The Sua-Ku-Sua is a courtship dance originated by the Tausug people of Jolo, Sulu, Philippines. It honors the pomelo tree, which is an important source of livelihood for the Tausug. The dance likens the gentle leaves, fruits, fragrance, and slender body of the pomelo tree to that of a lady. Couples perform the dance swaying two white fans to represent pomelo tree leaves, singing with faces covered in rice powder. The dance movements and costumes show Chinese cultural influences from the region.

1. SUA- KU-SUA

2. SUA- KU- SUA
Dance Researcher
Meaning
Dance Culture
Place of Origin
Country of Influence
Ethno- linguistic Group
Classification
: Ramon A. Obusan
: My Pomelo Tree
: Muslim- lowland (Coastal)
: Jolo, Sulu
: China, Malaysia and Indonesia
: Tausug
: Courtship

3. The dependence of the Tausug on the
Pomelo tree and its fruits have
created a bond between the two
which prompted the Tausog of Jolo,
Sulu to make a dance honoring the
latter. The Sua-Ku-Sua or “my
Pomelo tree” is a dance that likens
the sua’s gentle leaves, attractive
fruits, its fragrance and slender body
to that of a lady. Performed by
couples, the Sua-Ku-Sua dancers
make use of two white fans that are
swayed, as if to signify the swaying of
the leaves of the sua tree while
singing along with the music in their
rice powder-covered faces.

5. Background
Aside from being known as fierce warriors, the Tausug of
Jolo, Sulu are also remarkable as seafarers and farmers.
In Sulu, extensive orchards are planted with coconut and
Pomelo and the field with stables like rice and root crops.
Pomelo fruit serve as an important source of income of the
people of Sulu. Their dependence on Pomelo fruits for their
livelihood inspired them to create Sua- Ku- Sua dance.

6. The movements of the dance compare sua’s gentle leaves,
slender branches, attractive fruits, and fragrant flowers to a
lady. During the performance, the couples sing while flapping
two white fans which represent the leaves rustling in the wind.
The performers, especially women, dance with faces
thickly covered with finely ground rice powder. Their eyebrows
and sideburns are enhanced with soot for aesthetic purposes.

7. Movements/ Steps Particular to Dance
Creative Imagery: Fans transform
into tiny sails, face mirrors,
butterflies, shields, and leaves.
Sua-Ku- Sua’s traditional steps
are with Chinese influence.

8. Dance Properties
Costume:
• Female
Top (Barawasi): Traditional loose blouse, long sleeves with deep,
plunging key hole neckline; extra panels attached to the right
and left chest decorated with many tiny brass buttons.
 Material: Printed or plain Chinese silk or cotton.

9. Pants (Sawal or Kantiu): Loose Chinese pants with a 10 inch
soft white band (coco curdo) attached to a wide waist. To tuck
the pants in, the white band is overlapped in front , one side
on top of the other and rolled out to form a tight belt.
 Material: Chinese silk or any silky material preferably in
navy blue, sunshine yellow, grass green, red, or orange
colors.

10. Shoulder Band (Siyag): A separate wrap- around malong of
rich material strung over the right shoulder crossing the chest
and hanging on the left side.

11. Headpiece: There are three choices:
1. Gold or brass filigree called tusuk
2. Paper bills pasted on slender sticks;
3. Pasteboard cut-outs in the front tip 8- 10 inches high ,
similar to Chinese crowns covered with gold foil.

12. Accessories: Gold or imitation gold earrings, necklace, bracelets,
and brooches.

13. Suggested Footwear : Dancers are barefoot.

14. Male
Top (Bajo): Short waist collarless shirt; open front with the
right panel overlapping the left, studded with many tiny brass
buttons and is not intended to close the front but used as an
additional shirt decoration. The shirt is allowed to drop on the
right side
Material: Printed or plain Chinese silk or cotton.

15. Pants (Sawal or Kantiu): Similar to the pants of females but in
darker colors and bolder design.

16. Accessories: Money belt, Sarok hat, Pis siyabit (rectangular
hand-woven scarf tied on the head or hung loosely over one
shoulder) , Kris (wavy knife) or barong (leaf- knife)

17. Suggested Footwear: Dancers are barefoot

18. Music
• 2/4 and 4/4; composed of three parts- A, B, . Gabbang
bamboo xylophone are shaped- like a small boat. Bamboo
slats are thinned and cut to graduated sizes to produce
three octaves of pentatonic scale.

19. Count: One, two to a measure in 2/4 time signature; 1, 2, 3,
4 to a measure in 4/4 time signature.

20. • Ayessa Mae Abana
• Chester Tungcul
• Kim Andrei Ginez
• Krisha Malupeng
• Jona Marie Fernandez
• Jeremy Escobar
• Irene Antonio
• Zyrenn Irigayen
Members: