Capturing the Aeta Tribal Dance “PASALAMAT”: A Creative Dance Piece

Abstract

This paper is an initial effort of the researcher to prevent the nearly extinctionnot only of the Aeta people but also their identity being the first Filipinos. Beingthe first, it is so ironic to see them helpless to fend for themselves from the“prying eyes”. To see them adapting the modern world might be the start ofthe loss of the “beginning”. Indigenous dances constitute some kind of culturalgenetic code that defines identity of a group of people. The study assessed the pureand unique characteristics of the dance entitled “PASALAMAT”. The veracity ofthe steps created by the researcher as reflected in the dance was reviewed andpresented to the respondents in the dance seminar-workshop held on September2013 in Pampanga, Philippines. The respondents of the study consisted of 91attendees. These attendees are PE teachers, MAPEH major students, danceteachers, choreographers and performers. The background/context, movements/steps, particular to the dance, dance properties and movement of the dance were reviewed and assessed base on the existing guidelines and other parameters approved by the dance expert in the country particularly the PhilippineFolkdance Society and National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Based onthe findings, the background/context/movements/steps, particular to the danceand dance properties demonstrate statistical significance. The study recommendspromotion and preservation on the dance.Keywords: Sociology, indigenous dance, Aeta tribal dance, creative dance, Cultural,Information and Dissemination, Promotion and Prevention, Pampanga,descriptive design, Philippines