Learn about
OUR DANCE SUITES
Our suites explore diverse areas, stories and traditions from throughout the Philippines. Click one of the dance suites below to jump to the corresponding section.
BARRIO SUITE
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning neighbourhood or village, where communities gather after a long day’s work to celebrate through music and dance. These lively dances reflect rural Philippines’ daily life, customs and traditions and often portray activities such as farming, fishing and harvesting.
barrio dances include
TINIKLING
Dancers hop in between two pieces of moving bamboo, imitating the graceful movement of the tikling bird. Rice farmers try to catch and prevent the tikling from stealing rice grains.
PANDANGGO SA ILAW
Often called "the dance of lights", this dance has many interpretations. In one version, the candles are meant to symbolize the flow of fireflies at dusk. Another describes the lights as lanterns, being moved around to welcome sailors home after a journey at sea. During pandanggo, dancers balance lit candles on their palms, tops of their fingers and heads.
BINASUAN
Traditionally filled with rice wine, dancers are required to skilfully balance half-full glasses on their heads and open palms while moving. During the performance, dancers may spin, turn and roll as the music's pace increases!
SUBLI
Subli, or Sublian, was originally a religious ritual and dance that originates from Batangas honouring the Holy Cross. The name comes from the words “subsub”, meaning to fall with the head, and “bali”, or broken. This is reflected in the men's movements as they are bent over for the beginning of the dance.
BULAKLAKAN
Bulaklakan is a dance of floral garlands, dedicated to the Virgin Mary during the Roman Catholic celebration of their holy week. “Bulaklakan” refers to green orchids and other local flowering plants. The dance is performed widely during the month of early May, when it is custom in many parts of the Philippines to celebrate the "Santa Cruz de Mayo." During that time, there is aa procession, usually followed by a social gathering in the house of the "Hermana Mayor."
OTHER BARRIO DANCES INCLUDE:
- Itik-Itik
- Sakuting
- Pasigan
- Maglalatik
- Pukol
- Salakot
- Binayogan
- Kuratsa
- Sayaw sa Bangko
MARIA CLARA suite
After over 300 years of Spanish colonization, Filipino culture evolved by integrating aSpanish language, music, attire and customs with the Philippine Bayanihan spirit. These dances embody romantic Spanish courtship and local Filipino traditions, and are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of our people.
MARIA CLARA DANCES INCLUDE
JOVENCITA
Habanera de Jovencita, or just jovencita, is a dance typical of a woman’s debut. The accompanying love ballad was written by Maestro Nitoy Gonzales when he was courting Jovita Friese, who then choreographed the graceful and beautiful habanera dance that accompanies it. Jovencita means “young lady” in Spanish.
ARAY
Here, men and women dance together gracefully and playfully, with the women playing tambourines to accent their movements. The accompanying music is originally sung in Chabacano-ermitense, a hybrid of Spanish that was only spoken in the Ermita district before the turn of the century.
KUMINGTANG
Kumintang is a courtship dance that emphasizes couples turning with another like how the hand turns in a "kumintang" gesture.
OTHER MARIA CLARA DANCES INCLUDE:
- Baston Y Manton
- Jota Manileña
- Sympatica
- Habanera Botalena
- Polkabol
CORDILLERAS SUITE
The Cordilleran Mountain Range is home to many Indigenous people. This suite includes music and dances inspired by the Kalinga, Ifugao, Ibaloi and Bontoc peoples. Tribes in the north are known to carry a fierce warrior spirit, which is embodied in their music and dance.
CORDILLERAS DANCES INCLUDE
TACHOK
Description to come
BANGA
This dance tells the story of Kalinga women who climb up and down mountains while skillfully balancing pots of water on their heads.
SALIP
Description to come
OTHER CORDILLERAS DANCES INCLUDE:
- Bendian
- Bumayah
- Papayto
MINDANAO SUITE
Mindanao is the southern region of the Philippines, a
vibrant and culturally diverse area woven together by
generations of faith. Men and women dance gracefully in colourful silk fabrics embodying regality, accompanied by the unique and melodic sounds of the Kulintangan or Saranay, found all across Mindanao.
MINDANAO DANCES INCLUDE
SINGKIL
In our current iteration, we tell the story of Princess Lanaoan, who is taken from her homeland by Emperor Dimasangkay, captivated by her unmatched beauty. Trapped in a bamboo forest, the princess is determined to reclaim her freedom. Just as she attempts to escape, an earthquake awakens and she seeks guidance from a divine ancestor who inspires her to have the courage to break free from the forest.
KAPA MALONG MALONG
This dance depicts the various ways to wear a malong, a versatile tubular cloth worn by men and women.
LINGISSAN
Linggisan is a dance of the Sama and Tausug people that mimics the movements of the sea bird. Its steps portray an eagle in flight and the attack and defense of a predator and prey.
VINTA
Description to come
KINI KINI
In this dance, traditionally women demonstrate graceful movements with scarves while moving in small steps.
OTHER MINDANAO DANCES INCLUDE:
- Katsudoratan
- Igal ha Agung
- Voyage to Mindanao
- Asik
- Kapagapir
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES SUITE
Inspired by the diverse Indigenous communities across Mindanao, such as the Manobo, Blaan, Bagobo, T'boli and Yakan peoples, each tribe has a unique story. These Indigenous communities are known for their distinctive rituals, chants, textiles and languages.
More information on dances to come.
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You're invited
Celebrate Asian Heritage Month and join us for a fun-filled evening of Filipino dance and delicious meryenda at iSLAS in Toronto on May 22!