 Some
dancers have described dancing in the Philippines as a 'roller coaster
ride", a "heart-thumping adventure", a "new discovery
every time". These dance addicts, Smile and Vikky, compares
dancing in the Philippine halls to the colorful, hardy jeepney.
Yes, the JEEPNEY lives, and remains to
be the king of Philippine roads. Driven by an ingenious driver, the jeepney weaves
in and out of Manila's traffic-ridden thoroughfares. It snakes up the zigzag road to Besau
in the Mountain Province fully laden with passengers, vegetables, live pigs, yet
wondrously maintains its balance. Depending on how one looks at the situation, the jeepney
is either king or bane of the road. A jeepney ride is always an extraordinary
experience... no two rides are ever the same.
HUSTLE
is SWING...
SWING in the Philippines, whether single or
double, is nowhere near the East Coast Swing nor West Coast Swing. Local Double Swing is
nearest in rhythm to the Street Hustle, with the steps counted at "& 1 2 3 -
& 4 5 6" (8 steps in 6 beats of music.). The Dance Addict personally prefers the
other rhythm "1 2 & 3 - 4 5 & 6", but that isn't always possible if her
leader uses the former rhythm.
. . .& SWING is BOOGIE
"Back Rock - Tap Step - Tap Step" or "Tap Step - Tap
Step - Back Rock", it really doesn't matter. That's the Boogie. More accomplished
dancers dance the Jive too. Yeah, the name's the same. Read more about it in
Swing is Not the Swing.
CUSTOMERS ARE 'GUESTS';
DANCE INSTRUCTORS ARE 'DIs"
Once in the dance hall, you and I are referred to as
'guests', which somehow sounds better than 'customers'. In a way, this differentiates the
image between the peculiar practice of women dance enthusiasts hiring male partners to
dance with them, from the long-time practice of male 'customers' hiring bar hostesses to
serve and entertain them for the night. It seems to imply a more decent and
different
business arrangement. 'Dance instructors-for-hire are referred to as
D.I.s.
'BREAK ON 2' is 'OFF-BEAT'
If your DI asks you to dance the ChaChaCha, Mambo or Rumba in
'off-beat', answer 'yes' with a smile. It just simply means you're gonna 'break on
2'.
Local dancers, especially the older ones,
have been used to 'break on 1', which until recently was accepted as the correct pulsing
for the Latin dances.
NON-EXISTENT L.O.D.
Just like the Philippines jeepney, Filipino dancers are able to weave
their way through and around a cramped dance floor, grabbing any available space to
maneuver in. When dancing in the Philippines, be prepared to encounter couples dancing
against the line of dance. The idea is non-existent in the minds
of 99% of social dancers. Yet the prospects of crashing into them are less likely if you
stick to dancing within a few square meters.
IT'S OK
TO ASK A STRANGER TO DANCE, but
....
While it is acceptable for women to ask a man to dance in dance
halls, some archaic norms and attitudes still dominate the Philippines ballroom. Ask to be
introduced properly by a common friend before daring to ask for a dance.
BALLROOM QUEENS
In a country which has produced a good number of international beauty
queens, it isn't surprising that at least three women have proclaimed themselves (in more
than subtle ways) as the Ballroom Queens of the Philippines.
NO SALSA OR SWING CLUBS,
JUST BALLROOM CLUBS
Until recently, there were no specialty dance clubs in the
Philippines except RJ Bistro. Owned by steel scion
and band leader RJ Jacinto, Bistro RJ specializes in Rock 'n Roll music provided by live
bands daily. It's also one of this dance addict's, and her partner's, fave places ... no
intrigues, no 'tsismis', just lots of wonderful live music, dancing and fun. Latin bars
are starting to crop up in the city, but the Dance Addict hasn't experienced any dancing
there yet. Recently though a few Latin clubs have opened within the Metropolis.
Bogota seems to be an upcoming Latin Club with very
excellent Latin music. Ritmos Latinos at the Sud
of the Century Park Hotel also tries to simulate the American Latin bar. Only time and the
management's sensitivity to local guests will decide their fate. Guests, mostly
non-Filipinos, still have to bring their own partners to enjoy some good Latin dancing.
TIPPING DIs is the Norm
Roving dance instructors can be seen in
most dance clubs in the country. More commonly known as D.I.s, they earn mainly from the
tips which you, the dance guest, is expected to hand over after partnering with them.
Otherwise you can book them for the night, for a fixed fee of
course.
REGGAE is a dance?
Yes, Reggae is a dance, at least in the
Philippines. Reggae is basically a series of fluidly executed side chasses and back rock
steps, danced to cool pop music, very similar to slow West Coast Swing music. We've heard people claiming it to be a Salsa style; another thinks it's
the Two-Step. The Dance Addict thinks it's really the Two Step, done with side chasses
instead of a 'back rock', and done with very fluid horizontal body movement. What local
DIs refer to as the 'single step' and 'double step' of the Reggae are actually the same
steps (with the same rhythm and tempo) but done in different directions. Single step means
'back-forward-together' (back rock); Double step means 'side-close-side' (side chasse).
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Some
of your comments
"Your description of the Filipino dancer
is contradictory. How can the dancer not be responsible on the floor and
still enjoy a wondrous dance when he has to lookout for flying arms and
bodies?" -- from a dancer in New Jersey
"The jeepney is an most appropriate
symbol for the Filipino dancer -- very irresponsible yet adaptable."
-- from a Filipino based in Hawaii
"I always knew our Swing was
not the Swing in the US. Neither is it the Hustle." -- from a
recent visitor to the East Coast.
"Why do DIs refer to the "break on
2" as off-beat. They just prove how naive they really are."
"I can't imagine Tango-ing in a dance
hall where no one follows the line of dance." -- from an American
dance champion
"I love your story on the ballroom
queens. But there's much more juicy details to tell about each of
them."
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Side Steps
