June: Recreational Wellness

Singkil dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess.

Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the 14th century, tells the fateful story of Princess Gandingan, who was caught in the middle of a forest during an earthquake caused by the diwatas, or fairies or nymph of the forest. The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling, which she gracefully avoids. Her waiting lady holds a beautifully decorated umbrella while loyally accompanying her throughout her ordeal. before she is saved by the prince.

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. This dance is a specialty of Leyte.

The term tinikling literally means "tikling-like". The name is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number of rail species.

The steps of this dance are an imitation of the movements of a “tikling” bird that hops and escapes the traps set by hunters. Moving with poise and grace, the dancers skip in-between two bamboo poles that are held to pound rhythmically against each other.

The Māori word ‘kapa’ means to stand in a row or rank, and haka is a dance. The term ‘kapa haka’ means a group or groups standing in rows to perform traditional Māori dances, accompanied by sung or chanted words. Kapa haka is both an ancient and a living art form.

Contrary to popular belief, haka is not only a war dance. There are many different types of haka, each appropriate for a different occasion. According to haka and Māori-language expert Tīmoti Kāretu, the haka provides a platform for its composer to ‘vent his spleen, to sing someone’s praises, to welcome his guests, to open a new meeting house or dining hall, to pay his respects to the dead, to honour his ancestors, to teach his traditions to the succeeding generations.’

Source: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

A compilation of folk dances from various African countries.

Khon, the Khon Masked Dance Drama in Thailand, is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements.

Khon performances – which involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes – depict the glory of Rama, the hero and incarnation of the god Vishnu, who brings order and justice to the world.

The history of the Banga Dance tells us a story of Filipino women’s strength, resilience and grace. Banga (pronounced ba-nga), meaning “pot”, is an earthen container originated by the northern Cordillera region of the Philippines.

Taiko is Japan’s traditional percussion instrument.

The taiko origins embody a unique cultural and historical specificity to the extent that the taiko played and plays an essential role in classical performing-arts touchstones such as the “Noh” (能) and “kabuki” (歌舞伎) theater, the folk performing arts, conventional Japanese festivals, and sacred religious ceremonies. It is in this sense and tradition that taiko is said to be an instrument which aptly captures the Japanese spirit and culture.

Flamenco is an art from Andalusia that combines several elements such as dance, singing and guitar. The result of gypsy, Arab, Christian and Jewish cultural miscegenation, flamenco is, today, an art recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2010.

The role of the flamenco dancer is to physically interpret the lyrics of the song, with smooth and elegant movements that contrast, sometimes, with intense ‘taconeos‘ or turns. Dancers maintain a high dose of emotion, passion, tension in their movements and facial expressions.

Odissi is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, originating from the state of Orissa, East India.

Like most Indian classical temple dance forms, Odissi has also been influenced by strong religious beliefs. It follows the philosophy of Nritta, which deals with the aesthetic arrangement of abstract movements of the body, and Nritya which employs facial expressions, hand gestures and body movements to convey a particular emotion.

Source: https://indianculture.gov.in/

Argentine Tango is a dance originated in the working class neighborhoods of the largest cities in Argentina and Uruguay at the end of the XIX century. It represents the cultural mix of immigrants and the established population. Tango is a fusion of European, African and gaucho styles.

It was originally danced exclusively by male workers, and there were only three instruments used, including the harp, flute, and violin.

In 1914 there were about 100,000 more men than women in Argentina. The only way for a man to get close to a woman was either to go to a brothel or to dance. As a result, tango exudes passion, desperate longing and sexual innuendo.

Hip-hop dance is a vibrant form of dance that combines a variety of freestyle movements such as popping, locking, and breaking. It is characterized by a high level of playfulness and exploration through concepts and techniques that hold meaning and value, informed by personal, social, cultural, and environmental experiences.

So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) is an American reality television dance competition show that airs in the United States. This featured hip hop routine from season 16 of SYTYCD is performed by competitors Bailey Munoz and Mariah Russell to Lizzo’s ‘Tempo’. You can watch the clip from the episode for more context.

Belly dancing is considered by many experts to be the oldest form of dance, having roots in all ancient cultures from the orient to India to the mid-East.

Probably the greatest misconception about belly dancing is that it is intended to entertain men. Throughout history, this ritualized expression has usually been performed for other women, generally during fertility rites or parties preparing a young woman for marriage. In most cases, the presence of men is not permitted.

Belly dancing is natural to a woman’s bone and muscle structure with movements emanating from the torso rather than in the legs and feet. The dance often focuses upon isolating different parts of the body, moving them independently in sensuous patterns, weaving together the entire feminine form. Belly dancing is generally performed barefoot, thought by many to emphasize the intimate physical connection between the dancer, her expression, and Mother Earth.