Cultural Heritage Archive

The Living Art of
Philippine Dance

Discover the ethnic dances woven into the soul of over 100 Filipino peoples — from the highlands of the Cordillera to the shores of the Sulu Sea.

8
Dances
13
Regions
3
Articles
Sayaw Pilipinas
✦ Featured

Spotlight Dances

NCR / Tagalog

Tinikling

Tagalog / Visayan

The Tinikling is considered the national folk dance of the Philippines. It involves two people beating, tappin…

ARMM / BARMM

Singkil

Maranao

Singkil is a royal dance from the Maranao people of Lanao. The dance takes its name from the bells worn on the…

Pandanggo sa Ilaw
NCR / Tagalog

Pandanggo sa Ilaw

Tagalog

Pandanggo sa Ilaw is a graceful dance of lights from Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro. The word pandanggo com…

Central Luzon

Maglalatik

Tagalog / Kapampangan

Maglalatik is a mock war dance from Binan, Laguna that dramatizes the fight over coconut meat (latik). Male da…

Itik-Itik
Central Visayas

Itik-Itik

Cebuano / Visayan

Itik-Itik is a mimetic folk dance from Surigao, Mindanao. The dance imitates the movements of a duck (itik) — …

Kappa Malong-Malong
ARMM / BARMM

Kappa Malong-Malong

Maranao / Maguindanao

Kappa Malong-Malong is a Muslim dance that demonstrates the many uses of the malong — a tubular cloth used as …

✦ Explore by Island Group

Three Islands, Countless Dances

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Luzon

From Ilocano folk dances to Tagalog ballet, Luzon holds the highland traditions of the Cordillera and the lowland grace of its many ethnic peoples.

4 dances documented

Explore Luzon
🌊

Visayas

Known for festive energy and graceful movement, the Visayan islands gave birth to the Itik-Itik, Curacha, and the famous Sinulog tradition.

1 dances documented

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Mindanao

Home to the spectacular Muslim court dances of the Maranao, and the ritual dances of the T'boli, Bagobo, and Mandaya peoples.

3 dances documented

Explore Mindanao
✦ Knowledge

Cultural Articles

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The Rich Tapestry of Philippine Folk Dancing

Philippine folk dances reflect the country's diverse cultural heritage, shaped by centuries of history, indigenous tradi…

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Understanding the Singkil: Dance of the Maranao Royalty

The Singkil is not merely a dance — it is a living chapter of the ancient Maranao epic Darangen, recognized by UNESCO as…

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The Highland Dances of the Cordillera Peoples

The highland peoples of the Cordillera preserve ancient dance traditions tied to their rice culture, gong music, and spi…

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