https://en.m.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Tinikling
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.

Origin

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
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.[6][7][8][9]

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.[7][8][9]

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.[10]

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.
[7]

Adaptations
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://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/tinikling-the-national-dance-of-the-philippines-with-bamboo-
poles/
Bamboo Poles
Dancing the Tinikling
Dancing the Tinikling | © Shubert Ciencia / Flickr
Photo of Ronica Valdeavilla
RONICA VALDEAVILLA
WRITER
UPDATED: 22 JUNE 2018
Save to Wishlist
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.
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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).

A tikling bird known as the buff-banded rail © Toby Hudson / WikiCommons

bird
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

Males and females dancing the Tinikling © Louis Tan / Flickr
Dancers
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://filipino.biz.ph/culture/tinikling.html
Tinikling

Tinikling is the National dance of the Philippines. It means to be like a tikling bird.

Tinikling involves two people hitting bamboo poles, using them to beat, tap, and slide 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. Tinikling
involves five steps, of which the first four, dancers are dancing opposite each other, and the last step, they have to
start from the same side of the poles.

Tinikling Tinikling

It originated in Leyte among the Visayan islands in central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging
bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The bamboo is also used as a percussive instrument as it is banged against the
ground (or a piece of wood to make it easier to hold) and each other in a pattern. When the bamboo closes it has
to be hard enough to make a sound and the dancers must be quick enough to not get their foot (or feet) caught. As
the dance continues the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder , the sound of clashing bamboo thrills
the crowd and the quickness of feet demonstrated by the dancers awes them.
https://jiebelle.weebly.com/tinikling.html
The Tinikling dance is one of the most popular and well-known of traditional Philippine dances.The tinikling is a pre-
Spanish dance from the Philippines that 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. The name is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number ofrail species;
the term tinikling literally means "tikling-like."The dance originated in Leyteamong the Visayan islands in the
central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The dance 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.

Legend says that Tinikling originated during the time when the Spaniards took over the Philippines. Natives worked
on large plantations under the control of the King of Spain. Those who didn't work productively were punished by
standing between two bamboo poles.

For this traditional folk dance, females wear a dress called balintawak or patadyong, and males wear a uniform
called 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 uniform is usually lightweight long sleeved
shirts and worn with red trousers. Dancers wear no footwear while performing.

Tinikling involves five steps; during the first four steps, the dancers dance opposite each other, and during the last
step, they start from the same side of the poles.

The bamboo is also used as a percussive instrument as it is banged against the ground (or a piece of wood to make
it easier to hold) and each other in a pattern. The bamboo has to be closed hard enough to make a sound, and the
dancers must be quick enough to not get their foot (or feet) caught. As the dance continues, the banging of the
bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of the clashing bamboo and the quickness of feet demonstrated by
the dancers thrilling and awing the crowd. In the United States, this dance had 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.

Today Tinikling is taught throughout the United States. In grades K-12 they use this type of folk dance as an aerobic
exercise for physical education classes to help expand physical movements such as hand coordination, foot speed,
and also their rhythm. Tinikling is commonly performed on special occasions such as the Filipino Independence Day
Independence Day (Philippines). This traditional dance is a celebration of Filipino culture and Filipino pride.
https://dance.lovetoknow.com/Filipino_Folk_Dance_Steps

Tinikling
As the best known and most popular dance of the Phillipines, Tinikling is the country's national dance. To perform
Tinikling, two dancers beat, tap, and slide bamboo poles on the ground. The bamboo serves as both a percussion
instrument and a part of the dance itself. Tinikling can be tricky because both primary dancers must move quickly
to avoid getting a foot caught by the fast-moving poles.

Singles Tinikling Dance

At the start of this dance, the poles are placed on the left sides of two dancers. They have the left foot lead.

Click to download the guide to singles Tinikling.

SOURCE
Do these steps outside the bamboo poles:

1. Hop on your right foot.

2. Hop another time on the right foot.

Perform these steps between both poles:

3. Step on the left foot.

4. Step on the right foot.

Do these steps outside the poles:

5. Hop on the left foot outside the poles.

6. Hop again on the left foot outside both poles.

Return to between the poles for these steps:

7. Step on your right foot.

8. Step on your left foot.

Doubles Tinikling Dance

For the foot work for these Tinikling steps, both dancers should start to the right side by the bamboo poles.

Click to download the guide to doubles Tinikling.

SOURCE
Do these steps outside the bamboo poles:

1. Hop on both feet.

2. Hop another hop on both feet.

Hop between the poles for these steps:

3. Hop on both feet.

4. Do another hop using both feet.

Straddle the poles as you jump outside them for these steps:

5. Hop on both feet.

6. Again, hop on both feet.

Go between the poles again to finish the dance:

7. Hop on both feet.

8. Do another hop on both feet.

These are the basics of the Tinikling, though the dance can be embellished with other steps for both singles and
doubles, including arm movements.

https://www.tagaloglang.com/tinikling-bamboo-dance/
Tinikling involves two people hitting 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 originated in Leyte among the Visayan
islands in central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird.

Once taught simply as a folk dance from the Philippines, it has recently become popular in the sports curricula of
elementary schools as it involves skills similar to jumping rope. It’s now a new, fun form of aerobic exercise that
also improves spatial awareness, rhythm, foot and leg speed, agility, and coordination.

Tinikling: Philippine Dance

There are now so many tinikling products available in the United States. Not just tinikling music CDs and dance-
steps instruction DVDs, but also tinikling sticks and cords! For the authentic experience, you must find thick
bamboo poles!

Tinikling Design
The tinikling dance is one of the most dramatic dances in the Philippines. It is named after the long-legged tikling
bird.

The movements in the dance are an imitation of the tikling birds as they hop between tall reeds and tree branches.

Dancers perform along the sides and between two poles, which are struck together in time to the music.

Hopping in between the bamboo poles without getting caught demonstrates skill, but it is still a lot of fun even if
you get caught.

The tinikling step is the basic step throughout the dance. Once you have mastered the step, the other fancy steps
will come easy.

Divide yourselves in groups of four. Place the bamboo poles parallel to each other, about a foot and a half apart.

One board goes under each end of the poles, in a horizontal position, about four to six inches from the end of the
poles.

Sit in Indian style, facing the record player.

Let’s get acquainted with the introductory music of the tinikling dance. Listen carefully to a three-four rhythm of
eight majors.

//MUSIC//

Now we will clap to the rhythm in this manner. Make believe your two hands are the two poles being hit together.

Strike the palms of your hands against your thighs. Counts one two.

Strike palms together once. Count three.

Clap with me for eight majors.

Ready? And one two together. Two two together. Three two together. Four two three. Five two three. Six two three.
Seven two three. Eight two three.
https://discoveringroutes.com/the-evolution-of-tinikling/
Tinikling is perhaps the most famous traditional dance of the Philippines. Based on the movements of the tikling
bird, Tinikling is a form of dance in which two people clap two poles of bamboo together while other dancers
weave through and try to avoid getting their feet caught between the bamboo. The dance originated in the Visayas
region of the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. It’s a dance that involves a lot of skill (and a lot of ice if
you’re ankles get caught between the bamboo). It’s refreshingly fun, and relatively easy to learn.

In fact Tinikling has become so widespread, that it’s often used in American P.E. classes as an aerobics exercise. And
this has brought about an interesting shift in younger Filipinos and Filipino-Americans: the modernisation of
tradition.

Originally, Tinikling is performed in national costume and to the tune of Philippine folk songs played by an
ensemble composed of traditional Filipino and Spanish string instruments.

But this is where tradition takes a turn for a more modern audience. With its naturally rhythmic nature, Tinikling is
a great form of dance for modern songs with strong percussion and bass. Filipino youth all over the world have
begun embracing the tradition of Tinikling while mixing it with the music of today.

It’s a reflection of the past with a look towards the future. It’s a combination of cultures – traditional dance with
modern songs – that has struck a chord with Filipino youth; a chord that, I think, is resoundingly optimistic.
http://raizhelle18.tripod.com/thesis/lesson4g.html
TINIKLING

This dance is a favorite in the Visayan Island, especially

in the province of Leyte. The "Tilkling" is a bird with long legs
and a long neck. The 'Tikling" birds as they walk between grass
stems or run over tree branches. This spectacular dance is usally
accompanied by a song.

The performers dance along the sides and between two bamboo
poles, about nine feet long, which are placed horizontally on the
ground. The poles are struck together in time to the music. Skill
is demonstrated in dancing between the bamboos, and in keeping the
feet from being caught when the poles are struck together. There
is much fun, however, when the bamboo players catch the feet of
the dancers.

Two bamboo players sit opposite each other on the ground

holding the ends of the bamboo poles ( sometimes long pestles).
Two pieces of board or bamboo, about thirty inches long and two
inches thich, are placed under the poles, about one foot from the
ends.

javascript button
COSTUME. Girls wear "balintawak" or " patadiong." Boys
wear " barong tagalog" and long red trousers with
one leg rolled up. They dance barefoot.
 MUSIC is divided into two parts: A and B.

COUNT one, two, three to a measure.

FORMATION. Dancers stand at the left side of the bamboo

poles, girls in front, facing the audience.

javascript button
BAMBOO RHYTMS. (abbreviation is B.R.)
B.R. I. Strike bamboo poles together once by sliding
them against the board or lifting them an inch or
so open the bamboos about a foot apart and strike
them twice against the boards. This is repeated
as many times as necessary in regular rhythm.

B.R. II. Strike bamboos once as above, open bamboos a foot

apart and strike them three times against the boards
with R, L, R, hands of bamboo player number 1 and
with L,R, L hands of number 2.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/125448113/History-of-Tinikling
TINIKLING

The tinikling dance is one of the most popular and well-known of traditional Philippine dances.
[1]
The tinikling is a pre-Spanish dance from thePhilippines that 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. The name is a reference to
birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number ofrail species; the term tinikling
literally means "tikling-like."[2]The dance originated in Leyte among the Visayan islands in the
central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers.
The dance 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.
Legend says that Tinikling originated during the time when the Spaniards took over the
Philippines. Natives worked on large plantations under the control of the King of Spain. Those
who didn't work productively were punished by standing between two bamboo poles. [3]
For this traditional folk dance, females wear a dress called balintawak or patadyong, and males
wear a uniform called 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 uniform is usually lightweight long sleeved shirts and worn with red trousers. Dancers
wear no footwear while performing. [4]
Tinikling involves five steps; during the first four steps, the dancers dance opposite each other,
and during the last step, they start from the same side of the poles. The bamboo is also used as a
percussive instrument as it is banged against the ground (or a piece of wood to make it easier to
hold) and each other in a pattern. The bamboo has to be closed hard enough to make a sound, and
the dancers must be quick enough to not get their foot (or feet) caught. As the dance continues,
the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of the clashing bamboo and the
quickness of feet demonstrated by the dancers thrilling and awing the crowd. In the United
States, this dance had 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.[5]
Today Tinikling is taught throughout the United States. In grades K-12 they use this type of folk
dance as an aerobic exercise for physical education classes to help expand physical movements
such as hand coordination, foot speed, and also their rhythm.

ORIGINS
The tinikling originated in Leyte in the Visayan islands of the Philippines. One legend has it that
centuries ago, when Spain conquered the Philippines, peasants who did not work hard enough
were punished by having to stand between two poles on the ground that were then beaten against
their feet. Jumping to escape the beating evolved into the dance.

COSTUME OF TINIKLING
Women wear the balintawak, a dress with wide-arched sleeves and a panuelo or handkerchief on
the shoulder. Some women wear the patadyong, a checkered skirt paired with a blouse made out
of pineapple fiber. And the men wear common formal attire called the barong Tagalog. It is a
lightweight long-sleeved shirt worn over an undershirt and paired with red trousers. And the
dancers remain barefoot for the dance.

https://prezi.com/m/blwzw0xb_tbz/tinikling/