Philippines Dance

Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao Folk Dance

LUZON -- Consisting of the tribes such as Ifugao, Benquet, Kalinga, Bontoc, Apayo, Kalinga, sometimes these are call Igorot. " But sometimes that is considered degrading ." Cordillerea name also used for some parts the Luzon Region...

Northern most region of the Philippines, Luzon gets its Cultural influence from Hindu-Buddist, Spanish and many ethnic regilous tribes. All with differences and beliefs. But in all the Cultural and Folk Dances from this region represents all different factions in one way or the other.

Dances of Luzon ( see side bar for pictures of many of the dances )

* Dance: Idaw

This dance sometimes has many names and different versions. Most common is this dance depicts the hunting ritual performed before a tribal war. The tribes men would go out and look up and watch for the scared Idaw bird. Which is said to lead the tribe to victory. Also look at the clothing, Philippines being a very hot climate, plus the use of as little material as possible, the traditional clothing was not made to cover much of the body....

* Dance : Banga

This dance displays the Igorot women on their way to the river to fetch the daily water supply for thier familys. It shows the skill and strength of the women as they would carry heavy laiden clay pots (Banga) full of water. Their grace and agility while balancing the heavy pots, sometimes stacks 5 high, is a testiment of the Filipino and how hardships become a art form and talent. As a young girl you would start with only one pot. Of course as you become older and more experienced, along with the fact that you could provide more water for your family in one trip. Pots could be stacked as high as 5 or 6. The more pots you could carry showed your skill and also you standing amoung the women of that area. They would all gather and march to the river each day, singing a native song which is represented by the flute and banging of bamboo on iron pots in the dance......

* Dance : Idudu

The family is the basic structure of family life among the Itneg / Tinggian poeple. The caring for the Children is shared by both the mother and father. While the men are clearing the fields, breaking the soil with bamboo and their feet, the women watch the children. Soon as the men are done, they take care of the children while the women do back breaking work. You can see in the dance how the women will take the bamboo baskets in a shaking fashion like drying the rice, while the men are going in circles in background like they are toiling the land. Then you will see the women put down the baskets fold the cloth into a baby while the husband stands aside. Then the women will turn over the baby to the husband, pick up the bamboo and start toiling the land while the men hold and cradle the babys.........

* Dance : Ragsaksakan

The word means " Merriment". This dance would be performed after a successful headhunt and also for a peace pact between waring tribles. The colorful hand woven blankets " blankets of life" are worn around the neck while baskets to carry produce or rice are worn upon the head. Some versions of this dance use the " Banga " instead of the basket.

MINDANAO-- This is the southern most region of The Philippines. Being the second largest island in the Philippines, its Culture consists of mostly Muslium or " Moro " people, also composed of other ethnic groups such as the Maranao, Tausug, Banguingui, and indigenous tribes know as Lumad. You will see alot of Arabian, and Middle Eastern influence in thier costumes and dances.

Dances of Mindanao - ( See side bar for pictures and more info)

* Dance : Singkil

Sinkil dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the 14th century, tells the fateful story of Princess Gandingan, who was caught in the middle of a forest during an earthquake caused by the diwatas, or fairies or nymph of the forest.

The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling, which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her throughout her ordeal. Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining a dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo skillfully manipulate apir, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. The dancers weave expertly through criss-crossed bamboos.

* Dance : Kini Kini

Kini means the Royal Walk. Maranao women performed this dance with scarves. The beauty of the scarve and the talent and grace in which it is displayed. Shows their elite social upbringing.

* Dance : Pangalay

A pangalay native to the Badjao, sometimes known as the "Sea Gypsies." Pangalay is a dance that emphasizes the agility of the upper body. The rhythmic bounce of the shoulder with simultaneous alternating waving of arms are the basic movement of this dance. The pangalay is commonly performed at weddings and other social gatherings. You will also see some parts of the Sinkgil in this dance also. Another part of this dance is also called the Muslium four Bamboos.

* Dance : Asik

This is performed by a solo madien, adorned with fine beads and make up, long head scarf. She would dance to win the favor of her Sultan master. Many time the girls would dance to win the hearts of her master or to make up for a wrong she had done. She would give her whole heart and soul into this performance to soften the heart of her master to accept her...

VISAYAS -- Being the Central Island of The Philippines, Visayas is also broken down into three sections. Central , Eastern, Western. Consisting of Austronesians, Negritos, these we Animist Tribal Group. Many others tribes from around surrounding island would come after the downfall or break up of thier tribes. Visayas became a melting pot for many different Tribes and Cultural backgrouds. You will find Arbian, Spanish, and some Western influences in the dances of this region. You will see that the dances of the Visayas are more upbeat and exciting, not so much in Drama and tribal meanings as other regions.

* Dance : Sayaw Sa Banko

This dance is native to the barrio of Pangapisan, Lingayen, Pangasinan, and demands skill from its performers who must dance on top of a bench roughly six inches wide.

* Dance : Tinkling

Tinnikling is considered the national folkdance with a pair of dancers hopping between two bamboo poles held just above the ground and struck together in time to music. Originated from Leyte Province, this dance is in fact a mimic movement of "tikling birds" hopping over trees, grass stems or over bamboo traps set by farmers. Dancers perform this dance with remarkable grace and speed jumping between bamboo poles.

* Dance : Subli

The term "subli" is from two tagalog words "subsub" meaning falling on head and "bali", which means broken. Hence, the dancers appear to be lame and crooked throughout the dance. This version is originally a ritual dance of the natives of Bauan, Batangas, which is shown during fiestas as a ceremonial worship dance to the town's icon, the holy cross

* Dance : Maglalatik

Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut meat during the Spanish rule, this dance is also shown to pay tribute to the town's patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. It has a four-part performance such as the palipasan and the baligtaran showing the intense battle, the paseo and the escaramusa- the reconciliation. Moro dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are male; with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips.

Here they are

1. Ballet (of course, if you want to be good at dance, you must do ballet because it is the "form" of dance and you won't know anything if you don't do ballet. So, I highly suggest you do it!)
2. Jazz (also very important)
3. Lyrical dance
4. Acro dance
5. Pointe (most studios consist that you should be a level 5 or 6 in ballet to do Pointe
6. Tap Dance (good stuff)
7. Cultural Dance

It says that you categorized this in "Philippine's Dance", but you also categorized it in ballet...? I'll tell you the site to go to for ballet, but I don't know what site you should go to for Philippine's Dance. Go to this site for ballet: http://www.danceclass.com/ballet-positions.html and F.Y.I.these pictures aren't the best. The 4th and 5th positions should be a lot more crossed (I'm talking about the feet pictures). But I hope these are good enough! (:

Ok, I just looked back on the pics of the arms, and they aren't correct. Go to this site: http://dance.about.com/od/ballet/ss/Arm_Positions_6.htm It isn't that different, but it's better than the first site.

The tinikling dance is one of the most popular and well-known of traditional Philippine dances.[1] The tinikling is a pre-Spanish dance from the Philippines that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. The name is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number ofrail species; the term tinikling literally means "tikling-like."[2]The dance originated in Leyteamong the Visayan islands in the central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles.

Legend says that Tinikling originated during the time when the Spaniards took over the Philippines. Natives worked on large plantations under the control of the King of Spain. Those who didn't work productively were punished by standing between two bamboo poles. [3]

For this traditional folk dance, females wear a dress called balintawak or patadyong, and males wear a uniform called barong tagalog. The balintawak are colorful dresses with wide arched sleeves and the patadyong is a pineapple fiber blouse paired with checkered skirts. The barong tagalog uniform is usually lightweight long sleeved shirts and worn with red trousers. Dancers wear no footwear while performing. [4]

Tinikling involves five steps; during the first four steps, the dancers dance opposite each other, and during the last step, they start from the same side of the poles. The bamboo is also used as a percussive instrument as it is banged against the ground (or a piece of wood to make it easier to hold) and each other in a pattern. The bamboo has to be closed hard enough to make a sound, and the dancers must be quick enough to not get their foot (or feet) caught. As the dance continues, the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of the clashing bamboo and the quickness of feet demonstrated by the dancers thrilling and awing the crowd. In the United States, this dance had been altered into a four-beat rhythm to adjust to popular music. In some cases, it has been used in conjunction with traditional Filipino martial arts to demonstrate fleetness of foot and flow of movement.[5]

Today Tinikling is taught throughout the United States. In grades K-12 they use this type of folk dance as an aerobic exercise for physical education classes to help expand physical movements such as hand coordination, foot speed, and also their rhythm. [6]

Definition of tinikling

1.Tinikling

The tinikling dance is one of the most popular and well-known of traditional Philippine dances. The tinikling is a pre-Spanish dance from the Philippines that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers...

2.tinikling

popular Philippine folk dance. Its appeal has spread worldwide, and it is generally included in the folk-dance curricula in the schools of many ...

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sorry rewrite only ...

BAKYA DANCE

"Bakya" means wooden shoes. They are the common

footwear of the poor in the "barrios". During the rainy

season almost all people wear them. They are made in

different materials, colors, and shapes. This dance is

very interesting and lively. In a playful mood, young

boys and girls are supposed to be teasing each other

rhythmically with their "bakya".

COSTUME. Girls wear "balintawak" and boys "barong tagalog" with red trousers. All have on "bakya".

by--nisSy10--

yalaylayla..