The Itik-Itik
The best description of the Itik-Itik is that the steps mimic the way a
duck walks, as well as the way it splashes water on its back to attract a
mate. According to popular tradition, the dance was created by a lady
named Kanang who choreographed the steps while dancing at a
baptismal party. The other guests copied her movements, and everyone
liked the dance so much that it has been passed along ever since.
The Tinikling
The Tinikling is considered by many to be the Philippines’ national
dance. The dance’s movements imitate the movement of the tikling bird
as it walks around through tall grass and between tree branches. People
perform the dance using bamboo poles. The dance is composed of three
basic steps which include singles, doubles and hops. It looks similar to
playing jump rope, except that the dancers perform the steps around and
between the bamboo poles, and the dance becomes faster until someone
makes a mistake and the next set of dancers takes a turn.
The Sayaw sa Bangko
The Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on top of a narrow bench. Dancers
need good balance as they go through a series of movements that include
some impressive acrobatics. This dance traces its roots back to the areas
of Pangapisan, Lingayen and Pangasinan.
The Binasuan
The Binasuan is an entertaining dance that is usually performed at
festive social occasions like weddings and birthdays. Dancers carefully
balance three half-filled glasses of rice wine on their heads and hands as
they gracefully spin and roll on the ground. The dance originated in
Bayambang in the Pangasinan province, and though it’s usually
performed alone, it can also become a competition between several
dancers.
The Pandanggo sa Ilaw
The Pandanggo sa Ilaw is similar to a Spanish Fandango, but the
Pandanggo is performed while balancing three oil lamps – one on the
head, and one in each hand. It’s a lively dance that originated on Lubang
Island. The music is in 3/4 time and is usually accompanied by
castanets.
The Pandanggo Oasiwas
The Pandanggo Oasiwas is similar to the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and is
typically performed by fishermen to celebrate a good catch. In this
version, the lamps are placed in cloths or nets and swung around as the
dancers circle and sway.
The Maglalatik
The Maglalatik is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut
meat, a highly-prized food. The dance is broken into four parts: two
devoted to the battle and two devoted to reconciling. The men of the
dance wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, and they slap them
in rhythm with the music. The Maglalatik is danced in the religious
procession during the fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro de
Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
The Kappa Malong-Malong
The Kappa Malong-Malong is a Muslim-influenced dance. The malong is
a tubular garment, and the dance essentially shows the many ways it can
be worn. There are men’s and women’s versions of the dance since they
wear malongs in different ways.
The Singkil
The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores
of Lake Lanao. It is derived from a story in the Darangen, the pre-
Islamic Maranao interpretation of the ancient Hindu Indian epic,
the Ramayana. The name of the dance itself means “to entangle the feet
with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path”. It is a
popular dance performed during celebrations and other festive
entertainment. Originally only women, particularly royalty, danced
the Singkíl, which serves as either a conscious or unconscious
advertisement to potential suitors.
The lead dancer, in the role of Putri Gandingan (the Darangen name
for Sita), graciously step in and out of closing bamboos poles arranged in
either a parallel, rectangular, or criss-cross fashion while manipulating
either apir (fans), mosala (scarves), or even just their bare hands.
A kulintang and agung ensemble always accompanies the dance.
The Cariñosa
The Cariñosa is a dance made for flirting! Dancers make a number of
flirtatious movements as they hide behind fans or handkerchiefs and
peek out at one another. The essence of the dance is the courtship
between two sweethearts.
