The myths of spirituality: The presence of Christianity, the Filipino and the body in the tales of the Manuvu

This thesis aims to study how dance functions as a second-order semiological system, specifically focusing on the Tales of the Manuvu by Ballet Philippines which was performed last 2009. By using the theory on mythologies by Roland Barthes, it seeks to unveil what myths are naturalized in the dance as it portrays the Filipino spirituality, whether it takes its roots in the katutubo tradition or that of Christianity. According to Barthes, this myth is the ideology disguised as something natural and those that appear as common sense to the readers and spectators, but are actually connected to certain power relations in society. In line with this, the dance movements of the body will be analyzed together with the lyrics and songs used, the lighting costumes, set design and the oral tradition that the dance comes from, which will act as supplementary material in examining the dance. In doing so, this study attempts to give a modest contribution to the study of dance and to the use of mythologies in the study of Philippine cultural practices