BALSE

Source

Meaning:

Balse means waltz

Valse in Spanish

Dance Culture:

Lowland Christian

Place of Origin:

Marikina, Rizal

Ethno linguistic Group:

Tagalog

Classification

of the Dance:

Religious

Dance Literature

Balse was a popular dance in Marikina, Rizal during the Spanish times. This dance was performed after the lutrina and the music that accompanied the dancers was played by the musikong bungbong.

Traditionally the lutrina is usually held when people of a certain community suffer from a long dry season or pestilence of any kind. The participants carry lighted candles and they pray along the way with a statue of their patron saint.

After the procession, the participants gather at the house or yard of the Hermana and the bags of foods are distributed to them. During refreshments or after it, there is dancing and singing by the people gathered there.

Dance Properties:

Costume:

Girl: Balintawak style with tapis, soft pañuelo and corcho.

Boy: barong tagalog, white trousers and chinelas

Costume:

Countings:

1, 2, 3 to a measure

Music

Formation:

Partners face each other about 6 feet apart, girl

standing at the right when facing audience. Any number of pairs may

participate in this dance.

B

audience

B

G

G

6 FEET AWAY

Basic Movements

Basic Dance Steps: Waltz 3 step turn

Basic Dance Terms: Reverse T Position Ball Room Position

Ball Room Position

Dance Instruction

Music Introduction

Partners face each other.

(a) Execute a three step turn right in place (cts. 1. 2. 3), Feet together and bow to each other (cts. 1 2, 3)….2M

Girl holds skirt, Boy’s hands on waist.

Figure I Music APartners face each other. Throughout this

figure Girl holds skirt, Boy places hands on waist.

(a) Starting with R foot, take four waltz steps obliquely forward right, passing by L shoulders, going to partner’s place...4M

(b) Repeat (a), moving obliquely backward left to proper places….4M

(c) Repeat (a) moving obliquely forward left, passing by R shoulders….4M

(d) Take two waltz step obliquely backward right (2 M), three step turn right to proper places (2 M)….4M

(e) Repeat all (a-d), starting with L foot and moving obliquely forward left first. Reverse turn in (d)….16M

Figure II Music BPartners face each other. Execute forearm turns to

reverse “‘T” position. L and R alternately (b-g)

(a) Partners take one waltz step obliquely right forward. Girl holds skirt, boy’s hands on waist….1M

(b) Face right and waltz sideward L and R in back-to-back position….2M

(c) Face each other and waltz L sideward….1M

(d) Face left and waltz sideward, R and L in back-to-back position….2M

(e) Face each other and waltz L sideward…1M

(f) Repeat (b-e)….6M

(g) Face right, waltz L sideward in back-to-back position….1M

(h) Execute a three-step turn right to proper places. Girl holds skirt, Boy hands on waist….2M

(i) Repeat all (a-h), starting with L foot. Reverse direction and position of arms. 16 M

Figure III Music APartners face each other.

(a) Repeat figure I (a-d). Both hands of Girl are placed at the left side of waist, with finger tips (except thumbs and little fingers) touching waist, palms up, wrists facing outward toward left. Boy encircle arms overhead with third fingers touching, palms down. Partners bend trunks slightly to right and left alternately looking at their hands as they move. When doing the turn, Girl holds skirt and Boy places hands on waist….16M

(b) Repeat figure I (e). Girl repeats the hand position and movement of Boy and vice-versa in (a). Partners take the same hand position in (a) in turning…16M

Figure IV Music BPartners face each other.

(a) Boy starting with L foot and Girl starting with R, take two waltz steps forward to meet at center. Arms down at sides…2M

(b) Hold In ballroom dance position and waltz around going to any direction …12M

(C) Release hold. Take a three step turn (right for Girl, left for Boy) to separate from each other…2M

(d) Repeat all (a-c), Bow to each other at the last count of the last measure…16M

Note:

1. Figure IV may be done once only, if desired. If many pairs are participating, a definite direction should be taken, clockwise or counterclockwise, when waltzing around in (b).

2. For demonstration, participants may be arranged in a square or in any desired formation.