SALAKOT

The Salakot is a wide-brimmed hat. It protects the Filipinos from the suns heat and from
the rains. In this dance the salakot is used to enhance dance figures and hand movements.

It is best danced by girls only, but maybe performed by both boys and girls.

The dance steps were arranged for Play Day, 1935, University of the Philippines.

Costume. Girls are dressed in balintawak and bakya (wooden shoes). If boys are taking
part, they are dressed in barong tagalog, with long red trousers and bakya.

Music is divided into three parts: A, B, C.

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

FORMATION. Partners stand in front of each other eight feet apart. When facing the
audience the girls stand at the boys right. Any number of pairs may take part.
Audience
X O
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Entrance
Music A.
Dancers enter in two columns holding the outer brim of the salakot with the R hand (top
down), the inner brim resting against the waist. Free hand on the waist or holding the skirt.
(a) Step R foot forward (ct. 1), step L forward (ct.2), three stamps in place
(R,L,R) (cts. 1 and 2)... 2M.
(b) Repeat (a) six times to proper places...... 12M.
(c) Three-step turn right in place and bow to partner or to audience.
Put on the salakot after bowing.. 2M.

I
Music B.
(a) (Sarok) Point R foot across L in front. Cross the hands in front and
bend the body slightly forward. (cts. 1, 2,3). 1M.
(b) Point R foot sideward. Open the arms sideward in second position,
body erect (cts. 1, 2, 3)............................................................................. 1M.
(c) Sway balance with a point to the the right. Arms in fourth position,
R arm high.. 2M.
(d) Repeat (a), (b), and (c), starting with the L foot. Reverse the arm
position in (c) ................................................................................... 4M.
 (e) Starting with the R foot, partners take eight waltz steps clockwise.
(See diagram 1.) Arms in lateral position shoulder-level moving sideward
R and L. Finish in proper places... 8M.

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Diagram 1

(f) Repeat all (a, b, c, d, e) 16M.

II
Music C.
All face the audience. Take off the salakot and hold it with two hands at the brim
(R hand on top and L hand at the left side. )
(a) Step R foot sideward (ct. 1), brush L forward (ct. 2), hop on R
in place (ct. 3). Swing the salakot to the right side 1M.
(b) Three stamps in place. (R, L, R) (cts.1, 2 , 3). The salakot
remains at the right side.. 1M.
(c) Step R foot across L in front (ct.1), brush L forward (ct.2), hop
on R in place (ct. 3). Swing the salakot to the left side. The L hand is
now on top and R down. 1M.
(d) Repeat (b). the salakot still at the left side.. 1M.
(e) Waltz sideward, R and L. Swing the salakot to sideward, right and
left .. 2M.
(f) Waltz-turn right in place (use two waltz step). Turn the salakot
down-up-and-around............................................................................ 2M.
(g) Repeat all (a, b, c, d, e, f) three times more. 24M.

III
Music B.
Face partner. Hold the salakot on the right side with the R hand, its top toward the partner,
L hand is at the side in second position.
(a) Point R foot obliquely forward right (cts. 1,2), point R close to L
foot (ct. 3). Turn the salakot so that the top is down on counts, 1, 2 and
in front toward the partner on count 3. Bend the body slightly forward in the
direction the foot is pointing. 1M.
(b) Repeat (a) three times more. 3M.
(c) Repeat all (a and b), pointing with the L foot. R hand still holding the
 salakot. Repeat the same hand movements... 4M.
(d) Starting with the R foot, partners take four waltz steps forward,
passing by right shoulders. Hold the salakot with two hands (top of
salakot in). Move it sideward R and L........ 4M.
(e) Repeat (d) moving back to proper places. 4M.
(f) Repeat all (a, b, c, d, e) ... 16M.

IV
Music C.
All face the audience. Put the salakot down in front of the dancer. See diagram 2.

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Diagram 2

(a) Point right foot obliquely forward (cts. 1,2) point R close to L foot.
Girls holding skirts, boys hands on waist 1M.
(b) Repeat (a) once more... 1M.
(c) Waltz-turn right obliquely forward (use two waltz steps) covering
one side of an imaginary square around the salakot. Hands above 2M.
(d) Repeat (a) and (b) three times more finishing at proper places 12M.
Note: Always finish facing the salakot after each turn.
(e) Repeat the same movements as above, pointing with the L foot
and waltz-turn to L.

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Diagram 3

V
Music B.
All face the audience.
(a) Four double sway-balance steps R and L, girls holding the skirts,
boys hands on waist............. 16M.
(b)Repeat (a). Arms in fourth position, R and L arm high
alternately.... 16M.
 VI
Music C.
Partners face away from each other.
(a) Starting with the R foot, take four waltz steps forward. Arms in
lateral position moving sideward R and L.... 4M.
(b) Repeat (a) moving backward to proper places. Arms as above... 4M.
(c) Turn right about to face partner. Repeat (a) going to partners
place. Pass by right shoulders. Arms as above 4M.
(d) Repeat (b) passing by right shoulders . 4M.

All face the audience.

(e) Sarok with R foot across L (cts. 1, 2 ), point R close to L foot
(ct. 3). Cross the hands in front on counts 1, 2 , and raise R arm in
fifth position, place L hand on waist on count 3... 1M.
(f) Pivot-turn with a point to the right three times to complete one
full turn. L hand on the waist. Right arm in fifth amplified on counts 1,2
bringing it back to fifth position on count 3. 3M.
(g) Repeat (e) and (f), starting with the L foot. Pivot-turn with a point
To the left. Reverse the arm positions. 4M.

VII
Music A.
All face the audience. Take the salakot and hold it with both hands, the R hand on top and
the L hand below, the top of the salakot toward the audience,
(a) Circle the salakot in a vertical plane clockwise at the right side
three times (cts. 1,2,1) pause (cts. 2). ... 2M.
(b) Circle it counterclockwise three times at the left side. 2M.
(c) Hold the salakot in front of the waist with the top up. Raise
it up and down three times (cts. 1, 2, 3), pause (ct. 2). 2M.
(d) Repeat (c) once more... 2M.
(e) Repeat all (a, b, c, d).. 8M.
At the last count of the sixteenth measure put the salakot on the head
instead of pausing 16M.

EXIT
Music A.
Tilt the salakot a little bit to the right side and hold it with Right hand. Free hand of
girls holding skirts, boys free hand on waist.
Starting with the R foot, execute change steps forward, bending the head slightly to
the right and left. Dancers go out in two lines.