Friday, October 03, 2008 Nulud: On stage at the CCA By Rebecca L. Nulud Light That Transforms
THE Saint Louis University-Center for Culture and the Arts (SLU-CCA) was established in May 1993 during the presidency of Fr. Joseph Van den Daelen, who believed that in addition to providing quality elementary, secondary and tertiary education, SLU should also be a place where art is not only appreciated and nurtured but where our cultural heritage is preserved and perpetuated.
CCA is a creative and excellent center that harnesses and optimizes the potentials of both student-artists as well as educators, through significant programs that promote and develop their artistic talents specifically in the performing arts. With its aim to maximize participation in the growing population of SLU, new performing arts groups were strategically formed.
CCA has seven resident performing groups who constantly present competent and top-notch performances representing the areas of music, theater, and dance. These are the SLU Glee Club, SLU Dance Troupe, SLU Children's Dance Troupe, Tanghalang SLU, CCA String Ensemble, SLU LES Children's Choir and SLU LHS Boys Choir.
Annually, CCA conducts auditions for new members to discover new highly-qualified candidates from among SLU students. Aside from a holistic development program, we provide benefits such as scholarships to artists who display exemplary performance in all SLU-CCA activities within and outside the campus.
The CCA is the most active performing group in Baguio City. The regular full-length musical plays, straight plays, concerts, and other excellent performances that are produced every year receive outstanding reviews from audiences not only from SLU but also from the Baguio community as well.
The latest was the remake of "The King and I" (1st musical play produced by the CCA in 1994), a school production that gave the performers the opportunity to perform on stage and the audience to experience the grandeur of theater, live music, acting, dancing and elaborate set designs, technical theater techniques, and creative make-up and costumes.
The CCA extends its services to SLU dependents and students through its yearly CCA Summer Arts Workshop. This activity encourages the students to enhance and pursue their love for music, dance, theater arts, and arts and crafts.
CCA does not limit its services within SLU. For the past two years, CCA extends its involvement by being a part of the Arts Camp and Developmental Encampment under the leadership of Sunflower Children's Center that conducts workshops to various institutions for children in Metro Manila.
Indeed, through the years, CCA remains a significant venue for the education and training of artists and as a seat of exploring and experiencing the arts.
With the unswerving support of our University President Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova, the administration and its strategically formed groups, the CCA will continue to render its share towards the realization of a vision to look forward to a new dawn of creativity and artistic excellence.
Today, we celebrate the 15TH anniversary of our inspiration, our pride, our home - the SLU Center for Culture and the Arts.
For inquiries, you may visit Mrs. Rebecca L. Nulud, CCA director, at the CCA building, Saint Louis University; or call 444-8246 (to 48 & 53) local 255; or email ccadir@slu.edu.ph.
