Thursday, August 30, 2007 RP tour of 'Field: Land is the belly of man'
FILIPINO-Canadian choreographer Alvin Erasga Tolentino returns to the Philippines to present "Field: Land is the belly of man," an enthralling dance performance-tribute to the disappearing rice-growing traditions of the Philippines.
The multi-media solo performance employs contemporary choreography, music and the video art of Tad Ermitaño in an ingenious and intriguing way to create a dance metaphor that draws attention to the beauty of the connection between man and the land that nourishes him.
This thought-provoking piece pays homage to the traditional harvesting of rice. It is a solemn appeal for preservation of the ancestral cultural heritage that is contained in a grain of rice, of two millennia of agricultural knowledge and of historical and sacred customs. The performance encompasses emotion, beauty and reflection, and questions the ever-changing relationship between man and the land.
This international touring initiative is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, the British Columbia Arts Council, Myra Beltran Dance Forum and The Lemon Circle Events Management and Consultancy.
Born in Manila, Tolentino has resided in Vancouver, Canada since 1983 and is a dancer, choreographer, instructor, and visual artist. Last seen onstage in Manila in Ballet Philippines' Neo-Filipino: Balikbayan in 2004, Tolentino was born in Manila and has resided in Vancouver, Canada since 1983. A dancer, choreographer, instructor, and visual artist, he founded and serves as the artistic director of Co.Erasga Dance Society-a contemporary international touring dance company with an emphasis in exploration and collaboration of cross cultural work promoting dance across the nation and abroad.
His work as a Filipino-Canadian choreographer and dancer has earned him a distinct reputation as an original and an unpredictable contemporary performing artist in several countries such as Japan, France, Belgium, Croatia, US, Singapore, Italy and Venezuela. Tolentino has received professional art and dance training with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, York University's Fine Arts in Toronto, SUNY Purchase, New York and the Limon Institute.
Artistic staff:
Conception and Performance: Alvin Erasga Tolentino
Music: Ted Hamilton
Text: Paul Claudel
Voice: Gaetan Margot
Video Installation: Tad Ermitanio
Video editing: D-Anne Kuby Trepanier/Gordon Wong
Set: Gaetan and Herve Margot (reconstructed by Robert Middleton-Hope and Don Cunningham)
Technical Director: Larisa Fayad and Aster Vilahermosa
Production Manager: Ida Elopre
Remaining performance dates and venues:
September 4-5 (7 p.m.)
Los Banos, Laguna
IRRI Havener Auditorium (September 4) and D.L. Umali Theater/University of the Philippines-Los Baños (September 5) in partnership with Samahan sa Sining UPLB with the support of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Asia Rice Foundation.
For ticket inquires, call (049) 536-2320 (Press release)
