First-Ever Book on Cebuano Dances

CEBU, Philippines — The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) has formally released the first-ever documentation of Cebuano dances. The book, launched on September 21at the Casa Gorordo Museum, is titled “Sayaw Sugbo Cebuano Folk Dances - Volume 1.”

 The launch had the Casa Gorordo Museum Talk on Cebuano dance research and documentation, “Pagduki-duki ug Pagtala sa mga Sayaw sa Sugbo” (Researching and Documenting Cebuano Dances)” by Professor Ceasar Nimor, co-author of the book with Prof. Mila Catelo-Janson.

The talk touched on the background and process of Cebuano dance research, as well as the nature, kinds and influences of Cebuano folk dances.

The book features 10 dances native to Cebu, and provides the cultural background, a listing and photo of the costumes, the dance and music annotations of each dance. An instructional video for demonstrations and accompanying music is also included in the book.

“This exemplary contribution from folk dance researchers and practitioners in Cebu contribute a lot to our national resources in performance of our cultural tradition. From Cebu alone, it acquaints us with the indigenous progenies and practices that the rest of the country should gratifyingly acknowledge,” says University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus and Philippine dance expert Basilio Esteban S. Villaruz in the book’s preface.

“Sayaw Sugbo – Volume 1” was used as basis for the dance workshop organized by the Cebu Provincial Government Tourism Office and RAFI to 50 Department of Education MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health) teachers representing the various districts in the province and cities of Cebu last August 7-9 2018 at the Capitol Social Hall.

Copies of “Sayaw sugbo – Volume 1” are available at the Casa Gorordo Museum shop and in museums and hotel shops in the city. Volume 2 of the book is slated to be released in 2019. Inquiries about the book may be addressed to phone +63 32 411-1700 local 24537, or by messaging the museum in www.facebook.com/casagorordomuseum.