BAKYA DANCE
"Bakya" means wooden shoes. They are the common
footwear of the poor in the "barrios". During the rainy
season almost all people wear them. They are made in
different materials, colors, and shapes. This dance is
very interesting and lively. In a playful mood, young
boys and girls are supposed to be teasing each other
rhythmically with their "bakya".
COSTUME. Girls wear "balintawak" and boys "barong tagalog"
with red trousers. All have on "bakya".
MUSIC is divided into four parts: A, B, C, and D.
COUNT: one, two, three to a measure of ¾ time and one,
two to a measure in 2/4 time.
FORMATION. Partners stand opposite each other about six
feet apart. The girl stands at partner's right
when facing the audience. From two to any number
of even pairs may take part.
INTRODUCTION
Music Introduction
With the weight of the body on the L foot, tap R in fourth
in front (ct. 1). Tap in second (ct. 2), stamp on the same
foot close to the L in first position (ct. 3), stamp L in
place (ct. 1), pause (cts. 2, 3)......................2 M
I
Music A.
(a) Take one waltz step forward R (cts. 1, 2, 3), and one
waltz step backward L (cts. 1, 2, 3). Girls holding
skirts, boy's hands on waist......................2 M
(b) Take one sway balance with a point, starting with the
R foot. Arms in fourth position, R arm high.......2 M
(c) Repeat (a) and (b), starting with the L foot. Reverse
the arm positions in (b)..........................4 M
(d) Repeat all (a, b, c) three times.................24 M
II
Music B.
(a) Partners take two waltz steps forward (R, L) to meet at
center. Arms are in lateral position moving sideward
right and left....................................2 M
(b) Turn right about to a back-to-back position with partner.
Take one waltz step sideward right (cts. 1, 2, 3) and
one waltz sideward left (cts. 1, 2, 3). Girls holding
skirts, boy's hands on waist. Turn head to right and
left to look at partner...........................2 M
(c) Turn right about to face each other. Execute one waltz
step sideward right (cts. 1, 2, 3) and sideward left
(cts. 1, 2, 3). Hands as in (b)...................2 M
(d) Step R foot backward (cts. 1, 2), step L backward (ct. 3).
Close R foot with the L without putting weight on the R
foot (ct. 1), pause (cts. 2, 3). The steps are heavy
like stamping.....................................2 M
(e) Repeat all (a, b, c, and d) three times more.....24 M
Note: On the fourth time do the heavy steps in place (d) so
that partners are near each other at the end of this figure.
III
Music A.
Partners take off their wooden shoes and sit down in a
semi-squat or full knee bend position facing each other. Hold one
wooden shoe in each hand by the heel.
(a) Girls: Strike own "bakya" together once (ct. 1), strike
left "bakya" on the floor followed immediately by the
right in the same manner (ct. 2 or and 2), strike left
"bakya" once again on the floor (ct. 3)..........1 M
(b) Girls repeat (a) three times more................3 M
Note: Boys rest and watch the girls as they do this
movement (4 M).
(c) Boys repeat (a, b)...............................4 M
Note: Girls rest and watch the boys (4 M)
(d) Boys and girls together. Strike own "bakya" together
once (ct. 1), strike left "bakya" once on the floor
(ct. 2), right "bakya" once on the floor (ct. 3).1 M
(e) Repeat (d) five times more.......................5 M
(f) Partners: Strike own "bakya" together once (ct. 1),
strike both "bakya" with partner's twice (cts. 2, 3),
strike own (both) "bakya" on the floor (ct. 1), pause
(cts. 2, 3).....................................2 M
(g) Repeat all (a, b, c, d, e, and f)...............16 M
Note: At the last measure partners stand and quickly go to
proper places (Last two counts).
VI
Music B.
Partners still hold their own "bakya"
(a) Starting with the R foot, take two waltz steps forward
to meet at the center. Hands hanging loosely at the
sides............................................2 M
(b) Strike own "bakya" together once (ct. 1), pause (ct. 2),
girl feigns striking partner's head with her right
"bakya" while boy bend knees and evades being hit
by covering his head with his two "bakya" so that the
girl strikes his "bakya" instead of his head (ct. 3).1 M
(c) Partners turn right about so that they are in a back-to-
back position. Immediately strike own "bakya" together
once (ct. 1), pause (ct. 2), girl strikes left "bakya"
of the boy with her right once (ct. 3)...........1 M
(d) Strike own "bakya" together once (ct. 1) pause (ct. 2),
girl strikes right "bakya" of the boy with her left
once (ct. 3).....................................1 M
(e) Turn right about so that partners are facing each other
again.
(f) Strike own "bakya" together once (ct. 1) pause (ct. 2),
girl strikes the boy again, as if aiming at the faces
but he evades it by covering the face and bending the
body down (ct. 3)................................1 M
(g) Starting with the R foot, partners take two waltz steps
backward to places, boy shaking the right "bakya" to the
girl as if saying "beware".......................2 M
(h) Repeat all (a, b, c, d, e, and f), this time boys doing
the hitting movements and the girls evading the blows..8 M
Repeat all (a, b, c, d, e, f, and g)................16 M
Note: The hitting movements should be vigorous and natural.
V
Music C. Play four times.
Dancers put on the "bakya" as quickly as possible. The music
is not played until they are ready.
Girls holding skirts, boy's hands on waist throughout this
figure.
(a) Starting with the R foot, take two change steps forward
to meet at the center.............................2 M
(b) Tap R foot in second position (ct. 1), tap in fourth
in front (ct. 2), tap in second (ct. 1), tap in fourth
in front (ct. 2)..................................2 M
(c) Starting with the R foot, take two change step backward.2 M
(d) Tap R foot in second (ct. 1) tap in fourth in front
(ct. 2)...........................................1 M
Take two stamps in place (R,L) (cts. 1, 2)............1 M
(e) Repeat (a) and (b)................................4 M
(f) Starting with the R foot, take two change steps forward
to opposite place, partners passing by right shoulders.2 M
(g) Starting with the R foot, take four stamps in place turning
right about to face partner.......................2 M
(h) Repeat all (a, b, c, d, e, f, and g). Finish in proper
places...........................................16 M
VI
Music D.
Dancers group in sets of two couples.
(a) Starting with R foot, partners take two change steps
forward to meet at the center. Arms in fifth position
swaying sideward R and L..........................2 M
(b) Turn to face the center of the set. Take two change steps
forward (R, L) to meet at the center.(See diagram A).
Arms as in (a)....................................2 M
(c) All face outward. Take two change steps obliquely forward
(R, L) to proper places. (See Diagram B). Arms as in (a).2 M
(d) Starting with the R foot, dancers of each set take twelve
change steps forward moving clockwise. Arms as in (a).
Finish in proper places facing the audience......12 M
FINALE
Music Introduction
Take a three-step turn right in place and bow to the
audience......................................................2 M