The Ilonggo Swag: Rumination on identity and hip hop dance culture comportment

Abstract

This study aimed to map out reflections of Ilonggo dance artists on Ilonggo swag identity and its comportment to hip hop dance culture. The informants of this study were five choreographers and twelve dancers of five emerging dance crews in Iloilo City which had participated in competitions and battles in Western Visayas. They were purposively selected based on their length of participation and active involvement with their respective dance groups. To acquire correct and reliable facts that would support the study, collective case study was used. The results of the study were based on the stories of the informants that were gathered through one-on-one interview, and dance observations were the key sources of information. Artifacts like pictures and video documentation of dance rehearsals and competitions were also used to augment the gathered data. These multiple sources were used to triangulate the results which were transcribed, analyzed and reassessed. With understanding as its central purpose, this interpretivist study was grounded on the epistemology of constructionism and was viewed using symbolic interactionism as its theoretical perspective. To further supplement these perspectives of the study, the researcher cited dance theory and experiential learning theory as the specific theories. Findings revealed that the views of Ilonggo hip hop dance artists towards hip hop dance emerges in varying degrees depending on the orientation and trainings of the crews and are represented by the four elements, variety and growth. The characterization of Ilonggo hip hop dance is still on the process of finding the identity and supported by the variety, characterization and melting pot themes. The process of creating choreography by the Ilonggo dance artist are represented by rhythm and beats, principles and elements and foundations and skills. Moreover, Ilonggo hip hop dance comportment to the culture are in the process of embracing the reality, embodying the spirit and moving forward as one big hip hop dance community. A production of a creative initiative like Dance Fest was developed and conducted from the results of the study.