We laughed and clapped to the beat of the bamboo poles and the fast-paced string music of the rondalla.
Multiple pairs of the town's young men and women performed the precarious dance called the Tinikling at the center of the plaza. For each pair, two long bamboo poles were held horizontally and tapped and slid against the ground in rhythm, while the dancers had to skillfully slide in and out of the poles—or else risk getting painfully caught at the ankles by the clapping bamboo.
The former Martin had seen the dance multiple times before. But still, I couldn't help but hold my breath as the rondalla music picked up speed—and so did the rhythm. I saw a few feet get caught, but the dancers brushed it off with a smile.
