History And Origin of Polka in the Philippines

POLKA
The polka, considered as the national dance of Bohemia(Czechoslovakia), was among the first
dances introduced by the early European immigrants to the Philippines and by Filipinos who
had been to Europe. It was popularized in the Islands not later than 1859. It was usually
performed as a ballroom dance during fiestas or grand social affairs. The basic dance step of
the polka is executed to a duple meter with a step-close-step pattern following the one-and-two
rhythm. Other polka steps used in the dance are the heel-and-toe polka, the hop polka, the
gallop, chasing steps, and the hop step. Every locality would have its own version, but the basic
steps, the plain polka, and the hee-and-toe polka were always included.
The Quezon polka is performed in sets of four pairs in square formation. In Bataan the dance is
called polka tagala. In one figure of the dance, the ladies kick their voluminous skirts forward
and backward to show off their beautiful lace petticoats. In Batangas, the dance was called
polka sa nayon, while in Mindoro it was known as polka sala. Among the Visayans, the dance
was called polka antigo, and in Negros Occidental polka italiana.
In Ilocos Norte, there is a courtship dance called sileledaang, which means laden with sorrow.
Interestingly, the dancers here show their fondness for each other using the basic polka step to
a tempo.
The maliket-a-polka is another version of this dance form. Maliket in Pangasinan means happy
therefore, happy polka. This is danced during fiestas in honor of the Santo Nio, patron saint of
a barrio of Pangasinan. When the dance is per as a ballroom dance during fiestas or grand
social affairs. The basic dance step of the polka is executed to a duple meter with a step-closestep pattern following the one-and-two rhythm. Other polka steps used in the dance are the
heel-and-toe polka, the hop polka, the gallop, chasing steps, and the hop step. Every locality
would have its own version, but the basic steps, the plain polka, and the hee-and-toe polka were
always included.
The Quezon polka is performed in sets of four pairs in square formation. In Bataan the dance is
called polka tagala. In one figure of the dance, the ladies kick their voluminous skirts forward
and backward to show off their beautiful lace petticoats. In Batangas, the dance was called
polka sa nayon, while in Mindoro it was known as polka sala. Among the Visayans, the dance
was called polka antigo, and in Negros Occidental polka italiana.
In Ilocos Norte, there is a courtship dance called sileledaang, which means laden with sorrow.
Interestingly, the dancers here show their fondness for each other using the basic polka step to
a tempo.
The maliket-a-polka is another version of this dance form. Maliket in Pangasinan means happy
therefore, happy polka. This is danced during fiestas in honor of the Santo Nio, patron saint of
a barrio of Pangasinan. When the dance is performed today for the stage, the balintawak with
tapis and soft pauelo draped over the left shoulder is used by the girls while the camisa de
chino and any pair of olored trousers are used by the males.

Music For Polka

During the Spanish period in the East Indies, the rondalla was brought to the Philippines by the
Spaniards. In the early Philippines, certain styles were adopted by the natives, especially guitar
and banduria used in the Pandanggo, the Jota, and the Polka. The use of the term comparza
was common, however, during the American period in the Philippines, the term rondalla became
more used. At present, rondalla, in the Philippines, refers to any group of stringed instruments
that are played using the plectrum or pick.[4] The Filipino instruments are made from indigenous
Philippine wood and the plectrum, or picks, are made from tortoise-shell. Other stringed
instruments composing the standard Filipino rondalla are the bandurria, the lad, the octavina,
the Twelve-string guitar, the Ukulele, the bajo de uas or double bass, the Guitarrn mexicano,
and other Filipino-made instruments modeled and developed after the guitar.[4] The Philippine
rondallas repertoire include folk songs such as the collar de sampaguita, la bella filipina, No te
vayas a Zamboanga, Balitaw, the Kundiman, the "Zarzuela", the "Subli", the "Harana", the
"Tinikling", and the "Cariosa".

Steps of Polka Ilokano

Figure 1: Polka with kumintang. Right to right shoulder pass. (4
COUNTS-paharap then 4 counts turn around) Then gallop 4 times
to the left, gallop 4 times to the right. Then polka with kumintang
passing right to right (4 COUNTS-paharap then 4 counts turn
around). Then gallop 4 times to the left, gallop 4 times to the
right..
Figure 2: Alternate cross polka then three hop-step-step forward
and three backwards. (repeat figure 2)
Figure 3: Two polka forward, slide back, slide back (two times).
Then, chase.
Figure 4: Four slides forward, then, hold hands then outside foot
hop-step-step, inside foot hop-step-step. Do twice forward and
twice back.
Figure 5: Clap with crosslegs twice then cross polka forward with
kumintang then face partner then clap with crosslegs twice again
then two cross polka backward with kumintang and step back
twice and turn around.(Repeat figure 5) And bow facing your
partner.