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If an expert is to name one of the most beautiful and difficult to learn Philippine dances, then ‘Singkil‘ will be high up on the list. This dance also known as the ‘Sayao sa Kasingkil’ is a famous Philippine dance in the south, more specifically in Mindanao region. This is a dance of the people of Maguindanao and was popularized also by the Maranao from the Lake Lanao. This Philippine dance has gained an important and a critical following in urban areas since this dance was popularized by the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company.

There are a number of stories about the history and the evolution of the Singkil dance. And since this dance is a dance of style, creativity a lot of people pay attention to the evolution of the dance. Legend tells that the ‘Singkil’ dance that people now know today originated from the day the ‘diwatas’ or the nymphs has played the joke on then Princess Gandingan as the princess was taking a walk down the woods.

Based on stories, the diwatas causes an earthquake that made the trees shake and made the rocks to roll and to bang at each other. It was stated that the princess was not affected by it all as she skipped the rocks nimbly and no trees nor rocks touched her feet. The latest literature regarding the dance tells that this dance is also identified as the Royal Maranao Fan Dance or the Princess Dance. And this dance is in accordance with the ‘Darangen’ that in turn is an explanation of the prehistoric Indian epic called the Ramayana. The dance steps of this popular Philippine dance will tell the scene where ‘Sita’, the Putri Gandiangan gets away from her abductors the demon King Ravana and she is gets lost in the forests of the Alangka. It was here when ‘Sita’ was found by her husband, Prince Rama.

There is another set of literature that says that the Singkil dance is taken from the name of the bells that are worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess. These bracelets or anklets that are worn in that area are usually made of

. Silver

. Nickel or

. Brass

That chiming bells will generate through movement of these metals. As it was narrated earlier on, the dance was inspired by the epic legend that tells the story of the ‘Darangan’ of the Maranao people. In the 14th century, this epic was written, which tells the story of the Princess Gandingan who was in the heart of the forest when the earthquake made by the nymphs occured. It was said that the rhythmic clapping and the criss-crossing of the bamboo poles which can be observed in the dance represents the trees that are falling in which the princess gracefully avoids. In the dance that roughly follows the said epic; the princess is accompanied by her slave throughout the ordeal. The princess is saved by his prince in the end.

The dance has become renowned in modern times because this dance is being performed during cultural nights or during the ‘Linggo ng Wika’ a commemoration of the Filipino language. And during these celebrations, the ‘Singkil‘ will always be one of those that generates some of the loudest appreciation.