Narratives and cultural dances: Keys to the preservation of Higaunon culture

This study examines the role of narratives embedded in traditional Higaunon dances as instruments for preserving cultural identity. Grounded in recognizing indigenous peoples' rights as mandated by the Philippine Constitution and relevant cultural policies, the research aims to identify, analyze, and interpret the authenticity of selected Higaunon dances and their accompanying narratives. Using a qualitative research design with a cultural anthropological approach, the study employed field observations, interviews, and indigenous methods to gather data. The analysis focused on how specific dance movements—indak (sway), padyak (stomp), and kumpas (gesture)—function as nonverbal communication that embodies the tribe's values, beliefs, and historical memory. Findings reveal that these movements are not mere aesthetic expressions but symbolic actions grounded in the Higaunon's lived experiences and cosmology. The swaying of the hips often reflects joy, stomping produces percussive sounds that contribute to the rhythm of the ritual, and hand gestures convey complex emotions such as resistance or reverence. Each movement corresponds to a narrative thread, affirming a shared cultural identity transmitted across generations. The research concludes that Higaunon dances, accompanied by oral and written narratives, serve as a dynamic repository of indigenous knowledge. They are a creative medium through which the community safeguards its cultural heritage, asserts its identity, and sustains its traditional worldview in the face of modern influences.