Traditional
Dances
Submitted by: Josiah Chystale M. Solver
TRADITIONAL DANCES IN
PHILIPPINES
The Philippines is home to some of the most amazing things
that can be found in this world. That’s right! From the
breathtaking creations of nature, mouthwatering Filipino
dishes, and their unbeatable hospitality to the country’s
extremely rich and diverse culture, you certainly can’t run out
of things to love!
Yes, the Philippines is one of the few countries in the world
where you can catch a glimpse of other countries’ influence
through their rich culture and interesting history. Even before
the Philippines was colonized by Spain in the year 1521, its
cultural heritage is already amazing and one-of-a-kind.
However, after the country was colonized by the US, Japan,
and Spain, its already rich culture was taken to a greater level
of diversity. And in what way do you think Filipinos best
display their beautiful tradition and culture?
The best thing about these folk dances is that they’re all
unique and can beautifully represent the Pearl of the Orient
Seas like no other. And although these folk dances have
changed and evolved throughout the years by being passed
down from generation to generation, Filipinos make sure that
each dance stays true to its roots.
So, are you ready to know more about the famous folk dances in the
Philippines? Well, maybe it’s your lucky day! In this article, we’re
gonna dive deeper into the origins and meanings behind the top five (5)
most famous Philippines folk dances!
ORIGIN OF THE TINIKLING DANCE
Tinikling is a traditional folk dance in the
Philippines that has risen in popularity in the US
and Canada for its culturally unique dance and
ensemble. You probably have seen a few viral
videos online with modern versions of the
dance. It involves two people handling a beating
bamboo pole on the ground with specific
rhythm patterns while one or more dancers in
the middle avoid the poles while dancing. Dance movements are generally hopping, jumping,
and turning with more variations and styles being developed today.
The term “Tinikling” translates to “to
be/perform like tikling”. Which is a local bird
in the Visayas islands under the rail bird
species, specifically the slaty-breasted rail
(Gallirallus striatus), the buff-banded rail
(Gallirallus philippensis), and the barred rail
(Gallirallus torquatus).
The dance originated in Leyte. It was
created in the likeness of how the tikling
birds walk and jump over branches as well as dodge traps set by farmers with its long stilt-like
legs.
An urban legend also says that the dance was a
form of punishment during the Spanish colonial
era. Where workers of a plantation who
disobeyed orders or worked too slow were
made to stand in between two bamboo poles.
The poles would then clapped together to beat the feet of the workers. They must jump to
avoid the poles.
Kuratsa
The Kuratsa is described as a courtship dance
and often performed at weddings and other
social occasions. The dance has three parts. The
first part, the pair performed a waltz. In the
second part, the music sets a faster pace as the
man pursues the woman around the dance floor
in a chase. To conclude, the music becomes
even faster as the man who wins over the
woman in his mating dance.
The Kuratsa is highly favored by the Visayan
people especially the Waray people of the
Eastern Visayan region in the Philippines.
Strictly speaking, The Kuratsa must be done the
amenudo-way; that is, only one couple dances it
at a time. Believed to be a Mexican import
(supposedly from La Cucaracha dance typical to
Monterrey region of Mexico)- the Kuratsa is
however, very different in the manner of
execution to the Mexican counterpart. Even the “basic” Kuratsa music is not based on
Mexican or even Spanish melodies but just bolero-inspired lilting music. A very interesting
dance caught up the eyes of the beholder.
Philippine dance researchers, however, point
either to the Kigal and the Bikal as the
‘ascendant’ of the Kuratsa. The Kigal (spelled
“Quigal” in early Spanish writings on Samar
culture and lifeways) is a sort battle-of-sexes
couple dance that imitate mating birds. The Kigal
is in fact called by another name: Binanug or
Kiglun (Kigalun?) according to a 17th century Samarnon dictionary by Jesuit missionary to
Samar, Fr. Alcazar. It is interesting that banug is the Waray word for the ‘hawk’
SINGKIL
SINGKIL, a dance originating from Lanao
del Sur,Mindanao is said to be a dance of
Muslim royalty.To the rhythmic clapping of
bamboo poles,the dancers weave expertly
through crisscrossed bamboos,the ladies
dressed in elegant Muslim costumes waving
great big fans,the men flipping brightly colored
handkerchiefts right and left.The dancers
wearing solemn faces and maintaining a
dignified pose begin dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo.The
clashing bamboos and the whirling dancers form an unforgettable kaleidoscope of color and
sound that is fascinating to the beholder.
Legend has it that Singkil originated from
the day the diwatas (some from of nymph or
fairy) played a joke on Princes Gandingan as
she was taking a walk in the woods.The diwatas
caused an earthquake that made the trees
tremble and the rocks to roll and knock against
each other nothing daunted, Princes
Gandingan skipped nimbly from place to place
and no tree or rock ever touched her tiny feet.
There are many versions of Singkil. When
performed by ladies of the royalty of Lanao,the
dancer is usually accompanied by a waiting
lady,who holds a beautifully decorated umbrella
over the Princess' head wherever she goes. On
the other hand when the dance is performed by natives,not of royal blood, the dancers, a boy
and girl have no attendants.
Cariñosa
One of the national dances we should be proud of
is the Cariñosa. This is a courtship dance known
through out the philippines with its flirtatious
movements. The word “carinosa” means
affectionate, amiable, or lovable. Ther are many
versions of this dance, but hide and seek
movements using a fan and a handkerchief are the
most common.
Cariñosa (meaning the loving or affectionate one)
is a Philippine dance of Hispanic origin from the
Maria Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or handkerchief plays an
instrumental role as it places the couple in romance scenario.
The dance was originated in the Panay Islands on the Visayan Islands and it was introduced by
the Spaniards during their colonization of the Philippines. It is related to some of the Spanish
dances like the bolero and the Mexican dance Jarabe Tapatio or the Mexican Hat Dance.
Costumes
Originally Carinosa was danced with Maria Clara
dress and Barong Tagalog for it is a Maria Clara
Spanish Dance when it is introduced. However as
the Filipino people saw and imitated this dance,
they wore the patadyong kimona and camisa de
chino to reveal their love as a Filipino and other
steps was revised to make it more Filipino but the
music did not change at all and reveals a Spanish
Influence to the Filipinos. As listed by the book of
F.R. Aquino dancers may wear balintawak style (a native dress of the Tagalog regions),
camisa (a white sleeve) or patadyong kimona ( a dress of the Visayan of people)and for boys a
barong Tagalog and colored pants. Because it is a national dance, the dancers may wear any
Filipino costumes.
Itik-Itik
The Itik-Itik dance is popular among
the Visayans of the province of
Surigao del Norte. It has many
variations of steps from which the
dancers choose and combine. Its steps
are similar to the movements of a
duck (itik, in Filipino), as it walks with
short, choppy steps and splashes
water on its back while attracting its
mate. It is used in folk dances in
different parts of the Philippines.
The dance is believed to have
originated from the dance Sibay danced to the Dejado music. The Sibay is a bird dance that
came from neighboring Visayan Islands. Philippine dance authority Reynaldo Gamboa
Alejandro identified that Visayan Island to be Samar. True enough, since a 1668 book written
by Fr. Ignacio Alzina (a Jesuit missionary to Samar) described a ‘bird imitating dance’ popular
in Samar then, the Sabay.
The present form of the Itik-itik is from
Carmen, Lanuza, Cantillan, and
Carrascal towns of the present-day
Surigao del Norte province in the Caraga
Region. A tale says that a lady named
Kanang came up with the popular
version. Dancing in one baptismal party,
Kanang grew so spirited that when
ducks from nearby pond caught her eye,
she imitated their movements. The spectators found her dance so interesting that they
themselves imitated her. The rest is history.
