RIGODON DE HONOR

HISTORY

The Rigodon—also called Rigodon de Honor—is a

traditional dance from the Philippines that evolved

from dances brought to the Pacific islands by

Spanish settlers in the sixteenth century (the

Rigodon dance was also said to be popular in French

and Spanish courts). Historically, the dance is meant

to represent a certain sense of elevated status

among those who take part in it, and is often

performed at galas, balls and other formal occasions

celebrated by the rich and powerful, especially those

in government.

Girls wear Maria Clara

dress

Boys wear Barong

Tagalog and Black Pants.

COSTUME

FIRST BASIC RIGODON STEPS

The steps of the Rigodon are meant to be

performed gracefully and elegantly; participants

should have excellent posture and complete their

steps crisply and almost rigidly.

It has 2/4 time signature.

In the Rigodon de Honor, couples usually stand in a

square and each couple starts by facing the couple

across from them. The couples move to the center of

the square to bow and curtsy to the dancer of the

opposite gender standing across from them

intermittently throughout the dance.

The couples elevate and join their hands, keeping their

hands like this throughout the dance, with the exception

of the times they are bowing or curtsying to the opposite

couple. They then perform a series of quick jumps in

place before couples on two opposite sides of the square

formation come to the center of the square to meet each

other, bowing and curtsying as described above.