Kuratsa Vocalise

Kuratsa is a popular traditional courtship dance of Eastern Visayas, Philippines. Performed by a male and female dancer, the kuratsa has evolved to become a fund-raising event for a newly married couple or as a way of raising funds for a community project during fiestas. The act of raising funds is done by pinning paper bills on the newly married couple’s clothes or by doing what is called the abwag which entails tossing paper bills by members of the audience to the male and female dancer while performing the kuratsa. The most important public officials or guests of the town or city are usually requested to dance the kuratsa during social or community fund raising events. Here, the dancers themselves are expected to toss paper bills to each other to signify their support for the project as well as to show off their social or financial status along with some members of the audience. The kuratsa may be performed repeatedly by several couples during a single community event until the desired amount of money has been raised. In view of its socio-cultural meaning, relevance and function, the kuratsa, by itself, is a ‘must have’ performance that everyone looks forward to in Eastern Visayan culture and society. This choral arrangement entitled “Kuratsa Vocalise” is inspired by the variety of lively instrumental music used in a typical kuratsa performance. Set on a three-four or three-eight time signature, these medley of danceable music vary between and among certain localities and are usually played by a local band or by way of a pre-recorded music. Just like all other types of vocalise, neutral syllables have been used to provide choristers with challenging opportunities to fine tune and upgrade their technical and virtuosic skills in singing. These neutral syllables are also used to mimic or imitate certain musical instruments like those found in a band or rondalla.