Regional and National Dances with Asian Influence

DANCING is the rhythmical movement of the body, usually with music, to express an idea or emotion, to narrate story or simply to enjoy and take pleasure in the movement itself.

DANCING is also a physical activity that can promote lifelong fitness and wellness.

- good source of exercise that could help develop grace and poise.

- help in maintaining good health as it highlights health-related fitness components such as cardio-vascular endurance, flexibility, and strength.

PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCES - tells about our customs, ideas, beliefs, superstitions, and events of daily living in a certain community.

BINISLAKAN (Lingayen)Dance Researcher : Francisca Reyes Meaning : With the use of sticksDance Culture : Christian LowlandPlace of Origin : PangasinanCountry of Influence : ChinaEthno-linguistic Group : PangasinenseClassification : Social Dance

LINGAYEN in Pangasinan means having to look backward and upward. It was derived from “Li-King-Tung”, a Chinese word given to the name Lingayen, the capital of Pangasinan, by the Chinese settlers of this place a long time ago

The barrio folks who lived at Almazin, a small place between barrio Pangasinan (Pulong) and Maniboc danced this to commemorate the stay of Limahong, a Chinese pirate who built his kingdom here.

Binislakan, which in Pangasinan means, with the use of sticks.

SUA-KU-SUADance Researcher : Ramon A. Obusan

Meaning : My Pomelo TreeDance Culture : Lowland Muslim

(Coastal)Place of Origin : Jolo, SuluCountry of Influence : China, Malaysia and IndonesiaEthno-linguistic Group: TausugClassification : Courtship Dance

Background/Context:Tausug of Sulu, Southern Philippines, though

known as fearsome warriors are also better known as sturdy seafarers and hardy farmers.

Tausugs depend strongly on the income the pomelo bring them and this relationship is romanticized by comparing the sua’s gentle leaves, slender branches, attractive fruits and fragrant flowers to the virtues of a lady.

Sua-ku-sua performers, some men but especially women come to the festivities with face thickly covered with finely ground rice powder and their eyebrows and sideburns enhanced with soot- all for beauty’s sake.

• Movements/Steps Particular to Dance:Creative imagery: Fans transform into tiny sails, face mirrors, butterflies, shields and leaves. Tausug traditional steps with Chinese influence.

PANTS (SAWAL OR KANTIU) : Loose Chinese pants with a 10-inch soft white band (coco curdo) attached to a wide waist. To tuck the pants in, the white band is overlapped in front, one side on top of the other and rolled out to form a tight belt.

Material : Cheap Chinese silk or any silky material preferably in navy blue, sunshine yellow, grass green, red or orange colors

Shoulder band (Siyag) : A separate wrap-around malong of rich material strung over the right shoulder crossing the chest and hanging on the left side.

Headpiece: There are three choices:• Gold or brass filigree called tusuk;• Paper bills pasted on slender

sticks; and• Pasteboard cut-out, the front tip 8

to 10 inches high, similar to Chinese crowns covered with gold foil.

Accessories : Gold or imitation gold earrings, necklace, bracelets and brooches.

Suggested Footwear :Dancers are

in barefoot.

Male:• Top (Bajo) : Short-waist collarless

shirt. Open at the front with the right panel overlapping the left, studded with many tiny brass buttons and is not intended to close the front but used as an additional shirt decoration. It is allowed to drop on the right side

Material : cheap printed or plain Chinese silk or cotton.

Pants (Sawal or Kantiu) : Similar to the female pants but in darker colors and bolder designs.

• Accessories : Money-belt, Sarok

hat, pis siyabit (rectangular hand-woven scarf tied on the head or hung loosely over one shoulder); Kris (wavy knife) or Barong (leaf-knife).

• Suggested Footwear : dancers are in

barefoot

• Music : 2/4 and 4/4; composed of three parts: A, B and C. Gabbang- bamboo xylophone shaped like a small boat. Bamboo slats thinned and cut to graduated sizes to produce three octaves of pentatonic scale

• Count : 1, 2 to a measure in 2/4 time signature 1, 2, 3, 4 to a measure in 4/4/ time signature

PANGALAY

Dance Researcher : Francisca Reyes-AquinoMeaning : Finger nailDance Culture : Lowland Muslim (Coastal)Place of Origin : SuluCountry of Influence : Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia and IndonesiaEthno-linguistic Group : TausugClassification : Social Dance

PANGALAY -also known as DALING-DALING or MENGALAI in Sabah is the traditional “fingernail” dance of the Tausūg people of the Sulu Archipelago and Sabah.

-dancers must have dexterity and flexibility of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists – movements that strongly resemble those of “KONTAW SILAT,” a martial art common in the Malay Archipelago

-is performed mainly during weddings or other festive events

The male equivalent of the Pangalay is the PANGASIK and

features more martial movements, while a pangalay that features both a male and female dancer is called PANGILUK.

Dance Properties: Costume : Dancer wears a typical

Joloana costumeAccessories : Expert and professional dancers use janggay, extended metal finger nails in each finger. The rich people have janggay made of solid gold or silver.

Suggested Footwear : dancers are in

barefoot.Music : Played as many times as

necessary. Count one, two or one, and, two and to a

measure.

• Movements/Steps Particular to Dance: There are no definite directions, sequence of

figures, number and kinds of steps, hand movements and positions used when performed by the natives. For teaching purposes the figures of this dance may be created and dancers may form their own combinations.

TIKLOS Dance Researcher : Francisca Reyes-

AquinoMeaning : Refers to a group of peasantsPlace of Origin : Panay and LeyteCountry of Influence : China, Burma and

CambodiaClassification : Recreational Dance

TIKLOS ( Leyte) - refers to a group of peasants who agree to work for each other one day each week to clear the forest, prepare the soil for planting, or do any odd job in the farm, including the building of a house.

Tiklos music is played with a flute accompanied by a guitar and the guimbal or the tambora (kind of drum).

-is also played to gather the peasants before they start to work.

Dance Properties: Costume : Dancers are dressed in working costumes.Music : Divided into two parts. A and B.Count : one, two or one, ah, two, ah or one, and, two

to a measure.Formation : Partners stand opposite each other about six

feet apart. When facing audience, the girl stands at partner’s right side.

One to any number of pairs may take part in this dance.