Kordilyera

The Kordilyera Suite comes from the Cordillera (Mountain) Region of the Philippines, located in northern Luzon. The dances selected for this suite are heavily influenced by the traditional dances performed by the indigenous people within the Cordillera Region. The music within the Kordilyera Suite are played on percussion instruments, including the gangsa.

TAKILING Takiling is a celebratory dance from Kalinga, a province in the northernmost area of the Kordilyera region. Due to the warrior heritage of the Kalinga, Takiling is a victory dance that represented successful head-taking, during a hunt or done to avenge the death or evil done to a family member or relative. Mingols (warriors) were honored by the females with gifts of lawi feather, bongon (beads), and colorful bahags. Mingols danced with closed fists while the unsuccessful mingols were demoted to playing the gongs.

DINUYYA Dinuyya is a festive dance from Lagawe, Ifugao. The dance is performed by men and women in social gatherings and other festivities celebrating important events like the cañao (a socio-religious ritual where chickens, pigs and/or carabaos are butchered as a sacrifice and feasted on), thanksgiving, or a wedding amongst commoners.