Tinikling Study Sheet

Tinikling is a Philippine folk dance. It represents a rice bird, a "tikling, which looks like a crane or
heron. The dance imitates the way the bird steps with its long legs from one rice paddy to another. The
dance is very popular in Southeast Asia.
It is a very aerobic dance because of all the movements involved and moving to the beat of the music.
Dancing works the cardiovascular system. The dance is performed with two students tapping long sticks
(poles) to the beat of the music. The poles are positioned on wooden blocks. The music is in waltz
meter 3/4 time. The poles are tapped to a beat of tap, tap, close. Each sequence constitutes a measure.
Steps can also be danced to other rhythms such as 4/4 time (tap, tap, close, close).
Equipment used to perform the dance consists of 2 pieces of wood, 2 bamboo or pvc poles, and dancers.
The steps taught in class consist of the:
BASIC STEP--step, step, hop or in, in, out (foot closest to the pole enters first)
STRADDLE STEPin (both feet together), in, straddle OR jump, jump, straddle
STRADDLE TURNin (both feet together), turn (180 degrees), straddle OR jump, turn, straddle
CROSSOVERcross (outside foot enters first), step, hop or cross, in, out
JOGGER STEPforward step, out, back, step, out OR jog forward; jog back
TRAVELER--step, step, hop/turn, repeat moving around poles in a rectangular pattern until dancer gets
back to starting point

TINIKLING SAFETY RULES

Students are responsible for knowing the safety rules taught in class. A copy of the safety rules is posted
in the gym.
1. WATCH where you are stepping. DO NOT step on the poles before, during or after class. The poles
roll and stepping on them can cause an accident/injury.
2. DO NOT lean over the poles when tapping. If the dancer becomes entangled, they could pop up and
hit you in the face.
3. DO NOT tap poles with your fingers on the inside of them. Place thumb on top of poles and fingers
on the outside. Make sure when poles come together that your fingers are NOT between them.
4. DO NOT place thumbs or fingers on the interior portion of the pole. If dancer becomes entangled in
the poles, this could possibly lead to a dislocated thumb/finger.
5. Place tapping block of wood far enough away from tappers hands so hands do not pick up a splinter
when sliding poles together.
6. DO NOT raise poles more than 2 inches from block of wood when tapping. This could cause dancer
to fall/trip. Intentional tripping will result in a consequence.
7. Spread poles out near edges of wood (to paint or tape marks) to give dancers plenty of space to
dance.

8. NEVER pick poles up off the ground. They can be very dangerous and cause bodily harm.
Anyone goofing around with the sticks pretending to sword fight/joust/pole vault or attempt to
strike another student will be assigned a consequence.
9. ALWAYS place the poles on the outside of the wood blocks when not in use.
10. Make sure the dancer is ready before you start tapping.
11. If the dancer makes a mistake and you know they will not get out of the sticks before they
come together, stop tapping. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
12. NO horseplay during assigned work times. You must stay with your assigned group when
the class splits up to practice.