Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Central Visayas, Region 7
Cebu Province Division
3-DAY LIVE-OUT GAD-BASED FOLK DANCE WORKSHOP
DANCE LITERATURE FOR
VALSE VIEJA
Dance Researcher: JOVITA SISON
Speaker/ Facilitator: ANTONIO C. JARINA JR.
Co-facilitator: PATRICK ALIGARBES
Dance Demonstrators:
RALPH ANTHONY PANIQUE MILANIE PANIQUE
KIMBERLY PAGOBO JANETH AMARILLO
Meaning: Old Waltz
Dance Culture: Lowland Christian (town)
Place of Origin: Pangasinan
Ethnolinguistic Group: Pangasinense
Classification: Festival (Ballroom Dance)
INTRODUCTION
When the Spaniards came to the Philippines in the 16th century, little did
they realize that they would change the traditions of the Filipinos including
dance.
Together with religion, government, economics, politics, and society, the
Spaniards brought with them their music and dance tradition in the form of the
waltz, mazurka, jota, sapateado, polka, etc.
Of all the dance forms they introduced, it was the waltz or valse that stuck
so strongly finding its way to nearly all dances that is labeled as “Christian”.
In Pangasinan, Valse Vieja, performed during stately gatherings and
fiestas by the upper class of Old Pangasinan may still be the waltziest of all
Pangasinan dances.
Movement/ Steps Particular to Dance
The European waltz is interpreted with the “Kewet” – a hand movement
particular to Pangasinan.
Dance Properties
Costume (Female)
- Maria Clara (baro’t saya) ensemble consisting of baro, panuelo,
saya de cola, enagua, sobrefalda
- Accessories of decorative comb, dangling earrings, choker with
large pendant
- Suggested footwear is cocho or zapatilla
Costume (Male)
- Barong Tagalog (with white camisita worn underneath) paired
with dark-colored pants
- Black leather shoes for footwear
Music: 3 time signature composed of three parts: A, B, and C
4
Count: 1, 2, 3 to a measure
Formation: Partners stand opposite each other about six feet apart. Girl
at the right side of Boy when facing audience. Any number of pairs may take
part in the dance.
Basic Dance Steps
▪ Kewet
▪ Waltz Step
▪ Step-Cross Step
▪ Three step Turn
▪ Waltz Balance
▪ Hayon-Hayon
▪ Slide Turn
▪ Sarok
▪ Sway Balance with a Point
▪ Do-si-do
Music Introduction
a) Take two waltz-steps sideward R and L, G holds skirt, B 2M
places hands on waist.
b) Three-step turn R in place (1M); close L to R (1M); bow to 3M
audience (1M)
Figure I - Music A
Girl faces audience, Boy turns R about to face away from audience
a) Step R foot sideward (cts 1,2), step L across R (ct.3); step R 2M
sideward (ct.1), raise L foot forward (cts. 2,3). Arms in 4th
position, R arm high, kewet both hands once in every
measure
b) Take a three-step turn left to exchange places with partner, 2M
G holds skirt, Boy’s hand on waist.
c) Repeat (a) to the left, reverse arm position 2M
d) Three-step turn right in place, hands as in (b) 2M
e) Repeat (a-d) starting left, reverse arm position 8M
Figure II - Music B
Partners face each other and join both hands.
a) Waltz balance obliquely forward R (1M); waltz balance 2M
sideward left (1M)
b) Waltz forward taking a quarter turn R to form one line at 1M
center facing each other, raising both arms upward.
c) Waltz backward left to partner’s place, both arms sideward 1M
in 2nd position
d) Repeat (a-c) finishing in proper places 4M
e) Take two waltz steps forward passing R to R, arms in 2M
hayon-hayon position, R and L arm in front alternately.
f) Take two waltz steps backward passing L to L, arms as in 2M
(e).
g) Repeat (e) and (f) passing L to L forward and R to R 4M
backward.
Figure III - Music A
Partners face each other.
a) Stamp R foot across L in front (ct1), step L foot in place 1M
(ct2), hop on L and circle R Leg outward (ct3). Arms in 4th
position, L arm high
b) Stamp R foot in rear (ct1), step L foot in place (ct2), hop on 1M
L and raise R leg backward (ct3). Reverse arm Position
c) Starting with the R foot, take three steps forward to 1M
partner’s place passing L to L, G holds skirt, B places
hands on waist
d) Turn L about and point L foot in front (cts1,2), raise L leg 1M
slightly forward (ct3)
e) Repeat (a-d) starting L, reverse arm position and pass R to 4M
R in (c).
f) Slide turn R, arms in 4th position, R arm high, Kewet once 4M
in every measure.
g) Repeat (f) to the left, reverse arm positions. 4M
Figure IV - Music C
Girls face audience, Boys face away from audience.
a) Sarok R (1M); turn R about and point R foot in rear, arms 2M
in reverse “T” position, Kewet both hands once (1M).
b) Turn L about and waltz sideward R and L, arms in “reverse 2M
T” position, Kewet once every measure.
c) Turn L about and repeat (a) and (b). 4M
d) Face partner, waltz obliquely forward R and backward L, 2M
Girl holding skirt, and pulling it up and down by R and L
hands alternately every count. Boy’s hands on waist.
e) Step R obliquely forward R (ct1), step L across R in front 2M
(ct2), step R obliquely backwards R (ct3); point L foot
forward (ct1), raise it slightly forward (cts2,3)
f) Repeat (d) and (e) starting left. 4M
Figure V (TUMBA-TUMBA) - Music A
Partners face each other.
Take two waltz steps forward R and L, arms in lateral position 2M
moving sideward R and L, Kewet once every measure.
Take four waltz steps forward moving clockwise, arms in 4th 4M
position, L and R arm high alternately raising elbow on count 2 of
every measure.
Take two waltz steps backward to proper places, arms as in (a). 2M
Repeat (a-c) moving counterclockwise in (b). 8M
Figure VI - Music B
Partners face audience and hold in open ballroom position.
a) Starting with the outside foot, take three waltz steps 4M
forward (3M); pause (1M)
b) Release hold. Turn about outward and step outside foot 1M
sideward (ct1), point inside foot backward, raise outside
arm in 5th position, kewet once (cts2,3), free hand of Boy
on waist, that of Girl holding skirt.
c) Turn about outward and repeat (b). 1M
d) Repeat (b). 1M
e) Turn outward to face partner and hold in open ballroom 1M
position.
f) Repeat (a-e) facing away from audience (7M). Face partner. 8M
Step R foot forward (ct1). Close L to R (cts2,3) (1M).
Finale
Partners face each other.
a) Do-si-do. Take three steps forward passing R to R (1M), 2M
three steps backward passing L to L (1M), arms down at
sides.
b) Repeat (a) passing L to L moving forward and R to R moving 2M
backward.
c) Join R hands. Girl takes three cross-step turns right. 3M
d) Release hold. Step R backward (ct1), point L forward, arms 1M
in 3rd position, R arm high (cts2,3)
Reference: Sayaw: Dances of the Philippines, Philippine Folkdance Society,
Thumbmark, Inc., 1999
