Folk Dance in the Philippines: List of All Major Dances by Region
Researchers have named and catalogued more than 100 distinct Filipino folk dances since fieldwork began in the 1920s, and no single classroom handout captures all of them at once. This list of Philippine folk dances organizes 46 of the most performed and documented dances into six regional groups: Luzon lowlands, the Cordillera, Bicol, the Visayas, Muslim Mindanao and Lumad Mindanao. Each row names the dance, its province, its ethnolinguistic group, what it depicts, and the detail that identifies it fastest.
Every entry below comes from published field research, most of it built on the work of Francisca Reyes Aquino and the folklorists who followed her into highland villages, Muslim communities and Lumad territory to record steps no one had written down before. The regional split mirrors how dance companies and cultural offices already group these routines.
At a Glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Dances listed | 46 named dances |
| Regions covered | 6: Luzon lowlands, Cordillera, Bicol, Visayas, Muslim Mindanao, Lumad Mindanao |
| Sorting method | Province of origin, ethnolinguistic group, what the dance depicts |
| Earliest documentation | 1920s barrio fieldwork by Francisca Reyes Aquino |
| Typical music | Rondalla strings, gongs, kulintang or drums, depending on region |
| Where to see them | Town fiestas, school programs, cultural company repertoires |
| Deeper background | Origins and classification covered in a separate guide |
Key point
No single dance represents the whole country. Each region built its own repertoire from local geography, religion and trade, so a dance’s props and music usually reveal its home region before a step is danced.
How This List Is Organized
This list of Philippine folk dances follows six clusters rather than an alphabetical order, because geography did more to shape these dances than any single event did. A dance like Cariñosa belongs to the national repertoire today, but its table entry still lists the province most closely tied to its origin.
The six groups are:
- Luzon lowlands, the Christian Tagalog, Kapampangan, Ilocano and Pangasinense towns.
- Cordillera, the highland Igorot communities of northern Luzon.
- Bicol, the volcanic peninsula south of the Tagalog provinces.
- Visayas, the central island group and its Christian lowland towns.
- Muslim Mindanao, the Maranao, Tausug, Maguindanao and Yakan communities.
- Lumad Mindanao, the non-Muslim indigenous highlands of the same island.
Luzon Lowlands: 9 Dances
Luzon’s lowland provinces produced the largest single cluster on this list, mixing Spanish court gestures with everyday barrio work. Rondalla string ensembles, not gongs or drums, carry most of the music here, and most schools teach at least one of these routines during physical education class.
Tinikling is the dance from this group most people outside the Philippines already recognize, thanks to decades of touring cultural companies. Its bamboo-pole rhythm also shows up, with local variations, in parts of the Visayas.
| Dance | Province or region | Group | What it depicts | Recognisable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cariñosa | Nationwide, Panay-linked origin | Christian lowland | Shy courtship between a man and woman | Fan and handkerchief hide-and-reveal game |
| Tinikling | Leyte roots, danced nationwide | Christian lowland | A tikling bird dodging bamboo traps | Dancers stepping between clapping bamboo poles |
| Maglalatik | Biñan, Laguna | Tagalog Christian lowland | Mock battle between Christian and Moro forces | Coconut shells strapped to chest and limbs |
| Pandanggo sa Ilaw | Lubang Island, Mindoro | Tagalog Christian lowland | Fisherfolk carrying light at night | Lit oil lamps balanced on head and hands |
| Subli | Bauan and Alitagtag, Batangas | Tagalog Christian devotional | Reverence for a venerated holy cross | Kneeling steps, bamboo clapper music, no fan |
| Sakuting | Abra | Ilocano Christian lowland | Mock fight between Christians and non-Christians | Bamboo sticks clashed in training-style combat |
| Agabel | Ilocos provinces | Ilocano Christian lowland | A weaver’s daily work at the handloom | Mimed weaving motions with a loom prop |
| Sayaw sa Bangko | Pangasinan | Pangasinense Christian lowland | A newlywed couple’s balance and skill | Dancing atop a narrow, six-inch wooden bench |
| Binasuan | Bayambang, Pangasinan | Pangasinense Christian lowland | Festive merrymaking at a celebration | Spinning while balancing glasses of rice wine |
Note
Agabel and Sakuting come from the Ilocos region’s occupational and mock-combat dance tradition. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts documents Ilocano occupational dances like weaving and fishing routines separately from courtship dances such as Manangbiday.
Cordillera: 8 Dances
Cordillera dances stayed closest to their pre-colonial ritual function, since Spanish forces never fully controlled the mountain provinces. Gongs, not strings, carry every dance in this group.
Many of these routines still accompany real community events rather than staged shows. A wedding, a peace pact between villages, or the end of a harvest season can call for one of the dances below, danced with no ticket and no audience beyond the community itself.
| Dance | Province or region | Group | What it depicts | Recognisable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banga | Kalinga, Mountain Province | Igorot, Kalinga | Women fetching water from the river | Balancing stacked clay pots on the head |
| Bendayan (Bendian) | Benguet | Igorot, Ibaloi and Kankanaey | A successful raid or a good harvest | Large circle formation around seated gong players |
| Ragragsakan | Kalinga | Igorot, Kalinga | Women climbing rice terraces with loads | Balancing folded woven blankets on the head |
| Uyaoy (Uyauy) | Ifugao | Igorot, Ifugao | A wealthy family’s wedding celebration | Arms sweeping wide, like a hawk in flight |
| Tarektek | Mountain Province | Igorot | A woodpecker pecking at a tree trunk | Crouched, sharp pecking head and hand movements |
| Salidsid | Kalinga and Bontoc | Igorot | Courtship, advancing and retreating | Coy steps toward and away, no physical contact |
| Idaw | Ifugao | Igorot, Ifugao | Tribute to a fortune-bringing mythical bird | Dancer’s arms held outstretched like wings |
| Lumagen (Tachok) | Kalinga | Igorot, Kalinga | General festive celebration | Fast footwork, dancers play their own gongs |
Bicol: 5 Dances
Bicol’s volcanic terrain limited how much formal court culture ever reached the peninsula, so its dance tradition stays close to weddings and courtship rather than church feasts.
Bicol has the shortest list here, not because the region lacks dance, but because fewer of its local routines were formally catalogued outside the Pantomina family. Most Bicolano weddings still open with some version of it.
| Dance | Province or region | Group | What it depicts | Recognisable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pantomina | Camalig, Albay, and Sorsogon | Bicolano Christian lowland | Courting doves at a wedding | Sweeping circular arm movements, money pinned on dancers |
| Sinakiki | Albay | Bicolano Christian lowland | A courting rooster and an evasive hen | Strutting, teasing chase steps between partners |
| Pantomina de Sorsogon | Sorsogon | Bicolano Christian lowland | Doves courting during a wedding feast | Local variant of Pantomina, danced by the couple first |
| Lapay Bantigue | Masbate | Bicolano Christian lowland | Sea gulls gliding over the water | Wide, gliding arm sweeps imitating gulls |
| Bicolano Cariñosa | Bicol region-wide | Bicolano Christian lowland | Playful courtship hide-and-seek | Two handkerchiefs, one held in each hand |
Visayas: 9 Dances
Visayan dance runs in two directions: small courtship dances passed down through families, and large festival street productions built for competition and tourism.
Sinulog, Ati-Atihan and Dinagyang draw the largest crowds every January, but the table below focuses on named dances with fixed steps rather than yearly street-parade choreography, since the two categories work differently.
| Dance | Province or region | Group | What it depicts | Recognisable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuratsa | Samar and Leyte | Waray Christian lowland | A rooster courting a hen | Waltz, chase, then flirtatious finish; money pinned on couples |
| Sinulog | Cebu City | Cebuano Christian lowland | Devotion to the Santo Niño | Two steps forward, one step back, to drums |
| Balitaw | Panay and Visayas-wide | Visayan Christian lowland | A courtship debate in verse | Improvised sung exchange between a man and woman |
| Itik-Itik | Cantilan, Surigao (Caraga) | Visayan-Surigaonon lowland | A duck splashing and preening | Short, choppy steps imitating a waddling duck |
| Mazurka Boholana | Bohol | Visayan Christian lowland | A Spanish-inspired ballroom courtship | Waltz-like turns in three-quarter time |
| Tiklos | Leyte and Samar | Visayan Christian lowland | Communal farm work, similar to bayanihan | Group formation mimicking shared field labor |
| Escotis | Panitan and Tinpas, Capiz | Visayan Christian lowland | A social gathering in mountain barrios | Couples moving in quadrille-style patterns |
| Gaway-Gaway | Leyte | Visayan Christian lowland | A harvest celebration | Sweeping arm gestures made with woven fans |
| Binanog | Panay (Panay Bukidnon) | Visayan upland | A banog hawk circling in flight | Arms spread wide, gliding turns overhead |
Tip
Trying to guess a dance’s region before reading the table? Listen first. Strings mean Luzon lowlands or Bicol, gongs alone mean the Cordillera, and gongs paired with a goblet drum mean Muslim Mindanao.
Muslim Mindanao: 9 Dances
Mindanao’s Muslim, or Moro, communities absorbed Malay and Arab movement through maritime trade that reached the Sulu Archipelago well before Spain reached the rest of the country. No dance in this group uses a string instrument.
Maranao, Tausug, Maguindanao and Yakan communities each kept distinct repertoires, but all four lean on the same family of gongs and drums for accompaniment, a detail that separates this cluster from every other region on the list.
| Dance | Province or region | Group | What it depicts | Recognisable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singkil | Lake Lanao | Maranao | A princess’s rescue in the Darangen epic | Dancer weaving between clashing crossed bamboo poles |
| Pangalay | Sulu Archipelago | Tausug | Flowing water and birds in flight | Undulating hand and arm movement, long metal fingernails |
| Sagayan | Maguindanao, Lanao and Cotabato | Maranao, Maguindanao, Iranun | A warrior hero arming himself for battle | Kampilan sword and shell-noisemaker shield twirled together |
| Kappa Malong-Malong | Lanao provinces | Maranao | Everyday and ceremonial uses of the malong | Dancer folds one malong into several garments |
| Pangalay ha Patong | Sulu Archipelago | Tausug | A vinta boat gliding among birds and fish | Balancing and dancing atop a bamboo pole |
| Kandingan | Sulu Archipelago | Tausug | A wedding celebration with Hindu-Malay roots | Slow, formal steps performed in bridal dress |
| Pindulas | Basilan | Yakan | A newlywed couple’s first dance | Pangalay-style hand movement during the pangsat wedding |
| Paunjalay | Basilan | Yakan | The bride’s dance before her wedding | Solo performance by the bride alone |
| Tahing Baila | Basilan | Yakan | A bountiful fish catch | Movements mimicking swimming fish and cast nets |
The Darangen epic behind Singkil is a recognized epic by UNESCO, one reason the dance appears in nearly every Filipino kulintang ensemble’s repertoire alongside the gong music that carries it.
Lumad Mindanao: 6 Dances
The Lumad are Mindanao’s non-Muslim indigenous peoples, including the Bagobo, Manobo, T’boli and Bukidnon groups. Spanish and Islamic contact reached them less than it reached their coastal neighbors, so ritual movement tied to farming and harvest survived largely intact.
| Dance | Province or region | Group | What it depicts | Recognisable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dugso | Bukidnon | Bukidnon, Talaandig | Thanksgiving for harvest, sometimes a son’s birth | Feathered headdresses, anklets, a bamboo arch of rice stalks |
| Kadal Tahaw | South Cotabato | T’boli | The tahaw hornbill during harvest season | Malong fabric held wide like outstretched wings |
| Kadal Blelah | South Cotabato | T’boli | A mythical multicolored bird | Bright, layered malong fabric mimicking plumage |
| Binaylan | Davao region | Bagobo | A hen, her chicks and a circling hawk | Dancers act out a chase and protective circling |
| Gin-um | Davao region | Bagobo, Manobo | Cleansing warriors before battle | Sharp, ferocious movements imitating fighting cocks |
| Malakas at Maganda | Manobo territories | Manobo | The first man and woman emerging from bamboo | Two dancers slowly unfurling from a split bamboo prop |
For the fuller ethnic and historical context behind these communities, read our guide to the indigenous tribes of the Philippines, which covers Lumad and Moro identity beyond dance alone.
Quick Ways to Spot a Dance’s Region
A handful of cues tell you a dance’s home region before you finish reading its table entry.
- Rondalla strings, guitar or banduria, mean Luzon lowlands or Bicol.
- Gongs alone, with no strings anywhere, mean the Cordillera.
- Gongs paired with a goblet-shaped dabakan drum mean Muslim Mindanao.
- Feathers, body paint or a bamboo harvest arch mean Lumad Mindanao.
- A single fan and handkerchief mean a lowland courtship dance.
This list of Philippine folk dances is not exhaustive. Provincial cultural offices and university folklore departments keep documenting new variants, particularly among smaller Lumad communities where fieldwork started later than it did in Luzon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many folk dances does the Philippines have in total?
Researchers have documented more than 100 distinct Philippine folk dances since Francisca Reyes Aquino began her fieldwork in the 1920s, and the number keeps growing as folklorists reach smaller Lumad and upland communities. This list covers 46 of the most performed and best documented dances, chosen to represent every major region.
Which Philippine folk dance is easiest for a beginner to learn?
Cariñosa and Tinikling are the two most commonly taught starting dances because Philippine schools include both in physical education classes nationwide. Cariñosa uses simple walking steps with a fan, while Tinikling needs practice with the bamboo pole rhythm but no complex arm work.
Why is Itik-itik classified as a Visayan dance if it comes from Mindanao?
Itik-itik traces to Cantilan in present-day Surigao del Sur, which sits in Mindanao’s Caraga region but was historically settled by Cebuano and Boholano migrants who kept their Visayan language and lowland Christian traditions. Dance companies group it with the Visayan suite because of that cultural link, not its island location.
What is the difference between Cordillera and Lumad Mindanao dances?
Both groups kept their dance traditions largely free of Spanish and Islamic influence, but they sit at opposite ends of the archipelago and use different instruments. Cordillera dances rely on the gangsa gong and often depict rice terrace farming, while Lumad Mindanao dances lean on drums, chanting and the tangungo gong harness, often depicting birds, harvests or warrior rites tied to lowland Mindanao forests.
This list of Philippine folk dances works best as a starting reference, not the final word. School programs, cultural companies and provincial festivals keep adding new documented variants every year. Readers who want the fuller history behind these classifications can browse our Traditions section for more coverage of the customs and celebrations tied to each region.
Works Cited
“Francisca Reyes Aquino.” National Commission for Culture and the Arts, NCCA, n.d., ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/francisca-reyes-aquino/.
“Darangen Epic of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao.” UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO, n.d., ich.unesco.org/en/RL/darangen-epic-of-the-maranao-people-of-lake-lanao-00159.
“Ilocano Lowland Cultural Community.” National Commission for Culture and the Arts, NCCA, n.d., ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/northern-cultural-communities/ilocano-lowland-cultural-community/.
“Music of the Lumad.” Filipinas Heritage Library, Ayala Foundation, n.d., filipinaslibrary.org.ph/himig/music-of-the-lumad/.
“Sagayan Festival.” National Museum of the Philippines, National Museum Ethnology Division, 2 July 2022, nationalmuseum.gov.ph/2022/07/02/sagayan-festival/.
