Tinikling: The National Dance of The Philippines with Bamboo Poles

One of the most popular folk dances in the Philippines is the Tinikling. The traditional dance, which
usually involves a pair of two bamboo poles, is considered to be the oldest in the country and its appeal
has spread across the globe—particularly to the United States.

Tinikling: The National Dance of The Philippines with Bamboo Poles

Dancing the Tinikling

RONICA VALDEAVILLA

WRITER

UPDATED: 22 JUNE 2018

One of the most popular folk dances in the Philippines is the Tinikling. The traditional dance, which
usually involves a pair of two bamboo poles, is considered to be the oldest in the country and its appeal
has spread across the globe—particularly to the United States.

Why is the dance called Tinikling?

Wondering how this type of dance got its name? The Tinikling is said to be named after the long-legged
bird called the tikling in the Philippines. This bird belongs to a number of rail species, but the name
typically refers to the slaty-breasted Rail (Gallirallus striatus), the buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus
philippensis), and the barred rail (Gallirallus torquatus).

Someone who dances the Tinikling imitates the movements of a tikling bird (hence, tikling-like) as the
bird walks over the grass or dodges bamboo traps set by Filipino farmers on vast rice fields.

Stories behind the dances’ origin

Group of girls dancing the Tinikling © U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Nestor Cruz / WikiCommons

Dance

According to historical accounts, the Tinikling dance originated during the Spanish occupation in the
Philippines—particularly on the island of Leyte. Rice farmers on the Visayan Islands usually set up
bamboo traps to protect their fields, yet tikling birds dodged their traps. Locals imitated the birds’
movement, and supposedly, that’s how this dramatic traditional folk dance was born.

However, according to legend, the dance originated during the Spanish colonial era when locals were
ordered by the King of Spain to work on large plantations. Those who did not follow his orders or worked
too slowly were given a punishment: to stand in between two bamboo poles.
These poles were then clapped together in an effort to beat the Filipino natives’ feet. To escape this
punishment, the Filipinos would jump when the two poles were about to be clapped. This practice of
jumping between the poles eventually transformed from a challenge into an artistic dance.

Dancing the Tinikling

Alongside the Cariñosa dance, the Tinikiling is considered a national dance in the Philippines and almost
every Filipino knows how to do it. Since it’s a dramatic dance, it’s usually performed on special occasions
like traditional Filipino festivals or at school and theater performances. Some say that this dance
represents most Filipinos’ two main character traits: They’re resilient and fun-loving.

To dance the Tinikling, you need two pairs of bamboo poles that are each 6–12 feet long (about 1.8–3.7
meters). Female dancers usually wear a dress called a Balintawak (a colorful dress with arched sleeves)
or a Patadyong (a checkered loose skirt that’s often worn with a thin-fibered blouse). Males wear an
embroidered formal shirt that’s untucked called the Barong Tagalog—which is the country’s national
outfit for Filipino men. The Barong is usually paired with red trousers. All dancers perform the Tinikling
while barefoot.

While only two bamboo poles are involved in this dance, some versions use four bamboo poles, where
the pairs are arranged in a cross-like pattern. To avoid getting their ankles caught in between the poles,
dancers must listen closely and follow the rhythm of the music.

Today, there are modified versions of this Filipino traditional folk dance around the world—some
increase the number of dancers or poles and even change the music or choreography. Some U.S. schools
even incorporate this dance into their curriculum, but they use pop music to keep the dance up-to-date.

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/tinikling-the-national-dance-of-the-philippines-with-
bamboo-poles/

Tinikling is a traditional Philippine folk dance which originated during the Spanish colonial era.[1] The
dance involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each
other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. It is
traditionally danced to rondalla music, a sort of serenade played by an ensemble of stringed instruments
which originated in Spain during the Middle Ages.

The Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis), one of the birds locally known in the Philippines as tikling,
which were the inspiration for the movements of the dance
The name "tinikling" is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number of rail
species, but more specifically refers to the Slaty-breasted Rail (Gallirallus striatus), the Buff-banded Rail
(Gallirallus philippensis), and the Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus).[2] The term tinikling literally means
"to perform it 'tikling-like."[3]

The dance originated in Leyte, an island in the Visayas in the central Philippines. It imitates the
movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge
bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by
skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles.[4]

Today tinikling is taught throughout the United States. In grades K-12 the dance is used as an aerobic
exercise for physical education classes, to help expand physical movements such as hand coordination,
foot speed, and also rhythm. Tinikling is commonly performed at schools and on special occasions, such
as the Filipino Independence Day, as a celebration of Filipino culture and Filipino pride.[5]

Description

Edit

Two or four parallel pairs of bamboo poles, each around 6 to 12 ft (1.8 to 3.7 m) long, are held by two or
more sitting or kneeling people ("clappers" or "clickers"). The poles are used as percussive instruments
accompanying rondalla music played with string instruments (usually bandurrias, guitars, laúdes,
octavinas, or ukuleles). They produce clapping sounds as they are struck against the ground (or two
raised pieces of wood) and each other in a triple metre pattern. Traditionally, the poles are tapped twice
on the ground on the first two beats, then brought together on the third beat.

Two or more dancers then weave through the rapidly moving bamboo poles with bare feet and ankles.
The dancers have to carefully follow the rhythm so as not to get their ankles caught between the poles
as they snap closed. They start the dance with their hands at their hips or clasped behind their backs.
The tempo of the bamboo poles becomes faster as the dance progresses, forcing the dancers closer
together as their movements become more frantic. The dancers hold hands at the last part of the dance,
when the tempo is the fastest. They end the dance by letting go of each other's hands and stepping out
entirely of the moving bamboo poles.

For the dance, females traditionally wear a dress called balintawak or patadyong, and males wear an
untucked embroidered shirt called the barong Tagalog. The balintawak are colorful dresses with wide
arched sleeves and the patadyong is a pineapple fiber blouse paired with checkered skirts. The barong
Tagalog is usually light long sleeved shirts and worn with red trousers. Dancers wear no footwear while
performing.

Modern variants of the dance can include innovations like increasing the number or arrangement of the
poles (including switching poles mid-dance), changing the number of dancers, or using different music
and choreography.

Adaptations

Edit

When performed by dance troupes or in cultural shows, Tinikling is typically performed in the "Rural
Suite," which includes dances originating from Filipino Christians that have a more "folksy" character.[11]
These dances originate mostly from the islands of Visayas and Luzon and imitate the simplicity and joy of
the lifestyle of the Filipino villagers living in those regions during the Spanish period.[12] Other Filipino
folk dances of this category include Sayaw sa Bangko, Maglalatik, and Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

In the United States, this dance has been altered into a four-beat rhythm to adjust to popular music. In
some cases, it has been used in conjunction with traditional Filipino martial arts to demonstrate
fleetness of foot and flow of movement.[13] As mentioned earlier, tinikling is used as aerobic exercise for
physical education classes in the United States for grades K-12. Instead of using traditional bamboo
poles, most schools create their poles using plastic PVC pipe or wooden dowels.[14] Another alternative
is to tie elastic bands to the ankles of two students. The two students switch between jumping with their
feet apart and their feet together to simulate the movement of the wooden poles. This way, more
students are engaged in the aerobic exercise, rather than just the dancer.[15]

Similar dances are found throughout Asia, such as the Cheraw dance from India, Múa Sạp from Vietnam,
Lao Kra Top Mai from Thailand, Robam Kom Araek from Cambodia, Karen or Chin Bamboo Dance from
Myanmar, Alai Sekap in Brunei, Ami Bamboo Dance from Taiwan, and Magunatip from Sabah, East
Malaysia.

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