Tiklos
by: Francisca Reyes Aquino
Background
Tiklos is a native peasant’s dance of Leyte. The term “tiklos” is the Waray equivalent to
“Bayanihan”. Groups of people work for somebody without expecting something in return. The
work includes building of house, prepare the soil for planting or do any job on the farm and
forests. At noontime, the people gather together to rest. For centuries, this dance has been a very
important factor in the social life of the people of Leyte. During the old times, Tiklos music is
played with a flute accompanied by a guitar and the guimbal or the tambora. This music is being
played to gather the peasants before they start working.
Dance Properties:
Costume: Dancers are dressed in working costumes.
Music: The music is divided into two parts, A and B.
Counting: one two or one ah two ah, or one and two to a measure.
Formation: Partners stand opposite each other about 6 feet apart
When facing the audience, the girl stands at the partner’s right side.
One to any number of pairs may take part in this dance
Dance Figures
I
Music A. Partners face front. Throughout this figure Girls holds her skirt, Boy places hands on
waist.
(a) Starting with R foot, take two heel and toe changes steps forward. ........... 4M
(b) Execute change step sideward, R and L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2M
(c) Starting with R foot, take four steps backward to proper places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M
(d) Repeat all (a-c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8M
II
Music B. Partners face front. The same hand position as in figure I.
(a) Cut L backward (ct. 1), cut R forward (ct. 2). Repeat all (cts. 1, 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . 2M
(b) Take 3 galop steps sideward right (cts. 1, ah, 2, ah, 1 ah)
step R foot sideward (ct. 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2M
(c) Repeat (a), starting with R cut backward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2M
(d) Repeat (b), going sideward left. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2M
(e) Repeat all (a-d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8M
III
Music A. Partners face each other. Throughout this figure clap hands in front of chest in this
manner: Clap three times (cts. 1, and, 2), clap twice (cts.1, 2). Do this for sixteen measures.
(a) Execute change step sideward, starting with R foot (cts. 1, and, 2). hop on R and raise L knee
in front swinging L foot obliquely right backward across R knee in front (ct. 1), hop on R and
swing L foot obliquely left forward (ct. 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M
(b) Repeat (a) starting with the L foot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M
(c) Execute a three-step turn right in place (cts. 1, and 2). Point L in front (ct. 1), point the same
foot close to R (ct. 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M
(d) Repeat (c), starting with L foot and turning left. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M
(e) Repeat all (a-d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 M
IV
Music B. Partners face each other. The same position of hands as in figure I.
(a) Take two touch steps in front (R, L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 M
(b) Jump to cross R in front of L (ct. 1), jump to cross L in front of R (ct. 2), jump to cross R in
front of L (ct. 1), jump to close R to L (ct. 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 2 M
(c) Repeat (a) and (b), starting with L foot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 M
(d) Repeat all (a-c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 8 M
