Philippine Folk Dance-Binasuan Step (Pangasinan)

Binasuan folk dance is very colorful and spectacular dance from Bayambang,
Pangasinan. Baso mans drinking glass. Binasuan in Pangasinan means with the use of a drinking
glass.

In this dance, the dancer displays good balance, graceful movements, and unusual skill. She
dances with three glasses half-full of water, one on her head, and one each held on the palms of
her hands. She shows her skill in maneuvering the glasses, particularly when she executes
continuous fast turns, sitting, and rolling on the floor without spilling the water or dropping the
glasses.

Binasuan folk dance is usually danced only by one girl, but sometimes ` two or three or more
girls may dance it in group formation.

COSTUME: Balintawak costume with tapis and soft panuelo.

COUNT one, two, three to a measure.

FORMATION:  Dancer enters from one side of the room or place where the dance Is to be
performed and stops at center, facing front.
NOTE: Throughout the dance the glasses are kept in proper places, on head, and on palms of
hands.
ENTRANCE
Music A - Play first time.
Dancer enters from left or right side with one glass on her head and one glass each on the palms
of her hands.
Starting with R foot, take eight waltz steps forward to center of room or stage. Hold glasses in
front, elbows close to waist. Move R hand up to chest level and down at waist or hip level
alternately and L hand down at hip or waist level and up to chest level alternately, that means that
when the R hand goes up to chest level, the L hand goes down to hip level on one count and
reverse movement on the next count and so on for eight measures …………8 M
I
Music A. Play second time.
Waltz sideward R and L alternately, eight times. Raise R hand to head level and L hand at hip or
waist level when waltzing sideward right. Change position of hands at every measure. There is a
slight movement of hands upward and downward with R hand and downward and upward with the
L hand, alternately at every count ………...8M
II
Music B. Play two times.
(a) Starting with R foot, take four waltz steps obliquely forward right. Raise R hand
obliquely upward at head level, L hand down at hip or waist level for four measures. Both hands
are moving slightly upward and downward alternately at every count as in figure I …............4 M
(b) Repeat (a), moving obliquely backward left to starting place ………......4 M
(e) Repeat (a) and (b), moving obliquely forward left in (a) and obliquely backward right in (b).
Reverse position of hands ..............8 M
III
Music A. Play two times.
As the following steps are being done, the dancer moves counterclockwise.
(a) Step R forward (ct. 1), brush L forward (ct. 2), step L close to R (ct. 3). Repeat same
(cts. 1, 2,3). Raise R hand at head level, L hand at waist level. Do not move hands..................2 M
(b) Waltz turn right (using two waltz steps). By this time the dancer has covered one-fourth of an
imaginary circle. Hold glasses in front at waist level, elbows close to waist .................2 M
(c) Repeat (a), and (b) three more times moving counterclockwise. Finish in proper place, facing
front ...........12 M
IV
Music B and A. Play two times each part.
(a) Place weight on L foot, R foot close to L, heel slightly raised. Turn R hand
counterclockwise going gradually upward to overhead. L hand is down at hip level ...................4 M
(b) Reverse turn of R hand, going gradually downward to original position. Same position
of L hand ................4 M
(c) Repeat (a) and (b) ..............8 M
(d) Transfer weight to R foot, L heel slightly raised. Repeat all (a-c) with L hand reversing turn. R
hand is down at side at hip level. ...............16 M
V
Music B. Play two times.
(a) Execute as many fast (whirl) turns in place clockwise (tiny steps in place, both feet flat
on floor). Hold glasses obliquely forward at chest level without moving hands. Do not hold elbows
too close to waist. Finish facing front. ……………..8 M
(b) Repeat (a), turning counterclockwise. ……………………...8M
VI
Music A. Play two times.
(a) Step R sideward (ct. 1), brush L forward (et. 2), step L close to R. (et. 3). Repeat same
two more times (2 M). Step R sideward (et. 1), brush L forward (cts. 2, 3). Raise R hand at head
level, L hand sideward at waist level or a little bit below waist. Do not move hands. ……………….4
M
(b) Repeat (a), starting with L foot, going sideward left, reverse position of
hands.................. 4 M
(c) Repeat (a) and (b). ……………….8 M
VII
Music B. Play three times. Music A. Play two times.
(a) Kneel on R (1 M), kneel on L (1 M), side sit on left (1 M), stretch both legs sideward
right and place back of L hand on floor in front (1 M)…………………..4 M
(b) Turn R hand counterclockwise and raise gradually to overhead as in Figure IV (a).
………………. 4 M
(c) Reverse turn of R hand, going gradually downward to original position as in Figure IV
(b)…………..4 M
(d) Repeat (b) and (c)………………8M
(e) Slowly reverse sitting position to side sit on right — bend knees (1 M), kneel on both
knees (1 M), side sit on right (1 M), stretch both legs sideward left and place back of R hand on
floor (1 M)…………..4 M
(f) Repeat (b) and (c) two times with L hand, turning hand clockwise first…………….. 16 M
VIII
                Music B. Play three times.           
                (a) Place R elbow on floor in front (1 M), stretch L leg backward (1 M), lie down on
stomach and at the same time stretch R leg (1 M), place L elbow             in front on floor               
(1 M)…………….4 M
                (b) Roll over to right side — Lift L elbow and twist body toward right side (1 M), roll on
back and place L elbow on floor (1 M), lift R elbow and twist body toward the right side (1 M), roll
over on front to be in prone-lying position ( 1 M). All the time head is kept erect, and palms of the
hands up without spilling water from glasses or dropping glasses…………….4 M
                (c) Repeat (b)………………4 M
                (d) Repeat (b) and (c) rolling to left side. Reverse direction and hand
positions………………8 M
                (e) Return to right side-sit position — Bend knees (1 M), raise L elbow and slowly raise
trunk (1 M), raise R elbow and trunk erect (1 M), stretch legs sideward left(1 M)…………………4 M
IX
Music A. Play two times.               
                Repeat Figure IV (a) and (b) , R and L hands doing the movements simultaneously. As
the R hand goes up, the L hand goes down and vice-versa. The R hand goes up first (4 M), and
then as it goes down the L hand goes up at the same time (4 M). Change position of hand every
four measures. Finish with L hand up……………….16 M
X
Music B. Play two times.
                (a) Assume standing position — Bend both knees, both hands down at waist level (1 M),
kneel on both (1 M), half-stand on R foot (1 M), stand on both feet (1 M)……………… 4M
                (b) Repeat Figure V (a) fast (whirl) turns clockwise (6 M) and (b) fast (whirl) turns
counterclockwise (6 M)………………12 M
EXIT
Music B. Play once or twice.
Starting with R foot, execute close steps forward to exit, R hand at head level, L hand at hip level.
Do not move hands…………………8 or 16 M

Keep on Practicing Binasuan-Philippine folk dance.