History of Singkil Folk Dance?

Answer 1

SINGKIL iz a MUSLIM folk dance that came frm tha southern pt of the PHILLIPINES, itz roots are frm tha Ramayana hindu folklore, simular to Thai, Khmer Indonesian & Malaysian)
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=singkil

SINGKIL, a dance originating from Lanao del Sur, Mindanao is said to be a dance of Muslim royalty.
To the rythmic clapping of bamboo poles, the dancers weave expertly through crisscrossed bamboos, the ladies dressed in elegant Muslim costumes waving great big fans, the men flipping brightly colored handkerchiefs right and left.
The dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining a dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo.
Legend has it that SINGKIL originated from the day the diwatas(some from of nymph or fairy)played a joke on Princess Gandingan as she was taking a walk in the woods. The diwatas caused an eathquake that made the trees tremble and the rocks to roll and knock against each other. Nothing daunted, Princess Gandingan skipped nimbly from place to place and no tree or rock ever touched her tiny feet.
There are many versions of SINGKIL. When performed by ladies of the royalty of Lanao, the dancer is usually accompanied by a waiting lady, who holds a beautifully decorated umbrella over the Princess' head wherever she goes.
The dance has no definite number of steps or figures.Even the arm movements are improvised and executed according to the mood and skill of the dancers.
Quoted from FOLK DANCES volume 5, Francisca Reyes Aquino, 1983
http://www.sinfonia.or.jp/~infortec/hotspots/boracay/singkil.htm

This 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 epic 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 of the forest. The criscrossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling, which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her throughout her ordeal. Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers skillfully manipulate apir, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. Royal princesses to this day in the Sulu Archipelago are required to learn this most difficult and noble dance.

There are other versions of Singkil. Perhaps the version more widely performed by dance companies is the "Garden Singkil." The story goes that the princess goes into her garden, accompanied by her slave, and plays with the butterflies, which are represented by the fan dancers. The movements of the fans supposedly represent those of the butterflies, as opposed to the diwatas. In another popular version, the prince uses a scarf instead of a sword. http://members.aol.com/niftynift/private/singkil.mid
http://pw1.netcom.com/~ntamayo/muslim.html
http://www.tcnj.edu/~aaa/dance%20pics/singkil.jpg

Answer 2

Singkil Dance

Answer 3

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History of Singkil Folk Dance?

Answer 4

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Answer 5

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Answer 6

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