The name “tinikling” is a

reference to birds locally known

as tikling, which can be any of a
number of species, but more
specifically refers to the Slaty-
breasted Rail (Gallirallusstriatus),
the Buff-banded Rail
(Gallirallusphilippensis), and the
Barred Rail
(Gallirallustorquatus).The term
tinikling literally means “to perform it ‘tikling-like.”

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.

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.

HISTORY OF TINIKLING

Tinikling is a
traditional Philippine folk
dance which originated during
the Spanish colonial era.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.
DRESS, EQUIPMENTS AND HOW TO DANCE TINIKLING

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 andankles. 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.
Tinikling 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 skilfully maneuvering
between large bamboo poles.
These days, tinikling is taught throughout
the Unite 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.
Tinikling has also been noted to have the
music changed in modern times to modern
songs with strong percussions and bass to
connect the traditions of the Philippine folk
dance with their modern-day lifestyle.
Tinikling 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 skilfully
maneuvering between large bamboo poles.