Folk Dance: Tinikling Lesson 1

Tinikling Folk Dance

• Tinikling is a native folk dance that originated in Leyte and Visayan provinces in the pre-hispanic era.
• The dance is named after the Tikling bird, a native bird that belongs to the rail species, and the term means "Tikling-like" referring to the bird's quick movements.
• Tinikling involves a fast stepping of feet, mimicking the quick movements of the Tikling bird as it avoids bamboo traps.

Bamboo in Tinikling

• Bamboo is an essential part of the Tinikling dance, used to create the rhythmic beats and movements.
• Bamboo poles are used to create two rhythms: striking the poles together once and opening them a foot apart, then striking them two or three times against the ground.
• The rhythms are repeated at regular intervals, following the beat of the music.

Costumes and Footwear

• Female dancers wear a dress called balintawak or patadyong, which is colorful with wide arched sleeves.
• Male dancers wear lightweight long-sleeved shirts or Barong Tagalog paired with red trousers.
• Dancers do not wear any footwear.

Importance of Bamboo

• Bamboo is abundant in the Philippines and is used for various purposes, including building houses, making kitchen equipment, and creating musical instruments.
• Bamboo can be used for entertainment purposes, such as in the Tinikling dance.

History of Tinikling

• There is another legend that Tinikling originated during the Spanish time, where natives who did not work productively were punished by standing between two bamboo poles.
• Tinikling has been a part of Filipino culture and tradition for centuries, and is still enjoyed today.