Tinikling is a traditional Philippine folk dance which originated during the Spanish colonial era.

[1] The dance involves two

people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more
dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. It is traditionally danced to rondalla music, a sort of serenade
played by an ensemble of stringed instruments which originated in Spain during the Middle Ages.

The Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis), one of the birds locally known in the Philippines as tikling, which were
the inspiration for the movements of the dance

The name "tinikling" is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number of rail species, but
more specifically refers to the Slaty-breasted Rail (Gallirallus striatus), the Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis),
and the Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus).[2] The term tinikling literally means "tikling-like."[3]

The dance originated in Leyte, an island in the Visayas in the central Philippines. It imitates the movement of the tikling
birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers
imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles. [4]

Today tinikling is taught throughout the United States. In grades K-12 the dance is used as an aerobic exercise for
physical education classes, to help expand physical movements such as hand coordination, foot speed, and also rhythm.
Tinikling is commonly performed on special occasions, such as the Filipino Independence Day, as a celebration of
Filipino culture and Filipino pride.[5]

Two or four parallel pairs of bamboo poles, each around 6 to 12 ft (1.8 to 3.7 m) long, are held by two or more sitting or
kneeling people ("clappers" or "clickers"). The poles are used as percussive instruments accompanying rondalla music
played with string instruments (usually bandurrias, guitars, laúdes, octavinas, or ukuleles). They produce clapping sounds
as they are struck against the ground (or two raised pieces of wood) and each other in a triple metre pattern. Traditionally,
the poles are tapped twice on the ground on the first two beats, then brought together on the third beat. [6][7][8][9]

Two or more dancers then weave through the rapidly moving bamboo poles with bare feet and ankles. The dancers have
to carefully follow the rhythm so as not to get their ankles caught between the poles as they snap close. They start the
dance with their hands at their hips or clasped behind their backs. The tempo of the bamboo poles becomes faster as the
dance progresses, forcing the dancers closer together as their movements become more frantic. The dancers hold hands at
the last part of the dance, when the tempo is the fastest. They end the dance by letting go of each others' hands and
stepping out entirely of the moving bamboo poles.[7][8][9]

For the dance, females traditionally wear a dress called balintawak or patadyong, and males wear an untucked
embroidered shirt called the barong Tagalog. The balintawak are colorful dresses with wide arched sleeves and the
patadyong is a pineapple fiber blouse paired with checkered skirts. The barong Tagalog is usually light long sleeved shirts
and worn with red trousers. Dancers wear no footwear while performing.[10]

Modern variants of the dance can include innovations like increasing the number or arrangement of the poles (including
switching poles mid-dance), changing the number of dancers, or using different music and choreography.[7]

When performed by dance troupes or in cultural shows, Tinikling is typically performed in the "Rural Suite," which
includes dances originating from Filipino Christians that have a more "folksy" character.[11] These dances originate mostly
from the islands of Visayas and Luzon and imitate the simplicity and joy of the lifestyle of the Filipino villagers living in
those regions during the Spanish period.[12] Other filipino folk dances of this category include Sayaw sa Bangko,
Maglalatik, and Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

In the United States, this dance has been altered into a four-beat rhythm to adjust to popular music. In some cases, it has
been used in conjunction with traditional Filipino martial arts to demonstrate fleetness of foot and flow of movement. [13]
As mentioned earlier, tinikling is used as aerobic exercise for physical education classes in the United States for grades K-
12. Instead of using traditional bamboo poles, most schools create their poles using plastic PVC pipe or wooden
dowels.[14] Another alternative is to tie elastic bands to the ankles of two students. The two students switch between
jumping with their feet apart and their feet together to simulate the movement of the wooden poles. This way, more
students are engaged in the aerobic exercise, rather than just the dancer.[15]

Similar dances are found throughout Asia, such as the Cheraw dance from India, Múa Sạp from Vietnam, Lao Kra Top
Mai from Thailand, Robam Kom Araek from Cambodia, Karen or Chin Bamboo Dance from Myanmar, Alai Sekap in
Brunei, Ami Bamboo Dance from Taiwan, and Magunatip from Sabah, East Malaysia.