Pangalay

Pangalay

Pangalay (also known as Daling-Daling or Mengalai in Sabah) is the traditional “fingernail” dance of the Tausūg people of the Sulu Archipelago and Sabah.^[1]

The dance is the most distinctively Asian of all the southern Philippine dances because dancers must have dexterity and flexibility of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists^[2] – movements that strongly resemble those of “kontaw silat,” a martial art common in Maritime Southeast Asia. The Pangalay is predominantly performed during weddings or other festive events.^[1] The male equivalent of the Pangalay is the Pangasik and features more martial movements, while a pangalay that features both a male and female dancer is called Pangiluk.^{[citation needed]}

The original concept of the Pangalay is based on the pre-Islamic Buddhist concept of male and female celestial angels (Sanskrit: Vidhyadhari, Bahasa Sūg: Biddadari) common as characters in other Southeast Asian dances.^{[citation needed]}

Neighboring Samal and Bajau peoples call this type of dance, Umaral or Igal, and they sometimes use bamboo castanets as substitutes for long fingernails.^[2]

Pasaring

A variant of the dance called Pakiring is popular among the people of Mindanao, Sulu and Sabah. The dance emphasizes the movement of the hips (kiring-kiring).^{[citation needed]}

In the Philippines, a traditional song called Kiriring Pakiriring is often accompanied with the dance. The lyrics of the song are in Sinama language and are thought to have originated from Simunul where the language is often spoken. The song was later popularized when it was re-recorded by an unknown artist under the title, Dayang Dayang, however some of the lyrics have been changed and is considered by many to be largely gibberish since the altered words had no meaning behind them and were not related to any dialect or language.^{[citation needed]} The meaning of its name is believed to be referring to Hadji Dayang Dayang Piandao, the first lady of Sulu, since the word dalay-dalay was a title given only to the daughters of the Sultan.^[3][4][5] Today, the version is widely known across the Philippines rather than the original but its origin and the artist who recorded it remains a mystery.^{[citation needed]} PAKIRING A modern variant of this dance (Pangalay) popular among the peoples of Mindanao, Sulu and Sabah is called Pakiring, and emphasizes movement of the hips (Kiring-kiring) more than the traditional dance. Traditional Pakiring dance is marked by intricate hand and arm movement. Accompanied by the agong and kulintang and it is performed to electro versions of traditional songs and is fast overtaking the traditional Pangalay in popularity at weddings. This is performed by the ladies, adorned with fine beads make up,and long head scarf. They are known for their mysticism, royalty, and beauty.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pangalay.

External links

• Video of Tausug Pangalay performed by the Tambuli Cultural Dance Troupe of Tawi-Tawi
• Video of Bajau Igal performed in Semporna, Sabah
• Video of modern Pakiring (pangalay variant) performed by Hainun of Tawi-Tawi