Learning The "Kalinangan" Language

It's been almost 11 years now since I joined the Kalinangan Dance Company in high school and I'm glad (and darn proud) to say that I still love performing for this group, which helped me transform from being a shy girl to what I am now. So dahil pasukan na naman and for sure magkakaro'n na naman ng new dancers, allow me to share you (some of) the terminologies that I have learned through the years.

Lamonera - take this as an example: pag group dance, dapat precise yung galaw pero ikaw yung pansin na pansin dahil larger than life ang galaw mo out of all the other dancers.

Soloista - is someone who dances most, if not all, of the solo parts of a dance.

BG - short for Background. Ginagamit ito mostly during Rural Suites kung saan kailangan ng "extra" para maging lively yung stage.

Spot - as in "Spot turn." Yun yung parang pinaka-focus mo pag umikot ka.

Run-through - rehearsing with music (live or taped), either performance level or marking lang

Block/Blocking - this happens before the show, kung saan you run-through the steps without actually doing it kasi ang mahalaga sa blocking eh yung positioning sa stage i.e., spacing ng bawat isa sa bawat sayaw.

Center Stage - ito yung sinusunod ng lahat kung saan makikita ang marking/scotch tape, which is palatandaan kung saan ang center.

Marking - ginagamit 'pag nagrrun-through without doing the steps pero ginagawa mo yung blockings mo

Stand by - in other words, "malapit na mag-show so dapat oks na ang costume, make-up, accessories at props mo at wag na dapat maglilikot at pupunta kung saan-saan!"

Stand-in - is simply just anyone "filling-in" for someone who is absent (during rehearsals), not necessarily yung understudy. Kahit girl or guy yung sasayaw, ang stand-in eh yung pumapalit sa naka-cast sa sayaw kasi "wala lang."

Understudy - someone who learns the steps, usually of a Soloista, in case magka-conflict sa casting.

Company Call - is done after a rehearsal... parang meeting ba.

Bale - ang pag-bali ng upper body (pero dapat you look tall pa rin), ginagamit usually sa Maria Clara Suite.

Warm Up - aka stretching. Done before the rehearsal proper.

Flooring - warming up pero sa floor like sit ups, scissors, etc.

Performance Level - is used (mostly) during rehearsals, kung saan ang galaw ng isang dancer ay hindi "parang nagre-rehearse" lang kundi "pang-show" na talaga!

Green Room - meaning "praying time" before the show.

Raket - is a show na hindi connected sa "real" company (that you belong to)

Show - ang tawag kapag may sayaw for an event, raket, etc.

Danceroom - dito kung saan kami natuto ng Philippine Folk Dances. Dito rin sa danceroom ginagawa ang rehearsals, run-through, marking, company call, warm up, at kung anu-ano pa.

Ka-dancer - kung sa teatro ay "co-actors", sa amin naman ay "ka-dancer"

Tour - basically means "out of the country shows", either competition, festival or just invitational shows.

Rehearsal Tags - are what we (should) wear during rehearsals - t-shirt and jogging pants (pero 'pag alumni ka na, you can wear whatever you want na! =p)

Stretching - is what you do before the show... pampataas ng energy! usually it's like warm up pero you do this by yourself unlike with warm up na it's a-must.

Sides or Corners - during warm up, after flooring, sides/corners naman where you are tasked to do the spot turn at kung anu-ano pa.

Master Tape - is what you use kapag shows (if hindi live music)

Live Music - 'pag live music, ibig sabihin may real-time na tugtugan at pag may real-time na tugtugan, shempre may musicians.

Rehearsal Tape - is a copy of the master tape; it's what you use during rehearsals para hindi magasgas yung master tape.

Sapatilya - girls' footwear na ginagamit sa Maria Clara and Rural Suites.

Full Show - ang full show ay 30-45 minutes show (minimum), live or taped.

Technical Rehearsal - run-through with the technicals (without costumes). pwedeng performance level or marking.

Dress Rehearsal - run-through with the costumes without the technicals, pero dapat performance level.

Dress-Tech - run-through with costumes, technicals, props and accessories, performance level.

Labor of Love - show na walang bayad/TF!

Nanay/Tatay - aka Nanay-nanayan and tatay-tatayan. Sila yung elder dancers na tinuturing ng younger dancers na "takbuhan" pag may issue.

Nak - yan ang tawag sa mga younger dancers na tinuturing na "anak-anakan" ng mga elder dancers aka "nanay/tatay" nila. However, yung term na "anak" eh hindi general; depende lang yun sa elder dancer kung sino ang tatawagin niyang "anak" (note: usually, kung sino yung magaling na younger dancer siya yung tinatawag nilang "anak").

Be - is usually used to call someone who is younger (or youngest) in the group.

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"When you lie, Be Consistent. (="