My list of recommendations and my best finds for Filipino Folk Dance gear and supplies - from active wear, shoes, costumes, dance props, beauty supplies, and more.
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Design and dance are a couple of my passions in life. I began learning and performing Filipino Folk dance in the late 1990s - early 2000s back in my high school and college days. After a long break, I started dancing Filipino Folk again in 2019 with Kayamanan Ng Lahi, a Philippine Folk Arts group based in Los Angeles, California, as way to introduce something fun into my daily routine and to stay active. As with starting any hobby there are supplies that you can invest in to help set you up for success. I was pleasantly surprised to learn how many dance props and gear that are so much more accessible today because of online shopping. This is not a definitive list as I'm always testing out new products but I hope to share my best finds with you - which I'll be sure to keep updated. And if you have any other recommendations please feel free to share.
Contents:
Other Gear
Dance Props
Bamboo Fans - 13 inch
Used for dances: Singkil Fan Women, Kapagapir
Large folding fans made of paper and cloth and bamboo frames. 13 inch radius. Lightweight, stays open easily, and comes in a variety of solid colors without any designs. When using these for Singkil Fan Women, the frames are still a little sharp so I'll pad my hands and fingers with a skin colored foam medical tape to help reduce blisters. Find these fans on Amazon
Fans with Plastic Frames - 13 inch
Used for dances: Burong Talo, Silat
Large folding fans made nylon cloth and plastic frame. 13 inch radius. These are fans often used for Kung Fu or Tai Chi which we repurpose for Filipino dances. They make a loud sound when you flip them open quickly, which can add some nice drama to the choreography. Find it on Amazon
Cups for Balancing Dances
Used for dances: Binasuan, Pandanggo Sa Ilaw
Cocktail Glasses or Whiskey Tumblers, made of Glass or Acrylic
roughly 3.5 in diameter, 10 oz size
Material: Glass or Acrylic / Plastic
I have certain preferences for my cups that I use for my head and my hands. Back in the day, I used all glass. Now, I use a combination of: glass for my head and acrylic for my hands. I love acrylic because nowadays they look convincingly like glass and they are shatter resistant. This is great because if it were to fall to the floor and break, they there wouldn't be glass shards that you might step on while dancing barefoot. A down side to acrylic is that it's much too light to balance on my head. Glass cups provide a good amount of weight to help with balance. So I stick with glass for my head taking the safety precaution of wrapping with clear packing tape. That way if the cups were to fall and shatter most pieces would adhere to the tape, reducing the chances of stepping on shattered glass.
Glass Shape: Curved Bottom or Flat Bottom
The bottom shape of your cup can help provide a strategic advantage for accomplishing your dance tricks.
For the cup used for balancing on top of the women's head, I recommend a cup made of glass with a curved bottom such as this because it helps to accommodate the curved shape of the top of the head. Here's the kind I use. Find it on Amazon
As for cups used for men's tricks, cups with a flat bottom work better because you want a flat surface for balancing on the fore head or the arm.
So recap:
Women's Head: Glass with Curved Bottom. Find it on Amazon
Women's Hands: Glass or Acrylic; Curved or Flat Bottom
Men's: Glass or Acrylic with Flat Bottom
Dance Apparel
SHOES
Zapatillas, White
Used in dances: Spanish Influence dances and Rural, Provincial Dances
These I've only been able to purchase through special order from Kayamanan Ng Lahi when they have enough to do bulk orders. Otherwise, I will substitute nude character shoes (see below).
Nude Dance Shoes
Used as an alternative for dances typically performed barefoot for added protection. We use these in situations where the ground my be too hot (ie. dancing on outdoor stages on a hot Southern California day) or too rough.
Nude Dance Shoes - Adult Women. Find it on Amazon
Character Shoes - Adult Women Black shoes - for certain Spanish influenced dances like Jota Paragua
Nude or white shoes - if substituting for white zapatillas
I like the Capezio 550 Junior Footlight which has 1.5" heel. I do shorter heel because being around 5’6”, I’m actually tall compared to most of my dance partners. And I like a bit of a heel instead of a flat because it helps with my turns and positioning. Find Capezio shoes on Amazon.
For a more affordable alternative there are character shoes by Theatricals Pro. Unlike the Capezio, The Theatricals Pro doesn't have the soft cloth-like inner lining. I feel that the cloth-like lining that the Capezio ones have helps a with wicking sweat since I typically don't wear socks with these shoes. Find Theatrical Pro character shoes on Amazon.
INNER WEAR
As performers we have to be flexible enough to change into our attire at venues without changing rooms or for situations where there may be a quick change between dances. I look for pieces that provide me some modesty to change in front of my dance mates, won't show under my performance attire, provide light shaping and hold for my silhouette, and have active-wear features (ie. moisture-wicking fabric) since we maybe be wearing it under layers of costumes.
In general, women's innerwear consist of:
Spaghetti strap tank tops or strapless tanktops (nude, white, and/or black, no logos)
strapless bras
biker shorts (black, no logos)
TOPS
Spaghetti strap tank tops or strapless tanktops (bandeau styles)
Nude, White, and Black
Worn with a strapless bra. I avoid racer-back types and look for wide set straps because our ternos often feature wide necks. If the straps are removable, that's a bonus.
Uniqlo - Airism Bra Camisoles
I've had very little luck on finding comfortable strapless bras for my shape so I love these because it's a bra and a tank top in one. According to their site, "AIRism is high-performance fabric with moisture-wicking, sweat-absorbing, heat-releasing functionality. It feels like it's breathing with you while maintaining a smooth feel all day."
Biker Shorts, Yoga Shorts or Active Wear Shorts
Black, High Waisted, Active Wear shorts
High-waisted
To keep a more smoother silhouette.
Meaning it reduces how I'll "muffin-top" where the elastic hits my waist.
The wider the elastic is at the waist, the better it. Active wear is great for this, which fabric that stretches with you and is often moisture-wicking.
Shorts with pockets on the side! A great feature for public performances such as festivals where our "green room" may not always be secure. The pockets are big enough for me to have my valuables with me at all times - my id, a credit card, cash, and sometimes a phone if my costume is not form fitting.
I've ordered a pair of shorts from Amazon (see below) and Fabletics. But my favorite ones so far have been from Fabletics.
Fabletics - Great quality. Squat proof. You can choose your length based on your comfort. I prefer the 5"-7" lengths. Here are the shorts that I have in my arsenal. Find them on Fabletics
High-Waisted:
On-The-Go Ultra High-Waisted 7" Short
High-Waisted Motion365® Pocket Short 5" - M
Mid Rise:
Trinity Mid Rise Pocket Short 5"
Tip: Shop on the 1st-5th day of every month for best selection of inventory. Selection and inventory will often sell out. If you become a VIP (like me!), you'll save up to 50% off retail prices every time you shop, and you'll get access to exclusive VIP-only perks such as early access to newest newest products or items that get re-stocked. They also hook you up with an incredible intro offer for your first purchase. Use my special link to learn more or sign up for the Fabletics VIP Program
High-Waisted Shorts - From Amazon
Pros: Athletic fabric, moisture-wicking, high-wasted, pockets fit iphone and credit cards. With Amazon Prime you may be able to receive these faster than with Fabletics if you need something shipped fast.
Cons: Although it has a "wide" band, you can actually feel the 1/4 elastic band at the waist which can create a hard line or muffin top. This also has a silver logo in the back.
Overall, they are ok and they do the job. Find them on Amazon
Petticoats - coming soon!
Hair
I have thick, long, heavy black hair which I pull back into a bun. These are the items that have worked for me.
Left to Right: Bun Maker from Amazon | Capezio Hair Pins from Amazon | Crocheted Hair Net - special order
Capezio Hair Pins, 3 in in Black
I used to use large bobby pins but these are my new go-to for securing a bun. They are pretty unbendable! I find I can secure my bun minimally with 2 pins, but for maximum security I use at least 4 pins arranged at the top of bun, bottom of bun, right of bun and left of bun. Find it on Amazon
Bobby Pins
I use these for securing hair attire such a sashes, flowers, beaded headbands, and headpieces. I like these MetaGrip because it comes with 300 pieces (I'm always loosing mine!). Find it at Sally Beauty Supply or at Amazon
Black Hair Ties
I like that these have a little bit of rubber for extra grip. Find them on Amazon
Bun Maker
4.3” diameter - for a ratio of bun size that looks good for my sized head. Depending on my length of hair I will use a bun maker. I usually can usually get away without one, but when I want an even consistent look or my hair is too short I'll use one. This was a set I bought on Amazon that had various sizes - it’s the extra-large on in the set. Here it is on Amazon
Hairnet
My challenge with finding a good, reusable hair net is the size. My favorite is a crocheted black hair net that my dance mate made for me. It’s large enough to hold my hair with a bun-maker. If you are interested, I can ask about special orders if you email me.
Otherwise there is kind you can find at the drugstore such as these. They are pretty flimsy and easily rip after 1 or 2 uses. But will work in a pinch. They easily blend with your hair.
To get more uses out of the nets that develop holes, I will double-up on 2 hair nets with holes overlapping them so that holes are covered by the second net. Find these at your local drugstore or these black ones on Amazon
Hair Gel
L'Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Extreme Style Gel
Before I put my hair in a pony tail and bun I prep it with hair gel to control any flyaways. Find it on Amazon
Make Up
EYES
Eyeshadow Primer
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original
Find it on the Urban Decay Website or on Amazon
Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette (discontinued)
Eyeliner
Each person has their own preference for eyeliner. I usually go for a cat-eye or winged eye look, so I prefer liquid eyeliner for a defined look. Also, waterproof is a must! My eyeliner needs to be sweat proof. Because I’m not using pencil, I don’t have to carry around a pencil sharpener – one less item to carry around! Here are some of my favorites:
Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, Black
Heavy Duty, sweat proof. Use makeup remover wipes to scrub off.
NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, Black
Affordable. Not as long lasting as the Urban Decay but can work for shorter periods of time. And easier to scrub off
Mascara or False Eyelashes?
I don’t like wearing mascara because 1) I notice if wear them on my top lashes the black transfers to my cheeks when I smile 2) it’s hard to remove. I go for false eyelashes.
Eyelash Glue DUP Eyelash Fixer EX 552 Clear Type
When using traditional false lashes. I love that when wet the glue has an ultra-violet like color so you can easily see where you’ve applied the glue on the lash. When it dries, the glue is clear. Find it on Amazon
Magnetic Eyelashes: Eyeliner + Eyelashes in One!
I found this eyelash set on Amazon. The eyelash glue doubles as a liquid eyeliner and magnetic lash glue. I save myself an extra step with these because with traditional eyelashes, I have to apply eyeliner and then apply lashes. Slightly difficult to remove. I recommend using makeup remover wipes to scrub them off. Water resistant. It comes with 2 eyeliners/magnetic glue and 5 sets of different sized lashes. Find it on Amazon
Tip: For a dramatic eyelook, I’ll wear two sets of lashes on top of each other - one set that has length, and a 2nd set that is shorter but fuller. Because they are magnetic they stick to each other and are pretty secure.
Foundation
IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
I don’t need to use a primer. I can get full coverage without using a concealer. I prefer this version over the one with Illumination because I want to control my shine and not look “sweaty” when I’m dancing.
Make Up Setting Spray
Urban Decay Setting Spray
A must to make sure my make doesn't sweat off. Find it on the Urban Decay website or on Amazon
Lipstick
LipSense - in a bright red such as Fly Girl
Discovering LipSense has been revolutionary. It doesn’t smudge or smear. I never have to fear getting lipstick stains on my costumes. I put it on once and I never have to touch up.
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