BAHAY - KUBO
Among the Tagalog folk songs this is perhaps the easiest
and best known by the children."Bahay Kubo" means nipa hut. The
story of the song is this: the dancer talks about his or her nipa
hut which is very small. It has a vegetable garden full of
"singkamas", eggplant, "sigarilyas", peanuts, tomatoes, squash,
onion, mustard, and other vegetables. This dance was arranged for
small children. The dancers sings the words of the song as they
dance.
COSTUME. The girls are dressed like farmerettes and the
boys as workers in the fields. The sleeves of
the "camisa" of the girls and the boys and the
trousers of the boys are rolled up. The girls may
cover their heads with a neckerchief or any piece
of cloth. The girls carry baskets of vegetables
mentioned in the song and the boys carry any small
farm implement which they can easily handle with
their small hands.
MUSIC. Has only one part of sixteen measures.
COUNT. One, two, three to a measure.
FORMATION. Partners stand opposite to each other about six
feet apart. Girl stands at partner's right side
when facing the audience. From one to any number
may take part, the more the better.
INTRODUCTION
Three step turn right in place and bow to audience or
partner...............................................2 M
I
Sings the first verse. Girls carry the baskets with
both hands and boys their farm implements. Partners face each
other.
(a) Take fourteen step swings sideward R and L alternately.
Swing their baskets and implements to sideward R and L
alternately.
(b) Put the baskets and implement down on the floor out of
the way of dancing.................................2 M
II
No Singing.
(a) Starting with the right foot, partners take three steps
forward to meet at the center (cts. 1, 2, 3). Point L foot
in front (cts. 1, 2, 3). Girls holding their skirts, boy's
hands on waist.....................................2 M
(b) Bend the trunk slightly to sideward right and "kumintang"
right hand, left hand on waist (cts. 1, 2, 3)......1 M
(c) Repeat (b) to the left. Reverse the position of the
hands..............................................1 M
(d) Repeat (a) going backward, starting with L foot....2 M
(e) Repeat (b) and (c), starting with the left hand....2 M
(f) Repeat all.........................................8 M
III
Sings the second verse.
(a) Take one waltz step sideward right (cts. 1, 2, 3) and one
sideward left (cts. 1, 2, 3). Arms in lateral position
moving sideward right and left.....................2 M
(b) Point R foot in front (cts. 1, 2) close the same foot to
the L (ct. 3). Place the left hand on waist, bring right
hand forward with palm up on counts 1, 2 and bring it close
to chest on count 3................................1 M
(c) Point R foot again in front (cts. 1, 2). Step the same foot
close to 1 (ct. 3). Repeat the same hand movements in
(b)................................................1 M
(d) Repeat (a, b, c) starting with L foot. Reverse the hand
positions..........................................4 M
(e) Repeat all (a, b, c, d)............................8 M
IV
No sing ing.
(a) Take two sway-balance steps with a point (R, L), arms in
fourth position, R and L arm high alternately......4 M
(b) Starting with the R foot, take 4 waltz steps forward going
to partner's place. Turn about on fourth waltz step. Partners
pass by each other's right shoulder. Arms in lateral position
moving sideward R and L alternately................4 M
(c) Repeat all, finishing in proper place. Bow to partner or
to the audience on last measure....................8 M
EXIT. Take baskets and tools from the floor. Starting with R
foot, execute waltz steps forward to exit. Use any native music in ¾ time.