A vernacular dance where the styles have developed outside of dance studios.

Performers of this dance create simple dance movements and usually performed in any available open spaces.

Philippines observes different festivals all year round. Each region, province, and city has a variety of festivities and events – where festival dance is a highlight.

A Philippine festival originated in Kalibo, Aklan.

Celebrates every 3rd Sunday of January in honor of patron Sto. Niño.

People cover their body with charcoal or black paint depicting the Filipino natives known as the Aetas.

In the streets, they dance enthusiastically as they hold images of Sto. Niño.

Recognized as the Queen of all festivals in the country.

An indigenous dance begins in the Hispanic period of the natives of Cebu or Cebuanos.

sinulog tagline

Reflects the culture grown from this era; celebrated in honor of Child Jesus or the Sto. Niño in the third Sunday of January.

This dance shows gratitude, penance and petition alongside with the beat of drums and chant of “Viva Pit Senior!”

two basic steps of the sinulog dance

combination of two steps forward moving with one step backward.

involves moving your right foot with one step forward and one step backward while your left foot remains in place.

Celebrates the region’s bountiful harvest and marks the survival of its native people.

People dance on the street known as “Indak-indak sa Kadalanan” that includes parade of flowers or float parades.

This festival celebrated in the third week of August at Davao City.

Held in the “City of Smiles” or Bacolod City in Negros Occidental every third weekend of October.

Performers wearing colorful masks and costumes while dancing on the streests.

It is the Ati-atihan in Iloilo City in 1969 then the organizers changed its name to “___” in 1977 which came from Hiligaynon word dagyang which means “merrymaking.”

This celebration is to commemorates the transitioning period of Filipino paganism to Catholicism in honor of patron Sto. Niño every 4th Sunday of January.

Dancers move their feet with the movement of their hands rapidly while moving in a different formation in a very fast tempo.