This dance tells the story of Princess Gandingan from the Maranao epic Darangen. As she walks through the forest during an earthquake, she gracefully avoids falling trees represented by crisscrossed bamboo poles. Her slave accompanies her. The princess is finally saved by the prince. Variations include a version where the princess plays with butterflies in the garden, represented by fan dancers. When performed by the Bayanihan Dance Company, the Singkil was adapted for Western audiences but became very popular. It involves four movements and skilled manipulation of fans representing winds. Royal women in Sulu still learn this difficult dance today.

1. SINGKIL

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

3. History
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 "Darangen" 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
crisscrossed 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.

4. 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
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.

5. Adaptation
•Bayanihan
When the Bayanihan Dance Company began
performing the Singkíl, the traditional dance was adapted
to convey Western aesthetics. The Bayanihan portrayal,
branded as the Princess Dance or the Royal Maranao
Fan Dance, became so popular that it is often mistaken
for the authentic version of the dance.

6. Further adaptation divided the dance into 4
movements:
First movement- Asik, where the slave with umbrella is
introduced.
Second movement- entrance of Putri Gandingan, the
entourage of female fan (sometimes scarves) dancers, and
the Prince.
Third movement- Patay, which is a slow section, and is a
structural dance convention often found in Western
performances.
Fourth movement- the climax in which all dancers dance to
the crescendo of music.

7. SINGKIL DANCE STEP
1. Start the Singkil dance by using hopping and stepping
patterns. Climb onto a designated set of bamboos being
held horizontally by two men. Continue hopping and
stepping patterns on the bamboo to move around while
making body and hand movements.
2. Enter making slow point steps while a fan is in each
hand. Using the wrists, move the fan in a variety of ways,
including up and down movements and swirling
movements to tell a story.

8. 3. Enter and dance to the center of the stage with a fan in
both hands and moving your hips and arms. In the center,
dance in a stationary position. Move only the hips and arms.
Use the fan in both hands to make swirls along the body
while continually dancing. The men will begin clicking the
bamboos; move along the bamboos, avoiding any of the
clicking. Continue this when the male dancer comes out to
end the courting aspect of the dance.

10. SINGKIL COSTUMES

11. SINGKIL PRINCESS

12. SINGKIL PRINCE

15. Props
Umbrella
Fan

16. Bamboo

17. ☺