FOLK DANCE

Dance - is a form of performing art which is consist of selected

sequences of human body movements in a rhythm or music with a
given space for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing
energy, or just taking pleasure in the movement itself. Different dance
genres include folk, ethnic/indigenous, modern, ballroom, hip-hop,
cheer, and festival dance.
• Folk dance is a way for people to express, share, and connect with
their own traditional culture. Various styles of folk dance have been
performed all over the world for centuries, and are still performed by
many cultures today.
• Folk dance celebrates the cultural roots of a particular group of
people. Folk dance is typically performed as a form of ritualistic
entertainment at social gatherings. Some kinds of folk dance tell a
culture’s foundational stories, while others may simply emphasize
cultural pride.
• Sakuting
• The sakuting dance, originally performed solely by boys, portrays a
mock fight using sticks. A sakuting stick is striped or bamboo and is
about 1½ feet long and tapered at the end, like a candle. Its original
use was for combat training. During the playful folk dance, two teams,
one representing each side, circle and clash bamboo sticks in a gentle
imitation of martial arts sparring. Its dance form is the comedia (a
theatrical dance, also called moro-moro) and features a battalla
(choreographed skirmish).
• History
Sakuting (pronounced seh-KOOH-tihng) comes from the province of
Abra, home to the Ilocano people native to the lowlands and the
Tingguian mountain tribes. The Spanish established a garrison to
protect Ilocanos who converted to Christianity, and their capital city,
Bangued, from raids by the mountain tribes. Introduced by Spanish
missionaries as religious ritual, the sakuting dance portrays this
struggle between the lowland Christians and the non-Christian
mountain people. Sakuting’s origins, however, appear much older.
• Origin
Arnis, the traditional Filipino art of stick fighting, employed readily
available weapons by simple people seeking self-protection. The
occupying Spanish banned the practice of Arnis, forcing it into secret.
Filipinos found ways to openly retain the practice by making the Arnis
movements part of folk dances. Sakuting is actually a two-stick Arnis
exercise set to music.
• The Music
The traditional music styles for sakuting portray the dual influences of
China and Spain. Its staccato inflections and rhythmic tapping suggest
a strong Chinese influence. The music itself is played by a rondalla, a
native string ensemble of plectrum (plucked with tortoiseshell
fingerpicks) instruments influenced by Spanish stringed instruments,
that includes bandurria, laud, octavina, mandola, guitarra and bajo de
uñas, or double bass.
• The Dance
Dancers use one and two sticks throughout the performance to tap
the floor and each other’s sticks. Dance steps are a combination of
marching and small forward or sideways shuffle steps while circling
and interchanging positions with other dancers. Some modern
interpretations are more athletically demonstrative of the martial
arts, while others add ballet movements. Dancers twirl the sticks,
hitting them against opponents’ sticks, displaying a mock fight.
• Performances
The Ilocano people customarily perform the sakuting dance as part of
Christmas celebrations. Performed at the town plaza or from house to
house, the dance allows the opportunity for spectators to give the
dancers aguinaldos—gifts of money, drinks, fruits and refreshments
prepared especially for Christmas much like the English custom of
caroling.
½ crosswise
Please Watch the video first the sakuting before answering the questions.
Here is the link of the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vukgWlBG2d4

Name of Dance How did the dancers perform the What are the props and costume
dance? used in the dance?