What is Binasuan?

The binasuan is a Filipino folk dance in which the performer holds full wine glasses in each hand while
performing balancing tricks. Wine may be used to fill the glasses, but other liquids may be substituted.
The arms are rotated over and under the shoulder in order to keep the palms facing up so as not to spill
the liquid while nevertheless allowing the radius to cross over the ulna via pronation. Binasuan
originated in Pangasinan and is popular at festive events such as weddings.Binasuan is a colorful and
lively Filipino folk dance which shows off the balancing skills of the dancers.

Binasuan, a dance originating in the Philippines, primarily involves three drinking glasses that a Binasuan
dancer (usually a woman) gracefully balances–on her head and in the palms of both her hands–as she
moves. Each glass is half-full with rice wine, and a Binasuan dancer's skill is determined by her ability not
to drop a glass or spill any wine over the course of her performance.

Since the binasuan inverts the arm through rotation, it is sometimes given as a macroscopic, physical
demonstration of the rotation properties of a spin-½ spinor. As the liquid never spills, the rotation can all
occur within the same plane. Upon a rotation of 2π radians, the elbow changes between pointing up and
down. Upon a rotation of 4π radians, the palm "doubly covers" the shoulder, and the elbow points in its
original direction.

Where does Binasuan came from?

Binasuan derives its name from the word baso meaning drinking glass. In Tagalog, most nouns become
verbs by adding in after the first letter and an or han after the last. Hence binasuan literally means “have
put on drinking glass”.

Binasuan is a folk dance that originated in Bayambang, Pangasinan. The dancers balance glasses on their
heads and in their hands as they move. The glasses are filled with rice wine, which makes any misstep a
messy mistake. People dance binasuan at weddings and festivals. A group of dancers generally performs
binasuan, moving in unison, but occasionally breaking into smaller groups and performing different
choreography. For example, they can begin in a circle, then form two columns, which then bend into
semicircles, and one follows the other to reform the circle. The music is in three-quarter time.

Props and Costume

Binasuan Cups

At the beginning of a binasuan performance, one of the dancers may fill each individual cup with rice
wine and pass them out to the other performers. The dancers can also come onstage with the cups
already filled and balanced on their heads and hands. For your binasuan dance, make sure you fill each
cup about half full of rice wine. You can also use water. To balance the cups, place one on the flattest
part of your head, just behind the crown of your head. Now place
another on one palm. You’ll need another person to place the last glass on your other palm. Keep your
head level and high, and look straight ahead. Keep your palms facing up and slightly cupped, to hold
your glasses in place.

Girls usually wear "Filipiniana Dress" and the boys should wear a pants and "Kamisa Chino".

The María Clara gown, sometimes referred to as Filipiniana dress or traje de mestiza, is a traditional
dress worn by women in the Philippines. It is traditionally made out of piña, the same material used for
the barong tagalog.

The camisa de chino is a collarless shirt with a two or three button opening at the front of the neck and
sleeves without cuffs. It is attributed to the Chinese sailors, traders and laborers in the Philippines. The
camisa de chino is often confused with the Barong Tagalog, which is a distinct and separate garment, but
these garments are connected.

Binasuan Dancers

Binasuan dancers are famous for their skill and grace, balancing three glasses of rice wine while turning,
rolling and spinning to fast-paced music. Sometimes dancers introduce other elements, such as weights
placed on their feet, to increase the dance's difficulty–and therefore the dancer's prestige.Binasuan
dance is a colorful, lively art that is often performed at celebratory occasions in the Filipino culture, such
as weddings and parties. Sometimes, dancers will compete over who can complete the most skillful
moves, while balancing their glasses, for the entertainment of the audience.

Music

Artist: Juan Silos Jr. & His Rondalla

Album: Philippine Folk Dance Vol.3

Released: 1959

Juan Lorenzo Silos Jr. was born on 08 February 1898. He was well known in the movie and music
industry. He grew up in Manila. He learned music from his family and did not have formal music
education. He is a Filipino musical composer, educator and conductor. He is known in the Philippines as
the "Father of the Rondalla".

Binasuan Steps

Binasuan footwork looks remarkably similar to waltz steps.

First, step out to the side with your right foot.

Next, move your left foot up to your right foot.

Third, tap your right foot. Now repeat this sequence, this time stepping to the side with your left foot.
To move along when you and the other dancers are moving in a circle:

Step to the side with your right foot.

Now kick your left foot out: This is a small motion, so make sure your foot is only coming about three
inches off the floor. Point your toe.

Third, tap your left toes on the ground. Because the music is in three-quarter time, your steps should go
like this: step, kick, tap, step, kick, tap.

To perform an arm balance:

Hold your arms up and out to the sides, with your palms up and your elbows slightly bent, held at about
waist level. Your arms should look like you’re carrying a large log, balancing it on your palms and the
insides of your forearms.

Now, as you kick your left foot out in the waltz step, make a large circle in the air with your left arm. This
circle should be horizontal–that is, all its points should be at the same height.

You’ll make the circle by first bringing the heel of your hand close to your bicep, then moving your hand
out to the left, keeping your hand flexed so your glass stays level.

Straighten your elbow gradually as you keep moving your hand out and to the left.

Keep a slight bend in your elbow as you reach the widest part of the circle, which will place your hand in
front of your bicep again, but this time about two feet away from it.

Keep moving your hand in this circle until it’s all the way back close to your bicep again. This entire arm
movement should take up one three-count in the music.

Now, as you kick out your right foot, perform the same motion with your right arm.

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binasuan

https://www.google.com/amp/s/subliblog.com/2019/04/07/binasuan-a-filipino-folk-dance/amp/
https://ourpastimes.com/the-history-of-binasuan-dance-12226121.html

https://www.bayambang.gov.ph/about-us/binasuan-folk-dance/#:~:text=Binasuan%20is%20a%20folk
%20dance,their%20hands%20as%20they%20move.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Clara_gown

https://pineappleind.com/blogs/about-us/journey-of-the-barong-tagalog-spanish-colonial-philippines-
part-12-the-camisa-de-chino#:~:text=The%20camisa%20de%20chino%20is,and%20laborers%20in
%20the%20Philippines.&text=Some%20writers%20surmise%20that%20the,Barong%20Tagalog%20or
%20inspired%20it.

https://wikitia.com/wiki/Juan_Silos_Jr.

https://www.silosfamily.com/juanSilosJr.html