P.E. Grade 9 - FESTIVAL DANCES (Part 1) 3rd Quarter (MAPEH)

Key Concepts:

• Festival dances
• Religious festivals
• Secular festivals
• Locomotor movements
• Non-locomotor movements
• Basic folk dance steps

1. Festival Dances: Definition and Significance

• Festival dances are cultural dances performed to percussion music by a community sharing a culture.
• They honor a patron saint or give thanks for a bountiful harvest.
• They portray the people's way of life through movements, costumes, and implements.
• Festivals are awaited events that celebrate religious and secular aspects.
• They give honor to patron saints and thanksgiving for harvests.

2. Types of Festivals in the Philippines

• Religious Festivals: Celebrated in honor of a religious icon or saint.
  • Examples:
    • Sinulog Festival (Cebu City, Sto. Niño, January)
    • Dinagyang Festival (Iloilo City, Sto. Niño, January)
    • Ati-Atihan Festival (Kalibo, Aklan, Sto. Niño, January)
    • Peñafrancia Fluvial Festival (Naga City, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, September)
    • Higantes Festival (Angono, Rizal, San Clemente, November)
    • Longanisa Festival (Vigan City, St. Paul, January)
    • Kinabayo Festival ( Dapitan City, St. James the Great, July)
• Secular (Non-Religious) Festivals: Celebrated in thanksgiving or for people's industry and harvests.
  • Examples:
    • Bangus Festival (Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Bangus/Milkfish)
    • Bambanti Festival (Isabela, Scarecrow)
    • Manggahan Festival (Guimaras, Mangoes)
    • Panagbenga Festival (Baguio City, Flowers)
    • Ebon Ebon Festival (Burauen, Leyte, Mud)
    • Masskara Festival (Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Masks)
    • Tinalak Festival (South Cotabato, Tinalak Cloth)
    • Amongan Festival (Nueva Vizcaya, Tribes)
    • Binatbatan Festival (Batac City, Ilocos Norte, Weaving)

3. Basic Dance Movements: Locomotor

• Locomotor movements move the body from one place to another.
• Step: Transfer of weight from one foot to another.
• Walk: Series of steps executed by both feet alternately.
• Run: Series of walks executed quickly.
• Jump: Both feet lose contact with the ground.
  • Variations:
    • Take off from one foot, land on the same.
    • Take off from one foot, land on the other.
    • Take off from one foot, land on both feet.
    • Take off from both feet, land on one foot.
    • Take off from both feet, land on both.

4. Basic Dance Movements: Non-Locomotor

• Non-locomotor movements are performed in one place.
• Flexion: Decreasing the angle of a joint (bending).
• Extension: Increasing the angle of a joint (stretching).
• Contraction: Muscle movement that shortens, narrows, and tightens.
• Release: Muscle movement opposite of contraction, letting go.
• Collapse: Deliberately dropping energy into a body segment.
• Recover: Regaining energy exerted into a body segment.
• Rotation: Moving a body segment in a circle.
• Twist: Moving a body segment from an axis halfway front or back, or quarter to the right or left.
• Pivot: Changing the position of the feet or any body part that carries the body's weight allowing the body to face in a less than 360 degree turn.
• Turn: Moving in a turning movement with a base of support while maintaining equilibrium.

5. Basic Folk Dance Steps

• Essential for performing festival dances.
• Examples:
  • Close Step
  • Bleking Step
  • Touch Step
  • Walk
  • Change Step
  • Cross Change Step
  • Hop Step
  • Mincing
  • Cross Step
  • Heel Toe Change Step
• The video demonstrates each step with step patterns and counting rhythm.

6. Impact of Festivals on Communities

• Festivals strengthen community unity despite cultural diversity.
• They attract large crowds, boosting tourism and the local economy.
• Festivals contribute to the improvement of Filipinos' quality of life.

7. Conclusion

Festival dances are integral to Philippine culture, reflecting religious beliefs, thanksgiving, and community identity. Understanding the basic locomotor and non-locomotor movements, along with folk dance steps, is crucial for participating in and appreciating these vibrant celebrations. Festivals also play a significant role in economic development and community solidarity.