THE DAY THE

DANCERS
CAME
By: Bienvenido Santos

Presented By: Hazel Mae Aguarin / BSED – ENG2

 BEINVENIDO
● March 22,SANTOS
1911 – January 7, 1996

● Filipino-American writer known for his

literary contributions, particularly in the
genre of short stories.

● Santos's works often explored themes of

identity, cultural displacement, and the
Filipino immigrant experience. He
skillfully depicted the struggles and
conflicts faced by Filipinos living abroad,
capturing the complex emotions and
challenges of assimilation while
maintaining a connection to their Filipino
roots.
 BEINVENIDO
● His most SANTOS
renowned works include "Scent
of Apples" (which won the 1980
American Book Award for Fiction), "The
Praying Man," "The Volcano," and "The
Day the Dancers Came."

● Santos's writing style was characterized

by lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and deep
introspection. His stories often employed a
combination of realistic detail and
symbolism, highlighting the universal
human experiences within the specific
context of Filipino culture and diaspora.
SUMMAR
Y
The story was basically about how a group of Philippine
dancers were arriving in Chicago that day and Fil thought that
it would be an excellent idea if he took the dancers around the
city, showed them the sights and invite them back to his place
for some adobo and chicken relleno. For the first part of the
story, Fil constantly talked about the dancers to his friend and
roommate Tony. Fil and Tony have been friends pretty much
ever since they moved to the US and the entire time, Tony had
been suffering from a disease that frustrated many doctors in
which caused gradual peeling all over his body.
When Tony left for the doctor, Fil left a little later
to meet the dancers at the hotel. When he got there
and saw all the dancers, he completely forgot what
he wanted to say and lost all train of thought. So,
when he finally managed to gather up all the
confidence he had left to invite them to his house,
they would just move away or say, "No, thanks,
we’re too busy."
Later that night, he ended up going to the show
alone since Tony hadn’t yet returned from the
doctor. Despite the disappointment he had earlier
that day, Fil contemplated that if he would just
record the show on his tape recorder, he would
have the sounds with him to help him remember
the dancers, the show and bring back past
memories.
Attending the dance performance, he is deeply moved by
the graceful movements of the dancers and the nostalgic
music that accompanies their performance. Through the
power of art, he experiences a sense of reconnection
with his cultural identity and finds solace in the shared
experience of his fellow Filipino spectators.
When he got home, he noticed that Tony was back. Tony
commented that the dancers weren’t with him and that he
knew they never would’ve come home him in the first place.
Fil then started to listen to his tape recorder and his failure
from earlier that day no longer mattered to him because his
recording had brought him a certain feeling and it just filled
him up with different memories and emotions. While he
listened, Tony was yelling from his room telling him to shut
his recorder off. When he asked Tony what the doctors had to
say, Tony wouldn’t answer.
Tony then asked what the dancers were like and Fil told
him that they were really beautiful, young and graceful. He
heard Tony let out a sigh but as he looked down to the tape
recorder he held in his hands, he noticed that the spools
were spinning and he finally realized that he had pressed
erase. When he tried to play it back, there was nothing
except for a screaming part of the finale with drums and
the tolling of the bell. When he looked outside, it was
already morning.
STORY
GRAMM
AR
A.SETTING : Chicago, USA

B.CHARACTERS
• Filemon Acayan – a fifty year
old Fillipino, U.S. citizen,
corporal in the US Army,
discharged honorably in 1945
• Antonio Bataller – Fil’s friend: a
retired pullman porter
• Filipino Dancers
C. PLOT
Exposition: It all started when
Fil was invited to an event
where Filipino dancers will
perform.
Rising Action: He wants to
invite the dancers to his
apartment to have some talk
and spend quality time.
C. PLOT
Climax: Fil went to the hotel of the dancers and
invited them to his apartment but he was ignored.
Falling Action: After the show he went back to his
apartment with a recorded video of the dancers.
Denouement: He accidentally erased the
recordings
D. THEME
• Cultural identity: The story explores the
protagonist's longing to maintain a connection with
his Filipino roots.
• Nostalgia and longing: The protagonist feels a deep
sense of loss for his homeland and the cultural
traditions he left behind.
• Art and connection: The power of the dance
performance allows the protagonist to reconnect with
his cultural heritage and find a sense of belonging.
E. POINT OF
VIEW
The story was narrated using
the Third-person limited
omniscient that focuses on
Fil’s thoughts
LITERAR
Y
ANALYSI
TONE:
- The tone of the story is nostalgic,
introspective, and reflective.
- It evokes a sense of longing and explores
the complex emotions of the protagonist as
he struggles with his cultural identity.
SYMBOLISM:
- The dance performance symbolizes the power
of art to bridge the gap between cultures and
evoke a sense of belonging.
- The invitation serves as a catalyst for the
protagonist's emotional journey and his
reconnection with his Filipino roots.
MORAL LESSON:
- Treasure moments
- Keep moving forward
- Human connection
- Enjoy Life
MORAL LESSON:
Don't be afraid to reach out to others. Fil
was lonely because he was afraid to make
new friends. He was too focused on the past
and didn't realize that there were people who
could care about him in the present.
Don't compare yourself to others. Fil was
always comparing himself to the young
dancers. He thought that they were better
than him and that he could never be like
them. This made him feel insecure and
unhappy.
Don't give up on your dreams. Fil had a
dream of dancing with the beautiful women.
Even though he was rejected, he didn't give
up on his dream. He kept practicing and
eventually became a good dancer.
INSIGHTS
/
REFLECTI
The Day the Dancers Came is a beautiful and moving story
that teaches us important lessons about life. It is a story that
will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Here are some of the lessons that I learned from the story:

The importance of community and connection. Humans are

social creatures, and we need to feel connected to others. When
we are isolated and alone, we can feel lost and hopeless.
However, when we are part of a community, we feel supported
and valued. We have people to turn to for help and friendship.
The power of nostalgia. Nostalgia can be a powerful emotion.
It can bring back happy memories and make us feel connected
to our past. However, it is important to remember that nostalgia
is not always realistic. Our memories of the past are often
idealized, and they may not reflect reality. It is important to
appreciate the present moment and to build new memories that
we can cherish in the future.

The importance of hope. Hope is a powerful force. It can help

us to overcome challenges and to achieve our goals. When we
have hope, we believe that things will get better. We have the
courage to keep going, even when things are tough.
THE END.