Bayanihan Notes.Indd
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Cal Performances Presents Saturday, September , , pm & pm Zellerbach Hall Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company Helena Z. Benitez Founder Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco Chairman, Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation Dr. Lucrecia R. Kasilag President Suzie Moya Benitez Executive Director Isabel A. Santos Artistic and Costume Director Ferdinand B. Jose Dance Director, Choreographer Melito S. Vale Cruz Music Director Shakira Maris Villa Lighting Designer, Technical Director Helen Legion Costume Mistress Management Columbia Artists Management, Inc. Broadway, New York, New York Andrew S. Grossman, Producer W. Seton Ijams, Associate Cal Performances’ – season is sponsored by Wells Fargo. 4 CAL PERFORMANCES Program Saturday, September , , pm & pm Zellerbach Hall Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company PROGRAM Earth Rhythms Th e origins of dance from man’s early awareness of the dynamic earth: the colors, sounds and rhythms of the wind and the waters, the trees and the animals, and all the elements in nature that cause a quickening of man’s rhythmic and musical impulses. Tribal Tapestry Woven into a many-colored tapestry are strands of rhythm and color: young girls gracefully simulating birds in fl ight, maidens preening fl irtatiously and a Tiboli-Bagobo mix of rhythmic footwork accentuated by the sound of bells. Hispanic Past Remembered Four centuries of Spanish-European infl uence evoke memories of the jota, mazurka, polka and valse danced in the Filipino style and defi ned by Filipino grace. A bustling trading scene, with Chinese, Spanish, Indian, Mexican and Filipino merchants vending precious gems, ancient jars and silken wares, recreates the multifaceted cultural ambience of times not too long past. INTERMISSION Mindanao Splendor Th e clamor of gongs, a fl ash of weaponry as warriors prime for battle, a bevy of girls frolicking with colorful food baskets, maidens demonstrating the varied ways of wearing the tubular gar- ment called malong, dusky divers pearling the orient seas and fi nally the “Voyage for Love and Peace,” a royal tale of love lost and regained. Th is original Bayanihan dance piece won the Gold Temple Award for overall excellence in dance, music, costumes and production at the th International Folklore Festival in Agrigento, Sicily, in February . Th ree years later, on the oth Anniversary of the same festival, this piece again won the coveted Gold Temple Award in a competition among all previous Gold Temple awardees. People Under the Sun A kaleidoscope in dance of a village pista, or fi esta, with all the fun and fl urry. It starts with a dance of supplication for a successful fi esta followed by a dance of lights, dawn music from a bamboo band, and a friendly competition of skill dances—intricate rhythms from coconut shells, clashing bamboo poles, a breathtaking dance on benches piled on benches, a fast-step- ping chase-and-run number, exuberant laughter and joyous singing—which builds to a rous- ing festival climax. Program subject to change without notice. CAL PERFORMANCES 5 About the Artists BAYANIHAN: A NATIONAL TREASURE from their ancient origins in the countryside to the confi nes of the stage without sacrifi cing Th e Bayanihan story spans years of per- authenticity. formances all over the world. It had its ear- Said Walter Terry of Th e New York Herald ly roots in the Filipiniana Folk Music and Tribune, “Bayanihan is one of the newest exam- Dance Committee of the Philippine Women’s ples of an ethnic dance culture which has gone University (PWU). But it was not until beyond simple preservation (important as that that the PWU Bayanihan Folk Arts Center and is), and into creative growth.” its performing arm, the Bayanihan Philippine In a second review, he lavished praise on “the Dance Company, were founded by Dr. Helena genius of Lucrecia Reyes Urtula, the choreogra- Z. Benitez to pursue the following objectives: to pher, who ranks with Russia’s Igor Moiseyev, conduct researches in ethnic rites, tribal folklore Mexico’s Amalia Hernandez and our own Agnes and regional folkways; to collect indigenous art de Mille in the brilliant translating of ethnic forms as expressed in music, dance, literature, dance forms into theatrical terms. While pre- arts and crafts; to distill and transform these serving authenticity of step and of regional col- cultural traditions into theatrical presentations; ors, Mrs. Urtula has devised designs of incred- and to promote international understanding ible originality, visual beauty and excitement.” through cultural exchange and performances Initial success in Brussels and Broadway abroad. paved the way for numerous invitations from Th e Company takes its name from the an- top impresarios of the world. From to cient Filipino tradition of Bayanihan, which sig- date, Bayanihan has mounted international nifi es working together for the common good. It tours and over brief tours to international is this spirit of togetherness that bonded parents, events and festivals, covering countries on teachers, researchers, technicians, dancers and fi ve continents. musicians, working as one in a common eff ort Th e fi rst Filipino group to perform on to achieve the objectives of the Company. Broadway, Bayanihan also has the distinction of As a civic response to a government ap- being the fi rst non-American dance company to peal for a cultural program for the country’s take to the stage at New York’s Lincoln Center participation in the Brussels World’s for the Performing Arts, as well as the fi rst Fair, Bayanihan mounted a production called Philippine cultural group to perform in Russia, Glimpses of Philippine Culture through Music and the People’s Republic of China and throughout Dance, which proved to be “the sensation of the South America. As offi cial Philippine represen- Fair.” It was featured in Ed Sullivan’s TV pro- tative at the fi rst CIOFF World Folkloriada held gram on the highlights of the Fair and broadcast in the Netherlands in , Bayanihan was one coast-to-coast in the United States. of the top fi ve performing arts groups chosen A year later, the noted impresario Sol Hurok from among national groups to give repeat signed up Bayanihan for his annual International performances at the close of the festival. In , Dance Festival. Opening at the Winter Garden the Company embarked on a centennial tour of Th eater on October , , Bayanihan’s Europe, commencing at the Lisboa World Expo, Broadway debut was accorded unanimous criti- followed by performances in Monaco, Germany, cal acclaim by New York critics—a feat which France, Madrid and in cities of the autono- earned the Company the aff ectionate title mous region of Galicia in Northwestern Spain. “Cinderella of Dance Th eater.” Th eir most recent international conquest was Critics were particularly impressed by the the th Almond in Blossom festival and th dancers’ skill, grace and joie de vivre, as well International Folk Festival in Sicily, February as by the Company’s success in the transfer- –, . Th ey won fi rst prize in the traditional ence of indigenous dance and music traditions costumes category and the only Asian country 6 CAL PERFORMANCES About the Artists that made it to the top four winners among Dr. Helena Z. Benitez (founder), one of the participating countries. most remarkable women of the Philippines, Other signifi cant accolades include the is one of the continuing motivating forces be- Ramon Magsaysay Award for International hind the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Understanding, which Bayanihan received Company. She originally provided Bayanihan in ; the Th eatre des Nations Award (folk with an institutional base in her Philippine dance category), given in Paris in ; and Women’s University, the First University in Asia the Program for Asian Projects (PAP) grant, founded by Asians, where Bayanihan started to awarded twice to Bayanihan (, ) by the gain renown while perfecting its craft and rep- Rockefeller Brothers Fund/Ramon Magsaysay ertoire in the s. In the half-century since Foundation for the Company’s projects “Peace then, and after Bayanihan gained its own inde- and Unity Among ASEAN Nations through pendent footing and identity, she has continued Dance and Music.” to be its foremost patron and promoter even as Much celebrated nationally and interna- she pursued her career as lifelong educator and tionally, Bayanihan has awakened a new pride made her mark in other fi elds of endeavor. She among Filipinos in their cultural heritage, pre- served in the Philippine legislature as Senator served and added a new dimension to the coun- and Member of Parliament for more than a de- try’s dance tradition and built for the country a cade. She was elected head of not one but two rich reserve of international goodwill. United Nations bodies, the fi rst Filipino to be- Perhaps the most rewarding among its come chairperson of the UN Commission on achievements is the fact that Bayanihan’s ex- the Status of Women, and fi rst and only woman ample encouraged the growth of numerous folk President of the UN Environment Programme. dance companies in the country, some of which She has served as member of the executive board have been organized by former Bayanihan danc- of the International Association of Universities ers. Beyond the Philippines, the Company has and chair of the Southeast Asian Council of also inspired other countries to exploit their the International Association of University own folk material for international presenta- Presidents. She has also served as Ambassador tion. Among these is Mexico, whose folkloric of the Philippines and headed Philippine delega- ballet group formed after Bayanihan’s fi rst per- tions to many international conferences, includ- formance there now gives the Company lively ing the UN Habitat Conference in Vancouver. competition. She is the only person to have served on the In , by Act of the Philippine Congress, Board of Trustees of Bayanihan continuously Bayanihan was offi cially designated the National throughout its existence.