Dances of Luzon

Dances of Luzon ( see side bar for pictures of many of the leaps ) 1. * Dance Idaw This dance sometimes has many names and different versions. close common is this dance depicts the hunting ritual performed before a tribal war. The tribes men would go out and look up and watch for the scared Idaw bird. Which is utter to lead the tribe to victory. Also look at the clothing, Philippines being a very hot climate, plus the use of as little material as possible, the traditional clothing was not made to cover much of the body. 2. * Dance BangaThis dance displays the Igorot women on their way to the river to fetch the daily water tot for thier familys. It shows the skill and strength of the women as they would carry heavy laiden clay pots (Banga) full of water. Their gentleness and agility composition balancing the heavy pots, sometimes stacks 5 high, is a testiment of the Filipino and how hardships become a art form and talent. As a young girl you would start with only one pot. Of course as you become older and more experienced, along with the fact that you could provide more water for your family in one trip.Pots could be stacked as high as 5 or 6. The more pots you could carry showed your skill and also you standing amoung the women of that area. They would all gather and march to the river each day, singing a native air which is represented by the flute and banging of bamboo on iron pots in the dance 3. * Dance Idudu The family is the basic structure of family life among the Itneg / Tinggian poeple. The caring for the Children is shared by both the mother and father.While the men are clearing the fields, breaking the soil with bamboo and their feet, the women watch the children. Soon as the men are done, they take care of the children patch the women do back breaking work. You can see in the dance how the women will take the bamboo baskets in a shaking fashion like drying the sift, while the men are going in circles in background like they are toiling the land. Then you will see the women put down the baskets shut down the cloth into a baby while the husband stands aside.Then the women will turn over the baby to the husband, pick up the bamboo and start toiling the land while the men hold and cradle the babys 4. * Dance Ragsaksakan The word means Merriment. This dance would be performed after a successful headhunt and also for a public security pact between waring tribles. The colorful hand woven blankets blankets of life are worn around the neck while baskets to carry produce or rice are worn upon the head. Some versions of this dance use the Banga instead of the basket.Dances of Mindanao ( See side bar for pictures and more info) 5. * Dance Singkil Sinkil dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of the Darangan of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the 14th 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 or nymph of the forest.The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling, which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her passim her ordeal. Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining a dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo skillfully manipulate apir, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. The dancers weave expertly through criss-crossed bamboos. 6. * Dance Asik This is performed by a aviate madien, adorned with fine beads and make up, long head scarf.She would dance to win the favor of her Sultan master. Many time the girls would dance to win the police wagon of her master or to make up for a wrong she had done. She would give her whole heart and soul into this performance to soften the heart of her master to subscribe to her Visayas Dances ( see pictures in the side bar ) 7. * Dance Sayaw Sa Banko This dance is native to the barrio of Pangapisan, Lingayen, Pangasinan, and demands skill from its performers who must dance on top of a bench almost six inches wide. 8. * Dance TinklingTinnikling is considered the national folkdance with a pair of dancers hopping between two bamboo poles held just above the ground and struck together in time to music. Originated from Leyte Province, this dance is in fact a mimic movement of tikling birds hopping over trees, grass stems or over bamboo traps set by farmers. Dancers perform this dance with remarkable grace and speed jumping between bamboo poles. 9. * Dance Subli The term subli is from two tagalog words subsub meaning falling on head and bali, which means broken.Hence, the dancers appear to be halting and crooked throughout the dance. This version is originally a ritual dance of the natives of Bauan, Batan gas, which is shown during fiestas as a ceremonial worship dance to the towns icon, the consecrated cross 10. * Dance Maglalatik Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut effect during the Spanish rule, this dance is also shown to pay tribute to the towns patron saint, San Isidro Labrador.It has a four-part performance such as the palipasan and the baligtaran showing the intense battle, the walk of life and the escaramusa- the reconciliation. Moro dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are male with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips Project In Physical Education 2 Philippine Folk Dances