SUA- KU-SUA

SUA- KU- SUA

Dance Researcher

Meaning

Dance Culture

Place of Origin

Country of Influence

Ethno- linguistic Group

Classification

: Ramon A. Obusan

: My Pomelo Tree

: Muslim- lowland (Coastal)

: Jolo, Sulu

: China, Malaysia and Indonesia

: Tausug

: Courtship

 

The dependence of the Tausug on the Pomelo tree and its fruits have created a bond between the two which prompted the Tausog of Jolo, Sulu to make a dance honoring the latter. The Sua-Ku-Sua or “my Pomelo tree” is a dance that likens the sua’s gentle leaves, attractive fruits, its fragrance and slender body to that of a lady. Performed by couples, the Sua-Ku-Sua dancers make use of two white fans that are swayed, as if to signify the swaying of the leaves of the sua tree while singing along with the music in their rice powder-covered faces.

Background

Aside from being known as fierce warriors, the Tausug of Jolo, Sulu are also remarkable as seafarers and farmers.

In Sulu, extensive orchards are planted with coconut and Pomelo and the field with stables like rice and root crops. Pomelo fruit serve as an important source of income of the people of Sulu. Their dependence on Pomelo fruits for their livelihood inspired them to create Sua- Ku- Sua dance.

The movements of the dance compare sua’s gentle leaves, slender branches, attractive fruits, and fragrant flowers to a lady. During the performance, the couples sing while flapping two white fans which represent the leaves rustling in the wind.

The performers, especially women, dance with faces thickly covered with finely ground rice powder. Their eyebrows and sideburns are enhanced with soot for aesthetic purposes.

Movements/ Steps Particular to Dance

Creative Imagery: Fans transform into tiny sails, face mirrors, butterflies, shields, and leaves. Sua-Ku- Sua’s traditional steps are with Chinese influence.

Dance Properties

Costume:

• Female

Top (Barawasi): Traditional loose blouse, long sleeves with deep, plunging key hole neckline; extra panels attached to the right and left chest decorated with many tiny brass buttons.

Material: Printed or plain Chinese silk or cotton.

Pants (Sawal or Kantiu): Loose Chinese pants with a 10 inch soft white band (coco curdo) attached to a wide waist. To tuck the pants in, the white band is overlapped in front , one side on top of the other and rolled out to form a tight belt.

Material: Chinese silk or any silky material preferably in navy blue, sunshine yellow, grass green, red, or orange colors.

Shoulder Band (Siyag): A separate wrap- around malong of rich material strung over the right shoulder crossing the chest and hanging on the left side.

Headpiece: There are three choices:

1. Gold or brass filigree called tusuk

2. Paper bills pasted on slender sticks;

3. Pasteboard cut-outs in the front tip 8- 10 inches high , similar to Chinese crowns covered with gold foil.

Accessories: Gold or imitation gold earrings, necklace, bracelets, and brooches.

Suggested Footwear : Dancers are barefoot.

Male

Top (Bajo): Short waist collarless shirt; open front with the right panel overlapping the left, studded with many tiny brass buttons and is not intended to close the front but used as an additional shirt decoration. The shirt is allowed to drop on the right side

Material: Printed or plain Chinese silk or cotton.

Pants (Sawal or Kantiu): Similar to the pants of females but in darker colors and bolder design.

Accessories: Money belt, Sarok hat, Pis siyabit (rectangular hand-woven scarf tied on the head or hung loosely over one shoulder) , Kris (wavy knife) or barong (leaf- knife)

Suggested Footwear: Dancers are barefoot

Music

• 2/4 and 4/4; composed of three parts- A, B, . Gabbang bamboo xylophone are shaped- like a small boat. Bamboo slats are thinned and cut to graduated sizes to produce three octaves of pentatonic scale.

Count: One, two to a measure in 2/4 time signature; 1, 2, 3, 4 to a measure in 4/4 time signature.

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