ACTIVITY TITLE: TINIKLING OBJECTIVES: ENABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ORIGIN AND THE CONCEPT OF TINIKLING DANCE REFERENCE: DEPED PORTAL; GOOGLE.COM CONCEPT NOTES: One of the oldest traditional Filipino dances, the Tinikling dance, or bamboo dance, is performed using long bamboo poles. Originating on the island of Leyte in the central Philippines, the Tinikling dance takes its name from the tikling bird. The movements of the dance are meant to imitate the bird as it steps through its marshy habitat. Starting with the Bird The inspiration for the Tinikling dance is the tikling bird, a native of the Philippines. Also known as barred rails (Gallirallus torquatus), tikling birds are found in wetlands and grasslands. The birds' distinctive movements as they meander through grass and around tree branches are imitated in the dance. Dancers hop over and around the clapping bamboo poles that substitute for branches, their quick feet keeping them from being hit by the rhythmically moving bamboo. Creating the Dance Developed around the time the Spanish occupation of the Philippines began in 1565, the Tinikling dance traces its origins to the island of Leyte. The wet climate of the island made it highly suitable for growing crops such as rice. Farmers and field hands working in the rice paddies had ample opportunity to observe the behavior of the tikling birds that lived in the area as they searched for food along the field edge. Imitating the hopping movements at home proved to be an entertaining pastime. Evolving the Dance Originally more of a playful activity similar to that of jumping rope, the Tinikling dance eventually became a more formal traditional dance. Although still retaining the fun element, modern performers have a specific order of steps to perform. The barefoot dancing couples, male and female, wear traditional Filipino costumes. The male dancer wears a barongtagalog, a loose, long-sleeved embroidered tunic. His female counterpart wears a balintawak, consisting of a dress with butterfly sleeves and a scarf worn over the left shoulder. Continuing the Legend While the origin of the dance is attributed to the tikling bird, there is another origin legend that persists. It has its roots in the Spanish occupation, when the Spanish seized farms and forced the former owners to work them. According to this legend, as a punishment for working too slowly, workers were forced to stand while their feet were beaten with freshly cut bamboo poles. To avoid bruised and bloodied feet, the workers practiced dodging the bamboo poles, creating the movements that eventually became the Tinikling dance. Similar to the movement and idea of double-dutch jump roping, tinikling, the traditional and national dance of the Philippines, uses bamboo poles instead of ropes. The word tinikling translates in English to "bamboo dance." The dance requires two people to operate either end of the bamboo poles, which are held close to the floor, and at least one dancer to dance amongst the poles. The dance originated in the Visayan Islands, where the dance was created to imitate the graceful movements of the tinikling bird, which walks between grass stems and over tree branches. Things You'll Need Bamboo poles (if available) Two 8- to 18-foot wooden closet dowels (if bamboo is not available) Instructions Dancing the Tinikling 1 Simulate the 4/4 Tinikling beat the dancer and pole operators clapping the beat. The pole operators can also clap the poles together with the dancer standing outside of the pole area. o 2 Jump twice with feet together between the two poles facing one operator, then jump twice with each foot on the outside of the poles. Hands can stay down or at your hips. The jumps should be quick, to stay in accordance with a four-count beat. 3 Repeat this, but add a twisting element. Jump twice with feet together inside the poles, then jump to have your feet outside the poles, but with a 180-degree turn. If you are facing front when you jump with your feet inside the poles, jump to face back and place feet outside the two poles. Turn and jump to face front again to return feet to inside the two poles. You should be constantly rotating to face each operator with each sequence. 4Face the middle of the poles with feet inside the poles. Jump twice within the poles. Jump to straddle the feet with one foot front and one extended back on the outside of the poles. Complete the two jumps and return to jump twice within the poles. Repeat, alternating which foot is front and which is back if desired.
