Tinikling: The National Dance of The Philippines

One important factor in life as a human being is dancing. Dance is a form of arts, or it can be also a form of entertainment that puts sounds together in order to people find it interesting. Dance has different types. Since Philippines was colonized multiple times, it led to Filipinos to created a lot folk dances. One of famous dance in the Philippines is called Tinikling. This dance was a emerged during the Spanish colonial era and Tinikling eventually became the national dance in Philippines.

This dance is a symbol that our descendants still have time to enjoy themselves despite of so much suffering they had experience under the power of the Spaniards and through this dance, it made an awareness to young Filipinos who don’t have a knowledge about Philippines’ heritage and performers who dance this folk dance gains many benefits.

The month of August is the national language month in Philippines. This is the time to showcase the Filipino folk dances and one of it is the Tinikling.

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The Tinikling dance is derived from the Philippine bird called Tikling that used to eat the crops from the field, this led to the farmers to create a dance during their free time. This dance is composed of two dancers beating, sliding and tapping against each other with the bamboo poles on the ground. The bamboo is the signature piece for this dance and it caused so many dancers a bruised in their ankles. The dancers who imitate the birds will step in between the bamboo poles, dance gracefully and skillfully without being caught.

Teamwork is must for this dance.

Tinikling is unique because it is being performed by many Filipinos inside and outside the Philippines and by non-Filipino as well. The New York Times states that “Since the Philippines scored its first international success at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958, it has become a magnet for young Filipinos who love to dance and travel abroad.” (61). This quote tells that the reason why many young individual wants to learn many folk dances is because of the good benefits such as traveling abroad since Filipino dance companies join foreign competition. This idea is also good because by joining a cultural contest in international, dancers are able to learn other cultural dances in different countries.

Moreover, what made Tinikling dance exceptional is how the Filipinos preserved the exact dance of it and how they portray it. According to the Asian Influence in Dance Education that, “Philippine folk dance presented well on stage is something rave about; it tells of the beauty of the Philippines, warmth of the Filipinos, and ofcourse the richness of the Filipino heritage.” (17). This quote explains how the Filipinos made a certain dance outstanding. As many years had passed by, Filipinos still cherish this old dance despite of the fact that most of the dance such as World Dance and so forth are being revolutionized by many dances or choreographers for them to create what they called art.

Another point that highlight the importance of Tinikling dance is it also benefits to individual’s ability in terms of physically and mentally awareness. An author named Constance Mayo wrote an article entitled “The Stick Dance states that, ‘Tinikling helps to develop rhythms, endurance, amd coordination, all which are important objectives in any good physical education program.’” (34) This quote says that Tinikling can improves one’s body since it is a dance that can be execute in P.E activities. Aside from gaining fitness physically, performers will gain fun which is the most important thing in every performance.

In conclusion, Tinikling dance made known to many people. This dance may be challenging, but individuals of all ages will gain benefits. Gaining a knowledge about cultural heritage is fantastic because just by learning 1 folk dance, you are able to receives many good informations. Body fitness is vital that’s why it is good to learn this dance as well and it enhance your mental ability. Through this dance apart from assimilating a nonverbal dance, it can build an understanding and teamwork to their groups as well.