A dance requiring skill and agility as the dancer steps between bamboo poles placed on the ground, creating a rhythmic tapping sound.

9. Kuratsa: A dance that depicts courtship and playful exchanges between a couple, often involving a coin passed between their foreheads.

10. Subli: A ritualistic dance performed during Maytime festivals, characterized by elaborate costumes, graceful hand and arm movements, and rhythmic stomping.

11. Itik-Itik: A dance representing a duck's playful movements and is performed with a slight crouch, with hands imitating a duck's beak and wings.

12. Habanera: A stately and elegant dance with Spanish influence, characterized by smooth movements and rhythmic hand claps.

13. Sakuting: A dance showcasing intricate stick fighting techniques and movements, symbolizing strength and courage.

These dance terms represent only a fraction of the rich dance vocabulary in Philippine folk dances, each contributing to the uniqueness and diversity of Filipino cultural expressions.

Modern Dance

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