TINIKLING

History:
The Philippines most famous dance named after the tikling bird which lives in rice
paddies. The dance follows a relentlessly accelerating pace as dancers hop in and
out of rapidly clapping bamboo poles, mimicking the movements of a bird when
confronted by traps set by farmers.
STARTING POSITION
Partners stand side by side facing audience. Boy at the left side of the girl
and girl at the right side of the boy.
GIRL Left hand extended sideward left holding partners right hand while
right hand holding skirt. Feet in 4th position. Right foot obliquely forward.
BOY Right hand extended sideward right holding partners left hand while
left hand on waist. Feet in 4th position. Left foot obliquely forward left.
CLAPPERS:
Position Girl heels sit
Boy-right heel sit while left foot supporting
Bamboo rhythm (1,2,3)
Strike (1) Strike (2) Close (3)
Right wrist in the one striking on the floor before it closes.
FIGURE 1
BOY After 5 beats, boy skips with the left foot going inside the bamboo
poles on the 6 beat, hop on the right foot while turning partner inwards. Skips out of
the bamboo poles with the left foot while holding the partner in cross armed
position.
GIRL After 5 beats executes a half turn to the right while skipping with the
left foot inside the bamboo poles, hop on right foot while arms in crossed positions,
skips with the left foot out of the bamboo.
Now both boy and girl execute 2 more skip and hop steps in and out of the
bamboo poles. Girl in front of the boy with arms crossed while boy at the back of the
girl holding hands of the girl. Continue by executing the pivot turn both boy and girl
hopping on their right foot twice going out of the bamboo with their left foot once
and repeat. Girl still on front of the boy and boy behind the girl. Same arm and hand
positions. Releasing holding positions both execute a full turn in place by hopping
twice in their right foot ending face to face.
FIGURE 2
DO-SI-DO Partner face each other to execute the Do-SI-Do step by hopping in
and out of the bamboo poles starting with right foot passing left to left, backwards
with the left foot passing right to right, this will be done twice. Continue executing

hop steps sideward right and sideward left 4 times on the last 4 measures, facing
each other.

FIGURE 3
DOUBLES Partners facing each other executing the hop step twice inside both feet
inside the bamboos and a hop with boot feet outside. Four times face to face and 4
times back to back and repeat.

FIGURE 4
Hopping with the right foot inside the bamboo poles 2 times and hop on the left foot
sideward left outside the bamboo poles repeat hopping with the right foot inside,
twice but this time cross left foot to sideward right outside the bamboo across right
foot. Partners facing direction shoulders facing audience and then opposite.
FIGURE 5
FAST TEMPO Partners facing each other execute the fast hoping in and out of the
bamboo starting with the right foot in opposite directions. Girls right hand extended
forward in a handshake position while left hand on skirt. Boys right hand extended
forward in a handshake position while left hand on waist.
FIGURE 6
The contraganza steps with lateral arm movement outside the bamboo.

FIGURE 7
FINALE Hopping with right foot twice inside bamboo poles, left outside the
bamboo without changing to finish dance outside the bamboo.

CLAPPERS:
Position Girl heels sit
Boy-right heel sit while left foot supporting
Bamboo rhythm (1,2,3)
Strike (1) Strike (2) Close (3)
Right wrist in the one striking on the floor before it closes.