(San Francisco, CA) –  Join Kularts as we attempt the  world record for largest Palawan Dance event with the full-length performance of TAGABANUA, a Philippine folkloric dance work by internationally renowned Philippine Master Choreographer Jay Loyola at Union Square Park,  Geary & Stockton Streets, San Francisco, CA, 2:30pm Sunday, September 2, 2012. Groups and individuals are invited to dance ala ‘flashmob’. Choreography is available online: www.kularts.org

Set against the idyllic backdrop of village life on the Philippine island of Palawan, Tagabanua, meaning “from the village,”  tells of a young tribal leader’s  towering  rage of revenge threatening to consume him and destroy  the peaceful  lives of his people. Performed live, Nick Obando’s sound score integrates indigenous Palawan rhythms, beats, and chants.  Cast members (in alphabetical order) are Rey Arcilla, June Arellano, Brian Batugo, Alexandria Diaz de Fato, Jonathan Mercado, Lydia Neff, Kim Requesto, and Eric Solano.
 
Kularts 2012-2013 Philippine Master Artist In Residence,  Jay Loyola, an adopted son of the Tagabanua Tribe of Palawan, was a principal dancer (1987-96) and associate choreographer(1994-96)  for the world famous Bayanihan Dance Company of the Philippines.  Kularts has commissioned Loyola and will present the world premiere of Call of the Palau’an Bird- Huni Ng Tandikan, November 2-3 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts- Forum.  The performance will be brought to life by sixteen dancers from Parangal, LIKHA, APDT, and ACPA Dance Companies, with a music score by Nick Obando, and light design by Alejandro Acosta. These activities are made possible with generous support from the Creative Work Fund, Alliance for California Traditional Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and the SF Arts Commission Cultural Equity Grants.

Tagabanua will be presented at Union Square Park, located at Geary and Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA, on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at 2pm. This event is FREE and open to the public.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Master Philippine Choreographer Jay Loyola has created over 40 Pilipino folkloric dance works and performed in Asia, Europe, and the US. He has significantly contributed to the Bay Area’s multicultural landscape, creating performances at venues such as the Palace of Fine Arts, Cowell Theater, the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Pistahan, and the Filipino-American Arts Exposition. Loyola has extensively researched the rituals and traditions of the tribal people of Palawan and has become an adopted Tagbanua in the highlands of Palawan in the Philippines. Loyola is the Founder Emeritus of Palawan Dance Theater, now the premier dance company of the region. He moved to the US in 2006 and served as Dance Director of LIKHA Philippine Folk Ensemble ’07-08. His awards include “Young Alumni Achiever in Arts and Humanities” by Holy Trinity College, and the nomination for an Isadora Duncan Award for his 2008 collaboration with Rudy Soriano, Kadayawan. He is now the Artistic Director of the American Center of Philippine Arts. 
 
CALENDAR LISTING

WHO:            Kularts – Philippine Master Choreographer Jay Loyola
WHAT:           Performance of TAGABANUA and world record attempt for the largest Palawan Dance Event
WHEN:           2:30PM Sunday, September 2, 2012
WHERE:         Union Square, San Francisco CA
WHY:             World record attempt for the largest Palawan Dance Event

CONTACT: Claire F. Meyler, e-mail: program@kularts.org  phone: (415) 239-0249 www.kularts.org
 
ABOUT KULARTS

Kularts is the nation’s premier presenter of contemporary and tribal Pilipino arts. Founded in 1985, Kularts aims to inform and expand the understanding of American Pilipino culture through works that address contemporary issues in the community; to preserve the spirit and integrity of ancient Pilipino art forms through research, education and documentation; and to nurture the artistic development of Pilipino American artists. Kularts proudly serves the San Francisco Bay Area, home to the largest number of Pilipinos outside of the Philippines.

For more information, visit www.kularts.org.

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine