Folk Dance Of Western Visayas Region: Kuradang

 KURADANG

The Kuradang is an upbeat dance from Tuburan, Pototan, Iloilo. The people in this barrio are lighthearted and has an intense passion for singing and dancing. The social gathering is not complete without dancing. One of the dances performed during the fiesta or a celebration in Tuburan is the Kuradang. The name of the dance was probably taken from the word "Kudangdang" which means posh, showy, overdressed, extravagant, lavish or luxuriously epicurean. 

COSTUME. The girl is wearing a patadyong, camisa or a kimona with a soft pañuelo over one shoulder. The boy is wearing barong tagalog and colorful trousers. The dancers are all barefooted. 

MUSIC. is composed of two parts: A and B. 

COUNT one, two, or one, and, two to a measure in 2/4 time; one, two, three, or one, two, and three in 3/4 time.

FORMATION. Two couples facing each other,  about six feet apart, form a set. The girls stand on the right side of their respective partners. When facing audience, couple at the left, No. 1, is called mayor and couple at the right, No. 2 is called menor  (see diagram below). Any number of sets may participate in this dance.

Audience

    X                     O

      1   →                    ← 2    

       O                    X  

Kuradang Step (Iloilo) - Music 2/4 time     Count 1, and, 2, 1, 2 to two measures

Change step sideward right (left), R (L) forearm turn to reverse "T" position, L (R) hand down at side. Twist body slightly to right (left) (cts. 1 and 2). Hop on R (L), swing the L (R) foot across the R (L) knee in front obliquely backward right (left), bend arms forward at shoulder level (ct. 1), hop on R (L) and swing L (R) foot obliquely forward left (right). Turn forearms to assume reverse "T" position (ct. 2). This step may be done in all directions. 

NOTE:

1. The music is played continuously with each part played twice.

2. All Kuradang steps should be done with arm movements.

3. There is a slight jogging of the body throughout the dance.

INTRODUCTION    

Music Introduction.

    Face front

       Starting with R foot, take three steps forward, arms down at sides (cts. 1, 2, 3), close L to R (ct. 1), tap L close to R in rear three times and at the same time clap hands in front of chest three times (cts. 2, and 3) ______________________________________ 2M

 

I

    Partners face each other.

      (a) Starting with R foot, take four change steps forward to partner's place, passing by R shoulders. Forearm turn to reverse "T" position, R and L alternately, free hand down at side. Bend trunk slightly to the right and left side alternately _______________ 4M

      (b) Turn right about. Repeat (a), going to proper places. __ 4M

      (c) Girl 1 and Girl 2 face each other. Repeat (a) and (b). In the meantime, Boys clap hands on cts. 1, and, 2, 1, 2, for every two measures __________________________________________ 8M

      (d) Boy 1 and Boy 2 face each other. Repeat movements of Girls, and Girls clap hands as Boys did in (c) __________________  8M

II

Partner face each other. Couples 1 and 2 are doing their movements simultaneously.

Couple 1.

(a) Starting with R foot, take four kuradang steps forward to exchange places passing by R shoulders __________________ 8M

(b) Turn right about. Repeat (a), going to proper places ______ 8M

(c) Repeat movements of Couple 2 as in (a) below. _________16M

Couple 2.

(a) Take eight kuradang steps sideward, R and L alternately __16M

(b) Repeat movements of Couple 1 as in (a) and (b) above. ___16M

INTERMISSION

Partner face each other.

  Take eight kuradang steps sideward, R and L alternately ___16 M

III

  Couples 1 and 2 face each other. They do their movements simultaneously.

  (a) Couple 1. Starting with R foot, take three kuradang steps to front of Couple 2 __________________________________ 6 M

       Couple 2. Starting with R foot, take three kuradang steps turning around in place clockwise ___________________________ 6 M

  (b) Girl 1 and Boy 2. Starting with L foot, take one kuradang step to exchange places, passing by R shoulders. Take big steps. In the meantime, Girl 2 and Boy 1 execute one kuradang in place starting with L foot _______________________________________ 2 M

   At the end of the fourth kuradang step, the Girls are all on one side (right side) and the Boy are on the other side (left side).

  (c) Girls and Boys face each other. All execute four kuradang steps sideward, R and L alternately. _________________________ 8 M

  (d) Girl 1 and Boy 2. Starting with R foot, take four kuradang steps moving little by little forward to return back to their proper places. Take small steps ____________________________________ 8 M

In the meantime, Girl 2 and Boy 1, starting with R foot execute four kuradang steps turning around in place clockwise _________ 8 M

IV

Partners face each other.

  (a) Couples 1 and 2 takes two kuradang steps sideward, 

       R and L  _______________________________________ 4 M

  (b) Boy 1. Starting with R foot, take two kuradang steps forward to

 front of Couple 2. In the meantime, Couple 2 executes two kuradang steps, starting with R foot, turning around in place clockwise. Finish facing Boy 1. Girl 1 stay in place and clap hands on cts. 1, and 2, 1, 2, two times. _______________________________________ 4 M

  (c) Boy 1 and Couple 2. Starting with R foot, take six kuradang steps forward, moving around clockwise. Finish in starting place. Girl 1 clapping hands as in (b) _________________________ 12 M

  (d) Boy 1. Turn right about. Starting with R foot, take two kuradang steps forward to proper place. Girl 1 clapping hands as in (b) __ 4 M

 Couple 2. Starting with R foot, take two kuradang steps turning around in place clockwise ______________________________ 4 M

  (e) Repeat all (a-d) with Girl 2, starting in (b) going to front of Couple 1 while Boy 2 does the clapping _________________ 24 M

V

Repeat Figure I _____________________________________ 24 M

FINALE

All face front.

      Repeat Introduction  ______________________________ 2 M

Music Of Kuradang 

The Legend Of Pototan

Aside from being the "Rice Granary of Iloilo", Pototan was hailed as the "Christmas Capital of Western Visayas" by holding the annual Iwag Festival every December

Pototan Plaza Lagoon

Pototan Public Plaza Aerial View

Long time ago before the Spaniards came to the Philippines. It was called Kapotatan. Why it was named Kapotatan is told in the following story:

When the Ati, under the leadership of Marikudo, left the vast plains of Panay and went to the mountains, no one left living in the place. Only the wild animals are seen roaming around in rivers, brooks, plains and the wilderness. After several years, one of the grandchildren of Datu Puti named Datu Rames who is settling then in the town of Dumangas decided to leave the town because they are so many settlers already in the area. He decided to search for other places and venture to other lands within Panay Islands. He went with his family and subjects or people to far places to seek for settlement. In their journey they reached the central part of Iloilo. Datu Rames observed that a low lying hill is plenty of food. In the forests, there are lots of fruit bearing trees and its secluded places were animals like turtles, giant lizards, monkeys, wild boars and others. In a not so distant area is a river called Suague which has a plenty of fish. Aside from fertile lands which can be planted with different plants like sweet potatoes, cassava and other root crops most especially rice. Datu Rames decided that they will settle there. Life became blissful and peaceful because there's a harvest and food bounty. They made it the town center or poblacion of their newly founded community.

In the first day of Datu Rames arrival in the area, it already caught his attention by the giant woods or tall trees in the area called potat. They cut a lot of potat in the area and build their own homes. It was not a problem or an issue for them the materials to be used in constructing their houses since the thickly growing potat darkens the place in its abundance. It is also a big help for them since they use it as fuels for their cooking.  Their place was called by Datu Rames and his group as Kapotatan. When they visit their families and relatives in Dumangas and were asked where do they live and they told them they are living in Kapotatan. When other people asked where are they going they said they are going to Kapotatan. It is the name given to the area because there's a bounty of that potat wood in the locality. It means a place of many potat. Since then the place with many potat in a lowly hill near the Suague river is called Kapotatan. Eventually, Datu Rames observed that the place in a lowly hill lacks water most especially during the drought season. They thought of transferring near the shores of Suague river so that the water would be accessible to them. After so many years, there were so many houses emerged like mushrooms along the shores of the river. This area was made into a new poblacion or town center of Kapotatan and the surrounding areas were made into barangays or communities.

After so many years, the white skinned Caucasian people carrying cross and swords came to the town. The ancient living were disturbed. The Spaniards invaded and occupied even the most secluded corners of the Philippines to spread Christianity. They reached Kapotatan and the strangers felt admiration  due to the inviting and comely beauty of the place. They observed that the way of living of the natives were developed and progressive in that locality. The Spaniards had a difficulty pronouncing the name Kapotatan due to its length. They shortened it and instead of Kapotatan, they made it Pototan. Since then, the area situated in the central part of Iloilo province and surrounded by the Suague river and several numbers of thriving potat in the area is called Pototan. This place which is abundant in harvested rice is often called as the "Rice Granary of Iloilo."





Photo Source:

http://philippinestravelsite.com/category/general/page/3/

http://mytravelsandtheirstories.blogspot.com/2015/10/pototan-and-its-proud-treasures.html

http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/ph-travel/115899-christmas-travel-philippines-magical-places