I was once gifted with coconut shells from a Filipino friend and began to wonder about the uses of coconut shells in dance. Upon research, I found out that the Maglalatik dance in Philippines uses coconut shells as props. This led me to become interested in the unfamiliar Filipino dance culture. On the other hand, having learnt Martha Graham dance technique for 5 years, I am relatively familiar with this dance culture. This led me to wonder if there are similarities and difference between Filipino Folk dance and American Modern dance. Therefore, I will be investigating the similarities and differences of these two dance cultures not only in terms of historical and current context, but also in terms dance elements.
Historical Context
Filipino folk dance and American modern dance differ in their origins. Filipino folk dance originated during the pre-colonial times when the indigenous people of Philippines started to dance in cultural celebrations and rituals. Filipino folk dances were a way of communicating with the gods, asking for good health and good weather for harvest. Tribes also danced during social gatherings, as a way of expressing their
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Tricks in the Maglalatik dance was used for training martial arts and a form of physical training for men in the past. However, today’s audience not only looks at storyline, but they also look towards the aesthetics and tricks that interest them. The local Filipinos would refer to this as ‘Pasicat’, which means to show off. (Tariao) Thus, certain movements in the Maglalatik today may differ from the Maglalatik in the past. For example, Manila Ballet uses the Maglalatik as a touring repertoire. They now perform the Maglalatik with pointed feet and are more pulled up in the core. Furthermore, Manila Ballet adds in more tricks and contemporizes it to show off the dancer’s