Binasuan Folk Dance

The binasuan is a Filipino folk dance in which the performer holds full wine glasses in
each hand while performing balancing tricks. Wine may be used to fill the glasses, but
other liquids may be substituted. The arms are rotated over and under the shoulder in
order to keep the palms facing up so as not to spill the liquid while nevertheless allowing
the radius to cross over the ulna via pronation. Binasuan originated in Pangasinan and
is popular at festive events such as weddings.

Since the binasuan inverts the arm through rotation, it is sometimes given as a
macroscopic, physical demonstration of the rotation properties of a spin-½ spinor. As
the liquid never spills, the rotation can all occur within the same plane. Upon a rotation
of 2π radians, the elbow changes between pointing up and down. Upon a rotation of
4π radians, the palm "doubly covers" the shoulder, and the elbow points in its original
direction.

History
Binasuan is a folk dance that originated in Bayambang, Pangasinan,. The word
“binasuan” means “with the use of drinking glasses.” The dancers balance glasses on
their heads and in their hands as they move. The glasses are filled with rice wine, which
makes any misstep a messy mistake. People dance binasuan at weddings and
festivals. A group of dancers generally performs binasuan, moving in unison, but
occasionally breaking into smaller groups and performing different choreography. For
example, they can begin in a circle, and then form two columns, which then bend into
semicircles, and one follows the other to reform the circle. The music is in three-quarter
time.
COSTUMES
Maglalatik Folk Dance
The Maglalatik (also known as Manlalatik or Magbabao) is an indigenous dance from
the Philippines. Coconut shell halves are secured onto the dancers' hands and on vests
upon which are hung four or six more coconut shell halves. The dancers perform the
dance by hitting one coconut shell with the other; sometimes the ones on the hands, the
ones on the body, or the shells worn by another performer, all in time to a fast
drumbeat.

Like many native Filipino dances, it is intended to impress the viewer with the great skill
of the dancer, and in some "Filipino Martial Arts" (FMA) circles, it has been noted that
the Maglalatik "consists of a trapping and boxing method hidden in a dance."

The name of the dance means "latik-maker", from latik, a coconut product that is used
in Filipino cooking.

Costume
Costume and Tradition

Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight

between the Moros and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut meat during the
Spanish rule, this dance is also shown to pay tribute to the town’s patron saint, San
Isidro Labrador. It has a four-part performance such as the palipasan and the baligtaran
showing the intense battle, the paseo and the escaramusa- the reconciliation. Moro
dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are
male; with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips
Kuratsa Folk Dance
The Kuratsa is highly favored by the Visayan people especially the Waray people of the
Eastern Visayan region in the Philippines. Strictly speaking, The Kuratsa must be done
the amenudo-way; that is, only one couple dances it at a time. Believed to be a Mexican
import (supposedly from La Cucaracha dance typical to Monterrey region of Mexico)-
the Kuratsa is however, very different in the manner of execution to the Mexican
counterpart. Even the "basic" Kuratsa music is not based on Mexican or even Spanish
melodies but just bolero-inspired lilting music. A very interesting dance caught up the
eyes of the beholder.
Philippine dance researchers, however, point either to the Kigal and the Bikal as the
'ascendant' of the Kuratsa. The Kigal (spelled "Quigal" in early Spanish writings on
Samar culture and lifeways) is a sort battle-of-sexes couple dance that imitates mating
birds. The Kigal is in fact called by another name: Binanug or Kiglun (Kigalun?)
according to a 17th century Samarnon dictionary by Jesuit missionary to Samar, Fr.
Alcazar. It is interesting that banug is the Waray word for the 'hawk'.

Custom and Tradition

The Kuratsa is believed to be a Mexican import (supposedly from La Cucaracha dance

typical to Monterrey region of Mexico) - the Kuratsa is however, very different in the
manner of execution than the Mexican counterpart. Even the "basic" Kuratsa music is
not based on Mexican or even Spanish melodies.

Philippine dance researchers, however, point either to the "Kigal" and the "Bikal" as the
'ascendant' of the Kuratsa. The Kigal (spelled "Quigal" in early Spanish writings on
Samar culture and lifeways) is a sort battle-of-sexes couple dance that imitate mating
birds. The Kigal is in fact called by another name: Binanug or Kiglun (Kigalun?) that's
according to a 17th century Samarnon dictionary by Jesuit missionary to Samar, Fr.
Alcazar. It is interesting that Banug uis the Waray word for the hawk.
The Bikal is rather believed to be the fore runner of the Waray Balitaw because of the
strict emphasis on "joust" of impromptu songs interspersed with dancing. The bikal is
survived by the Ismaylingay and many versions of this art is preserved by aging
"magsiriday" in Samar and to a lesser extent Leyte.

The Kigal dance step called 'sabay' is in fact very similar to the Kuratsa dance step
called 'dagit' or when more daring the 'sagparak'. Dagit means swoop while sagparak is
descriptive of a heated 'bulang' (cockfight). The block and chase portion of the Kuratsa
(called 'palanat') is never seen in the Mexican social dance La Cucaracha but is very
common among Samar 'amenudo' (or couple dances) like the Ismaylingay, Amoracion,
Alimukon, Kuradang and Pantomina.

Popular versions of this dance exist in Samar can be classified as the Kuratsa Menor
(the usual favorite) and the many versions of the daring Kuratsa Mayor. New genres of
Kuratsa evolved as a result of necessity, like-as the name implies- Kuratsa kanan
Kadam-an and a very funny Kuratsa nga Pinayungan appropriate for rainy days.

COSTUME