SINGKIL
SINGKIL
SINGKIL
SINGKIL, a dance originating from Lanao del Sur, Mindanao is said to be a dance of
Muslim royalty. To the rhythmic 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 handkerchiefts right and left. The dancers
wearing solemn faces and maintaining a dignified pose begin dancing at a slow pace which
soon progresses to a faster tempo. The clashing bamboos and the whirling dancers form an
unforgettable kaleidoscope of color and sound that is fascinating to the beholder.
Legend has it that Singkil originated from the day the diwatas (some from of
nymph or fairy) played a joke on Princes Gandingan as she was taking a walk in the woods.
The diwatas caused an earthquake that made the trees tremble and the rocks to roll and
knock against each other nothing daunted, Princes Gandingan skipped nimbly from place to
place and no tree or rock ever touched her tiny feet.
There are many versions of Singkil. When performed by ladies of the royalty of
Lanao, the dancer is usually accompanied by a waiting lady, who holds a beautifully
decorated umbrella over the Princess' head wherever she goes. On the other hand when the
dance is performed by natives, not of royal blood, the dancers, a boy and girl have no
attendants.
(a) Step R foot inside between bamboo poles (ct. 1), step
L foot close to R (ct. 2), step R foot outside the
right bamboo poles (ct. 3), tap L close to R foot
(ct. 4)...........................................1 M
(b) Step L foot inside between bamboo poles (ct. 1), step
R foot close to L (ct. 2), step L foot outside the
left bamboo pole (ct. 3), tap R close to L foot (ct.
4).................................................1 M
BAMBOO RHYTHM I
BAMBOO RHYTHM II
Strike bamboo poles that are under against board a foot
or a little bit apart (ct. 1), repeat same four more times (cts.
and, 2, and, 3), immediately raise bamboo poles a few inches high
and strike them together against each oher (ct. and), pause in
same position (ct. 4), strike them together again while still
up (ct. and).................................................1 M
Introduction
I.
SINGKIL STEP
Bamboo Rhythm I
Girl
L hand down at side, R arm bent upward at shoulder level
doing a horizontal figure of eight ( ) in this manner: loop
inward (ct. 1), loop outward (ct. 2), bring fan inward with a half
loop only (ct. 3), bring fan close to chest in vertical position,
knuckles of R hand in front of waist (ct. 4). Repeat and L alternately
for sixteen measures.
Boy
L hand down at side. R arm bent upward R hand at shoulder
level doing a horizontal figure of eight ( ) in this
manner: loop inward (ct. 1), inward ( ct. 2), outward (ct.
3) flip kerchief over R shoulder (ct. 4). Repeat same with L
hand, R hand down at side (cts. 1, 2, 3, 4). Do this hand
movement, R and L alternately for sixteen measures.
II
SINGKIL STEP AND TURNING ABOUT
Bamboo Rhythm I,
Girl
Arms sideward at shoulder level, both hands doing a
horizontal figure of eight, looping toward front (ct. 1),
toward rear (ct. 2), repeat (cts. 3, 4). Do this movement
for sixteen measures.
Boy
Hold kerchiefs in front at chest level. Open hands
sideward (ct. 1), cross hands in front of chest with R over L
hand (ct. 2), open hands again (ct. 3), flip kerchiefs upward
(ct. 4) perform this movement for sixteen measures.
III
COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND CLOCKWISE
Bamboo Rhythm I.
Same position as in figure I.
(a) Step R foot inside between poles (ct. 1), step L
close to R foot (ct. 2), face counterclockwise
toward the next area and step R foot outside on
area B for Girl and on area D for B (ct. 3), step
L close to R foot or nearer next bamboo poles
(ct. 4)........................................1 M
Girl
Arms in lateral position sideward right, make a continuous
figure of eight as in figure II (cts. 1, 2, 3, 4). Do this movement
for eight measures, arms in lateral position, right and left side
alternately.
Boy
Hold hands in front at chest level. Flip R kerchief
upward and flip L kerchief downward (cts. 1, 2), reverse position
of hands (cts. 3, 4). Do this movement for eight measures,
reversing position of hands every two counts.
IV
RIGHT FOOT ACROSS IN REAR IN FRONT
Bamboo Rhythm I.
Same position as in figure I.
(a) Step R foot inside between bamboo poles (ct. 1),
step L close to R (ct. 2), step R foot outside
of right bamboo poles (ct. 3), step L close to
R foot (ct. 4).................................1 M
Girl
Raise R hand obliquely right upward put L hand obliquely
left downward. In this position make a continuous figure of eight
with both hands (cts. 1, 2, 3, 4). Reverse position of arms at
every four counts. Perform this movement for sixteen measures.
Boy
Hold kerchief in front at chest level. Open hands sideward
(ct. 1), cross hands in front of chest with R over L hand (ct. 2),
open hands again (ct. 3), flip kerchiefs upward (ct. 4). Perform
this movement for sixteen measures.
V
BOY - DIAGONALLY AND OUT
GIRL - COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND CLOCKWISE
Bamboo Rhythm I
Same position as in figure I. Partners perform their
movements simultaneously.
Girl
Face counterclockwise with L shoulder toward center.
(a) Step R foot in perpendicular position in area 2 inside
between bamboo poles (ct. 1), step L close to R foot
(ct. 2), step R foot forward in area B (ct. 3) step L
forward going near area 3 (ct. 4). Repeat same movements
three more times moving counterclockwise to area 3 and
C (1 M), to areas 1 and A (1 M)..................4 M
Boy
(a) Starting place, area C. Step R foot diagonally forward
to area 5 (ct. 1), step L close to R foot (ct. 2), face
area B and step R diagonally backward to area D (ct. 3),
step L close to R foot (ct. 4). Repeat same movements
counterclockwise; diagonally forward to area 5, diagonally
backward to area A (1 M); diagonally forward to area 5 and
diagonally backward to area B (1 M); diagonally forward
to area 5, diagonally backward to area C (1 M)...4 M
Girl
R arm sideward at shoulder level, making a continuous figure
of eight; L hand on waist, knuckles in, fan pointing outward (cts.
1, 2, 3, 4). Do this movement for eight measures, R and L arm sideward
alternately.
Boy
Hands in front at chest level.
INTERLUDE
Bamboo Rhythm I.
Partners stay in their proper places facing audience.
Perform any of the hand movements or dancers may improvise
their own hand movements. Girl goes to area B at the eight
measure....................................................8 M
VI
CROSSING AT CENTER
Hand movements:
Girl
Repeat hand movement as in figure I, but placing R and
L alternately on waist with knuckles in on ct. 4 of every measure.
Perform this hand movement for sixteen measures.
Boy
Repeat hand movement as in figure I, placing R and L
alternately on waist with knuckles in on ct. 4 of every measure.
Perform this hand movement for sixteen measures.
VII
TURINING BETWEEN BAMBOO POLES
Girl
Hold fans in front of chest in a vertical position, elbows
close to waist, forearms parallel with each other. Wave R fan outward
(ct. 1), wave L fan outward (ct. 2), wave both fans inward (ct. 3)
pause (ct. 4). Do these hand movements L and R alternately, every
four counts for eight measures.
Boy
Hold hands in front of chest, elbows close to waist. Flip
R kerchief upward (ct. 1), flip L kerchief upward (ct. 2), flip both
kerchiefs downward (ct. 3), pause (ct. 4). Flip R kerchief downward
(ct. 1), flip L kerchief downward (ct. 2), flip both kerchiefs over
shoulders (ct. 3), pause (ct. 4). Do this hand movements alternately,
every four counts for eight measures.
FINALE