The PAMAS Dance Troupe made its debut during the PAMAS first induction of officers in March, 1979. The troupe was consisted mostly of husband and wife pairings, inexperienced as performers but gamely interpreting two or three dance numbers. It's popularity became widely known and soon a great number of volunteers found time to join the group. As it grew in number and took on more responsibilites, it accumulated costumes and props was soon traveling all over New England to present a full 2-1/2 hour cultural variety show.
The Dance Troupe has performed at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade, the World Trade Center, Hynes Convention Center, the Children's Museum of Boston, the JFK Library, the Malden Bicentennial Celebrations, St. Ignatius Church, the Holy Cross Cathedral and at many colleges and universities. They have also accepted invitations to assist other organizations in their efforts to raise funds through cultural performances.
PAMAS' first major stage production was a cultural variety show entitled, "Pilipinas Kong Minumutya" held in March, 1990 at the MIT Kresge Auditorium. A two-and-a-half hour heritage production depicting the various customs and traditions of the Philippines. It was shown again, the same year to benefit the earthquake victims of the Philippines. Its popularity took it all the way to Portland's Symphony Hall in August, then to a sold-out performance in Hartford, CT, in September 1990; followed by an engagement at Chicopee, Springfield, MA in May 1992, and another one at URI Campus, Kingston Rhode Island in May, 1993. Most recently, a sequel to the original show entitled "Ang Pagbabalik" was initially shown at Cohen Auditorium, Tufts University, Medford, MA in October, 1995, as they continue to do cultural performances representing their homeland.
Danza is a lively dance where the movements of the ladies flow into the cadences of the Habanera.
La Jota, at one time was the most popular dance performed by the Spanish Senoritas and Caballeros in Spain. Apparently, they brought it with them to many areas of the world, including a town called Moncada, in the Philippines. The people from Moncada adapted the dance and through time, created their own version uniquely Filipino, calling it La Jota Moncadena. The use of bamboo castanets make the dance lively and delightful to watch.
A romantic dance between lady and her suitor, expressing the inherrent coyness of a typical Filipina, in slow and languid motions.
A Spanish-oriented dance depicting movements that look like a cross between military precision drilling and Broadway line dancing by the guys, trying to impress a lovely day that is the object of their attention.
Among is a wedding dance from the Kalinga Tribe of the Mountain Province. It portrays the courtship customs of the Kalinga Tribe leading to the lively wedding dance between the bride and the groom.
Banawol is the exciting climax after the courtship and the wedding.
Uyayi depicts the almost solemn way the Tiboli mothers care for their babies, cradling them to sleep, then offer their thanks for their lovely offsprings to the heavens.
Gambut portrays the way of the monkeys, as the tribal group plays with them in their own habitat, heightened by the staccato sound as they beat on bamboo poles.
Salakot is a wide-brimmed head gear used by Filipinos to protect themselves from the searing hear of the sun or from the rain. In the Salakot dance, the dancers portray the use of the head gear in a graceful, almost flirtatious moves.
The Dance of Light. After a hard day's work in the fields or after bringing in the catch of the day, farmers and fishermen in the villages of the Philippines get together for relaxation and fun to wind the day down. In this dance, you'll see the dancers dancing gracefully to the tune of the music, while balancing what traditionally would have been oil lit lamps on their heads and hands.
Pandanggo Waiwas is a version of Pandanggo Sa Ilaw (Dance Of Lights). In this version of Pandanggo Sa Ilaw, the lamps are wrapped in colorful scarves and swayed in synchronized rhythm. The dance still depicts dancers balancing oil-lit lamps while dancing gracefully to the music.
Called the Bamboo Dance outside the Philippines, this is the most famous of all Philippine dances. It was named after the Tikling birds and the dance itself depicts the movements of the Tikling birds as they evade the traps set by the farmers in the ricefields of the Philippines, to keep the birds from doing serious damage to the rice crop. The dance is a good test of stamina and agility, as the dancers skip in and out of the rapidly clapped bamboo poles.
New performers are always welcomed! Come learn some traditional Philippine Folk Dances...
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