Folk Dances from
Visayas and MindanaoVisayas
Folk dances from the Visayan Islands run the gamut from worship dancing to courtship
and wedding dances. The uniqueness of Visayan dances is its wide assortment of
mimetic dances in which movements try to mimic nature or living life in the region, for
example, the flight of birds, the catching of fish, the making of wine, and other aspects
of Visayan life.
Tinikling
Tinikling - This is the most popular and
best known of the Philippine dances and honored
as the Philippine national dance. 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. Tinikling means "bamboo
dance" in English. Considered as one of the oldest dances from the Philippines, this
dance was originated in the islands of Leyte in the Visayan Islands. People of Leyte
describe the tikling bird as one of the most unique in its movements - walking around and
between the tree branches and some grass stems. This bird was named "tikling"
from which the Tinikling dance got its name. Because of the creativeness of the people,
they imitate this bird by using bamboo poles. Four people should be two boys and two
girls. The first couple performs the dance and the other couple operate the bamboo poles
by hitting them together and also tapping them on the floor in rhythm to the music. When
the first couple dancing makes an error in their dance steps, the other couple takes their
turn and this is where the fun starts especially when the dance speed gets faster and
faster. Further, tinikling is very similar to jump rope, but instead of a spinning rope,
two bamboo poles are used.
WARNING: Ensure that very flexible poles are used.
Use hollow bamboo, not rattan, which is similar looking, but solid. This game
can hurt ankles if done too aggressively or which the wrong equipment!
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Sinulog. Sinulog is a ceremonial dance performed by
the people of San Joaquin, Ilo-ilo during the feast of San Martin. It originated in a
barrio of San Joaquin called Sinugbahan. It was believed that the image of San Martin was
found at the edge of a beach, and that it could not be removed until the people dance the
Sinulog. From that day on every November 1Oth on the feast of San Martin the Sinulog would
be danced before the procession comes out or else, it was believed, the church would be
burned. The dance itself was patterned after the Suluan war dance of the Sulu people, the
native name of Sulu being Sulug which means strong ocean currents. The Sinulog dance is
the Cebuano word for "carried along by the current" and was later Hispanized and
transformed into a dance of worship for the Santo Niño. There are
many types of sinulog dances. The simplest, least acculturated, and perhaps the
purest form of ritual prayer is what has been called the tindera sinulog.
Performed on the patio of the Santo Niño Basilica, it is danced by women candle
peddlers on behalf of devotees who buy candles from them as an offering for petitions or
for thanksgiving. Performed to a silent, resilient beat, the dancer performs this
supplicatory dance with no formal costume or audience.
There are three distinct phases in this ritual dance.
There is first an introductory rite wherein the dancer takes an erect stance and raises
the offering of candles toward the image of the Santo Niño. The dancer
then recites a prayer. As soon as the prayer is uttered, the dancer performs the
gently bouncing sinulog movement. The bouncy movement is restrained and
almost pious, originating from the torso and seeming to flow to the limbs in gentle,
wave-like motions. The dance closes with another prayer.
An elaborate version of the sinulog, called troupe
sinulog, is said to exhibit a "masculine" style of dancing -- one that is more
convulsive and energetic than the feminine tindera style. This version features
jumping, hopping, and arm gestures that resemble fighting. It also calls for drum
accompaniment. (Source: Cebu, More than an Island. 1997, Ayala Foundation,
Inc., Philippines; 279pp.)
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Pandanggo sa Ilaw. This popular dance of grace and
balance comes from Lubang Island, Mindoro in the Visayas region. The term pandanggo comes
from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by lively steps and
clapping that varies in rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular pandanggo involves the
presence of three tinggoy or oil lamps, balanced on the head and the back of each hand.
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Paseo de Iloilo. Also known as Andaluz, for its
province of origin, this is one of the most sophisticated courtship and flirtation dances
of the Spanish era. The gentlemen compete among each other to win the heart of the dalaga
(young lady), by exemplifying chivalry, grace, and confidence.
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Quadrado. This is a popular square dance found in many
regions in the Philippines, it must have been brought here by the Americans for some of
its movements, figures and music resemble the American square dance.
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Cebu. An ethnic jazz depicting the cebuanos way of
life.
Kuratsa
(kooh-RAH-chah)
This dance was very popular throughout the country during the Spanish regime. It was one
of the liveliest and best liked dances. Different regions have their own version of this
dance, being found in the Ilocos and Bicol regions. The one performed today is the Visayan
version from Leyte. This dance commands a sense of improvisation which mimics a young
playful couple’s attempt to get each other’s attention. It is performed in a
moderate waltz style.
*Kuratsa - A lively, humorous and
spontaneous style of dance found in various forms throughout the Philippine islands. This
style is most popular in the Visayan regions, primarily Bicol and the Ilocos regions. A
"panuelo" (handerkerchief) is used in a manner to hide flirtatious glances.
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Gapnod (Cebuano word for
"flotsam")
Gapnod is a dance of worship very popular among the
people of Negros Oriental. A reenactment of the discovery by a fisherman of the
image of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of the town of Sibulan, Negros Oriental,
the dance is one of rejoicing and merrymaking that ends in a fluvial procession along the
coastal regions.
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Surtido Cebuano
The Surtido Cebuano is a square dance said to
have originated in Bantayan, Cebu. It is a cobbling together of Spanish, Mexican,
and French influences along with indigenous elements. Surtido (literally,
assortment) is performed by several pairs of dancers, with the head pair called cabeceras
and the side pairs, costados, guiding the other dancers in varied quadrille
formations. It used to be a dance of long duration performed by a big group to the
tune of beautiful Visayan folk airs. The modern arrangement is more lively and
suitable for dancing by small groups.
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La Berde
La Berde (literally, green) is a
courtship dance from a mountain settlement in Talamban, Cebu. In a series of quick
steps and quick changes, the dance celebrates what is lush and full of life. The
dance is performed by an interesting cast of two girls and a boy, instead of the usual
pair of dancers.
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Kuradang
Kuradang, also known as curacha,
is a lively wedding dance popular in Bohol, where it is performed to the
accompaniment of a rondalla, an ensemble of string instruments.
The dance is performed in three parts, with three different
rhythms. The dancing couple starts the performance with a ballroom waltz. Then
the music shifts to a faster beat for the "chasing" scene, in which the female
dancer flees and the male pursues her all across the dance floor.
The tempo picks up even more for the
final part, in which the chase ends with a furiously flirtatious scene. The female
is won over, and the male imitates a flamboyant bird in a mating dance
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Itik-Itik
Itik-Itik is a mimetic dance that
depicts the movements of wading and flying itik (ducks). Dancers mimic the
short swaying gait of waddling feet and the intense energy of close-cropped flapping
wings.
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Carinosa
This romantic and popular dance was a favorite all over the
country of the Philippines. The word Carinosa which is pronounced as "karinyosa"
means showing love and affection. This dance is interesting and enjoyable, because of the
way the dancers perform it. This Carinosa dance is performed with a fan or handkerchief.
This dance involves romantic steps like showing and expressing feelings and some flirting
acts together with your partner. This makes every Filipino, especially the young people,
get more interested in their culture. This dance is really good, especially if the dancers
performed it very well. Carinosa has a lot of different versions. If you are a creative
person, you could make another version of this dance. Today, some Filipinos consider this
as the Philippine national dance next to Tinikling.
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Mindanao
Dugso
The Bukidnon from northeastern Mindanao perform this dance as
an entertainment for the deities to make them feel more comfortable during the fiesta that
has been organized for them and consequently more open to the requests of the celebrants
women would mean colorful feathered headdresses, plaid costumes and anklets.
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Kapamalong-malong.
Also called Sambi sa Malong this Maranao dance shows the many
ways of donning the malong, a tubular circle of cloth used as a skirt, shawl, or mantle.
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Kahimunan
Kahimunan "Merrymaking" is a dance of celebration
during harvest time, weddings and other special occasions.
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Pangalay ha Pattong
Also called Vinta, this dance is named for the picturesque
boat with colorful sails which glide across the Sulu Sea. Central to this dance are the
Royal Couple who each balance atop a pair of swaying bamboo poles, simulating their ride
aboard a vinta.
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Singkil
This dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles
of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the oldest of timely Filipino dances, the Singkil
recounts the epic legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao.
This epic, written sometime in the l4th 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 of the forest. The crisscrossed 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 skillfully manipulate a pair of fans
which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. Royal princesses to this day in the
Sulu Archipelago are required to learn this most difficult and noble dance.
There are other versions of Singkil. Perhaps the version more
widely performed by dance companies is the "Garden Singkil". The story goes that
the princess goes into her garden, accompanied by her slave, and plays with the
butterflies, which are represented by the fan dancers. The movements of the fans
supposedly represent those of the butterflies, as opposed to the diwatas. In another
popular version, the prince uses a scarf instead of a sword.
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