Philippine dances were inspired by different aspects. There are dances inspired by the nature, animals, occupation and everyday lives and there are Philippine dances that are inspired by the Philippines foreign visitors. Spanish is the most influential among the foreign visitors and one of their influences is the dance, La Jota Manileña or La Jota dance is one of the dances that were inspired by the Spanish.
LA JOTA MANILEÑA
La Jota Manileña is a dance influenced by the Spanish and its name is inspired by the name of the capital city of the Philippines, Manila. The La Jota Manileña is a Filipino adaption of the Castilian Jota. It is dance with a bamboo castanets being clack by the dancers while they are dancing. The costume of the dancers and their movements were all inspired by the Spanish.
LA JOTA DANCE
Jota is a style of music and the dance associated with it is known as the La Jota dance. It is known in Spain specifically in the place where it is originated, in Aragon but it became known throughout Spain. La Jota dance is being dance with the castanets. The rhythm of the music is ¾ rhythm but others uses 6/8 rhythm because according to them it is much better for the choreography. Its lyric is written in eight syllabus quartets and it has assonance in first and third verse.
Guitar, lutes, bandurrias and drums are the instruments used for La Jota dance when it is perform in Castilian style while bagpipes, drums and bombos are the instruments used by the Galician. La Jota dance is being dance by the people of Valencia during interment.
THE PHILIPPINE JOTA
The Philippine La Jota dance is one of the popular dances during Spanish era. It is dance by the Spanish Señoritas and Caballeros during wedding, parties and other social gatherings. The Filipinos adapted the dance and music but they put their own version in it. It is a combination of Spanish and Filipino dance and music and the Philippine Jota used of bamboo castanets. This version of La Jota dance is called La Jota Manileña. La Jota Manileña is accompanied by the rondalla; it is composed of guitar, bandurrias and bass.
Today La Jota dance have other versions aside from La Jota Manileña. Different region has their version of La Jota dance. Jota Paragua of Palawan, Jota Caviteña of Cavite, Jota Moncadeña of Tarlac but the most popular of them all is La Jota Manileña of Manila.