Of mimetic dances and rediscovery

So the ‘dancing bear’ bit has begun. But together with the now-intensifying dance practices (yeah, folkdancing is hardcore stuff, I kid you not), is a slow rediscovery of the culture and heritage that we, as ambassadors so to speak, have to know and own. I’ve researched a bit on our number one workout dance: the Itik-itik. It may sound funny, and boy did we have quite a bit of laughs learning it, but the grace and effortlessness with which the Bayanihan dancers in the clip below display, makes me want to stomp over to the dance studio with a vengeance, to practice–not just to save my hide from embarrassment at our impending performances in Connecticut, but to try and squeeze out just an ounce of justice to the beautiful dance.

Just so you’ll know, the Itik-itik is a Visayan folkdance that mimics the movements of wading and flying ducks (itik). Dancers copy the the short, swaying gait of waddling feet, and the intense energy of close-cropped flapping wings.

Wish us luck.

Thanks to the section on Visayan Dances for the info.