Singkil
This dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the 14th century, tells the fateful story of Princess Gandingan, who was caught in the middle of a forest during an earthquake caused by the diwatas, or fairies of the forest. The criscrossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling, which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her throughout her ordeal. Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers skillfully manipulate apir, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. Royal princesses to this day in the Sulu Archipelago are required to learn this most difficult and noble dance.
There are other versions of Singkil. Perhaps the version more widely performed by dance companies is the "Garden Singkil." The story goes that the princess goes into her garden, accompanied by her slave, and plays with the butterflies, which are represented by the fan dancers. The movements of the fans supposedly represent those of the butterflies, as opposed to the diwatas. In another popular version, the prince uses a scarf instead of a sword.
The Maranao legend of a princess skipping over falling
trees during an earthquake imbues Singkil with a mantle
of magic that this rousing dance scarcely needs.
For with crossed bamboo poles whose claps rhythmically
clash against the swirling of fans and swords and spears,
Singkil weaves a spell that is all its own.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Different interpretations of Singkil invariably present
the regal boldness of a Muslim prince in counterpoint
to the stoic bearing of a princess. Agility, grace,
ardor, a resounding climax...magic!
SINGKIL, a dance originating from Lanao del Sur, Mindanao is said to be a dance of Muslim royalty.
To the rythmic clapping of bamboo poles, the dancers weave expertly through crisscrossed bamboos, the ladies dressed in elegant Muslim costumes waving great big fans, the men flipping brightly colored handkerchiefs right and left.
The dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining a dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo.
Legend has it that SINGKIL originated from the day the diwatas(some from of nymph or fairy)played a joke on Princess Gandingan as she was taking a walk in the woods. The diwatas caused an eathquake that made the trees tremble and the rocks to roll and knock against each other.
The concept that belly dance is a constantly evolving dance might surprise most people, as the static Orientalist image of the belly dancer is the one that pervades American popular culture. I and other scholars attempt to remove belly dance from the ridged framework of Orientalism and the harem fantasy. By the following how belly dance arrived in America, and how images of belly dancers and harems became part of the visual culture of the West I have attempted to demonstrate that there are aspects of power and a different reading of images of belly dance is possible. Through continued scholarly inquiry and research I look forward to the emergence of a new image of belly dance, one that represents the power and beauty of this dance, an image that is respectful of the many cultures that it represents.
...effectively impersonate the Kachinas during the dancing ceremonies. (Page 340; Cultural Anthropology: 14th Edition; Ember).
In hula dancing, the hands are very important: they tell a story. However, more important are the chants. Chanting is an extension of speaking that started as a means of communicating to the gods. The hula can be performed with or without music, but not without the chant. Bamboo sticks, drums, and gourds, are some of the instruments that are played to support the chanting. The chants are very poetic and have many levels of meaning. They believe chanting is a very personal way of expressing feelings and thoughts on a higher level of communication. The topics of the chants may include warfare, death, sex, birth, chiefs, gods, the beauty of the island and water, or even surfing.
Kathak (Sanskrit translation: ‘Katha’- story; ‘Katthaka’- story-teller) can be traced to as far back as the 3rd century and is one of the eight Classical dances in India. It originated in Northern India -Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar-Pradesh. It was originally performed in temples to narrate mythological stories presented in the Ramayana and Mahabharata with mimetic gestures and singing. ‘Katthakas’ were mostly high-caste, educated Brahmins. Nowadays, class division is less intruding in one’s pursuit of becoming a ‘Katthaka’.
The Folklorico group presentation I was honored to observed was the “Grupo Folklorico Juventud” from North Salinas High School. I decided to attend to this presentation because I use to be part of this Folklorico group. I also enjoy watching the dances for the reason that I believe they are beyond beautiful. It is amazing how a simple dance could transmit so much information while representing a region from Mexico. From my observation experienced, I noticed every region has different movements and customs for a reason. While observing the presentation I noticed most women used long skirts to create different shapes. They usually create the eight shape, half a circle or an entire circle which is created when the dancer does an entire spin while holding and moving their skirt. The skirt is also moved in different levels, such as high, medium, and low. The two levels that are used in most of the dances is the high and the medium level. While dancing the men and women usually do the same steps and movements. All the dances include “zapateados” which are known as foot dances or stomps. The “zapateados” are usually done with different parts of the feet such as the toe, heel and the sole of the feet. The dances include “zapateados” with different sections of the feet because every part creates a different sound. Most of the dances also include jumps and turns. It is extremely important for the
The Dabkeh was formed in the Levant, the region that include Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, where the houses were built from stone and wood. It unites people from different families and strengthens the bond of brotherhood between them. Dabkeh is based on harmonized foot stomping. The dancers can stand either in a straight line, in an arch, or in a circle. When they stand in a straight line or in an acrh, dancers can hold hands or shoulders to create harmony and synchronization. Whereas when they form a circle, they hold shoulders so that the circle shape is maintained. Male or female dancers perform Dabkeh as a part of the traditions. It can be danced separately or integrated depending on the number of dancers and the occasion. Dabkeh was performed in occasions and events especially popular at weddings and is performed by a group of no less than ten people called dabke dancers “dabeeka”. They are accompanied by a flute player and oriental drum where the dancers listen to the tempo and perform according to the rhythm. Aft...
When one thinks of different dance forms, one would tend to look at the beauty of it and how it makes people feel. But understanding the origin of some of the dances should help one to appreciate the importance the art form of dance has made in history. Through both of the dance forms there would be a discussion between the origins as well as the similarities and contrast of ballet and classical Chinese dance.
Different dances came from different cultures in this performance. As I had said before, “Oshun, Goddess of Love”, came from Africa. It arrived in America during the slave trade and has been here ever since. “Paper Moon” came from Japan. The text from the dance came from an adaptation from “Omoiyari”, which is an ancient Japanese dance ritual.
The performances included opera-styled singing with intricate hand gestures. I used to think that the Chinese theater performances my grandparents watched on TV were too over-the-top and unnatural, but after reading about the history and meanings behind Chinese theater, I’ve developed a new perspective on the style and have come to admire the beauty of cultural differences in theatrical arts. Chinese theater’s “traditional performance” features a synthesis of poetry, singing, and dancing. In present day, “traditional performance” has undergone an improvement toward what can be termed “characterization performance,” which emphasizes the performer’s internal experience of the character played and the artistically truthful portrayal of feelings and thoughts (cite). Different cultures contribute to the varying theater styles. For example, “chinese playgoers are familiar with the stories, characters, and conventions...the objective of the Chinese performer is to meet the high expectations of the playgoers” (cite). Thus, Chinese performers are more conscious of ensuring that their gestures and body movements appear aesthetically beautiful to satisfy their audiences’ expectations. The knowledge of the diverse approaches of theater in different regions is significant for respecting a theater piece, because theater from different cultures than one’s own should be evaluated and appreciated with the viewpoint of that
Irish dance is known all around the world for its music, style, and costumes. What once started as a cultural folkloric dance has now turned into a worldwide phenomenon because of many contextual factors on the three defining characteristics. In this paper I will attempt to show how the Gaelic League, An Coimisiún, and Riverdance influenced and changed the posture, movement, and appearance of the dance form. The story of Irish dance thus far is one of a constant changing dance that reflects the influences around it. Each of the changes in the style, costuming, and meaning of the dance has molded it into the globally accepted and loved dance form seen today.
During early times in history dance was seen as a way to heal sickness, a way to break a spell, or perhaps to put a spell on someone.
...o allow dancers to make contact with gods or demons, or allow the dancer to be filled by the spirit of an ancestor or deity (Cross 37). So, although we cannot identify every specific dance in Balinese culture, we are able to conclude that dance as an art is critical and definitive to the culture as a whole.
Dance is an ancient human practice, however the earliest record of human dance remains a mystery. By
Like many Indian arts, Indian dance also has its root in religion. Without the religious and cultural background of India, the growth and beauty of Indian dance is not possible. In ‘Natya Shastra’, there is a small story about the origin of Indian dance. According to Hindu mythology, dance first existed in heaven. There was always a constant conflict between the Asuras and the Devas for wealth and power. The Devas were tired of the Asuras’ greediness and jealousy.
Also, the performers are constituted with same number of men and women. They imply the importance of equality through the performance. The female and male dancers use the same movements to show that they are equal. The message being conveyed here is important, on the grounds of its social influence and giving the whole performance a deeper meaning. The thing makes dancing different and odd to other occupations is the fact that most famous and well known dancers are mostly females, since on other social circumstances males tend to dominate more realms. Here, besides all the female masters, the male dancers appear as much as the female artists do and they also showcase what they are capable of. As I watched more of the performance, the interactions between dancers and the LED lights became more appealing to me. Dancers use their bodies to interpret the connections between human beings and technology. Moreover, the background music also plays a vital role in the production of this whole piece of art. The tempo of the music, the dance movements, as well as the frequency of the lights going on and off together appeared to the audience as a desirable combination. I love how the dancers do every movements according to the rhythm of the music and how they two fit perfectly. All of those things together made a great show to watch and