Singkil

Singkil (or Sayao sa Kasingkil) is a famous Philippine dance of the Maguindanao people, but was popularized by the nearby Maranao peoples of Lake Lanao and later the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company.

Background

Also known as the "Princess Dance" or the "Royal Maranao Fan Dance", the dance is based on the "Darangen", the Maranao interpretation of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. The dance itself narrates a scene in which Sita ("Putri Gandingan") escapes her abductor, the demon king Ravana and is lost in the forests of Alangka, thereupon being found by her husband, Prince Rama ("Rajah Bantugan"). Interesting to note is that while in the original version of the epic, Rama selects Hanuman, the Hindu monkey-god, to find Sita on his behalf, in the Singkil it is Rajah Bantugan himself who finds her. This possibly suggests a modification of the original Hindu narrative in order for it to be compatible with the predominant Islamic monotheistic ideology.

Performers would therefore gracefully step in and out of bamboo poles, arranged in a criss-cross fashion while manipulating either fans or simply their bare hands.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2007
url = http://www.hiyas.org/southern.html
title = Southern Island Suite
format = html
work = Hiyas Philippine Folk Dance Company
publisher =
accessdate = 15 February
accessyear = 2007] Performed at celebrations and festivals, traditionally the dance was performed by a girl of royal blood intent on advertising herself to would-be-suitors for her future marriage.

The dance is said to have been named after either the leg bracelets or anklets of silver, nickel or brass with chiming bells of the same namecite web
last = Mercurio
first = Philip Dominguez
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2007
url = http://www.pnoyandthecity.blogspot.com
title = Traditional Music of the Southern Philippines
format = html
work = PnoyAndTheCity: A center for Kulintang - A home for Pasikings
publisher =
accessdate = 15 February
accessyear = 2007] or the act of voluntarily or accidentally entangling one’s feet in either vines or tall grass.

Because of modernization by PCN (Pilipino Cultural Night) student groups and by theatrical dance companies, Singkil has unfortunately been portrayed incorrectly by even the most esteemed Philippine folk dance choreographers. Traditionally, Singkil was performed by only women, inclusive of the clappers and the individual in the role of Putri Gandingan.

References