JOTA DE MANILA

This dance is an adaptation of the Spanish jota inspired by the picturesque and florid flamenco movements of the sevillanas of Spain. The "zapateados" are just as complex and the "curvas," unmistakably Spanish, but the Filipinos indigenized it by tempering the fiery Iberian jota to suit local tastes and by using native bamboo clickers instead of the Spanish castanets.

The vivacious turns are local interpretations and that instead of the sultry "gitana" of Seville making a sweeping full turn in her figure-hugging flounced sevillana skirt accompanied by a staccato clicking of the heels of her sturdy shoes, picture a petite Filipina kicking her voluminous saya while she turns and accentuating her movements with the stamps of her zapatilla. Her partner, just as gallant and energetic as his Kastila counterpart!

The dance, which is also called Jota Manileña, echoes the strong Spanish past of Philippines’ old cabecera, the city of Manila, where lazy afternoons or evenings were perfect timing for showcasing the elite contertulios’ literary, musical and dance talents in a gathering highlighted by intimate pomp and pageantry in the scale of the tertulia.

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