THE Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) will formally release the first-ever documentation of Cebuano dances, Sayaw Sugbo Cebuano Folk Dances volume 1 on Sept. 21, 2018 at the Casa Gorordo Museum.
The launch will follow the Casa Gorordo Museum Talk on Cebuano dance research and documentation, “Pagduki-duki ug Pagtala sa mga Sayaw sa Sugbo (Researching and Documenting Cebuano Dances)” by Prof. Ceasar Nimor, co-author of the book, at 2 p.m. Registration to the talk is free.
The talk specifically deals with the background, process of Cebuano dance research, as well as the nature, kinds and influences of Cebuano folk dances.
Dance researcher Prof. Nimor is co-author of the book, together with Prof. Mila Catelo-Janson.
The book offers 10 dances native to Cebu, and provides the cultural background, a listing and photo of the costumes, the dance and music annotations of each dance.
An instructional video for demonstrations and accompanying music is also included in the book.
Cebuano dances have been documented in the past but are featured as examples of Visayan dances in Philippine dance anthologies.
This is the first time a compendium of Cebuano dances is released.
“This exemplary contribution from folk dance researchers and practitioners in Cebu contribute a lot to our national resources in performance of our cultural tradition. From Cebu alone, it acquaints us with the indigenous progenies and practices that the rest of the country should gratifyingly acknowledge,” said University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus and Philippine dance expert Basilio Esteban S. Villaruz in the book’s Preface.
Sayaw Sugbo vol. 1 has been softly launched in the 38th National Folk Dance Workshop of the Philippine Folk Dance Society (PFDS) last May 22, 2018 and PFDS Cebu Province chapter dance workshop last July 20-21, 2018.
The book was also used as basis for the dance workshop organized by the Cebu Provincial Government Tourism Office and RAFI to 50 Department of Education MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health) teachers representing the various districts in the province and cities of Cebu last Aug. 7-9 2018 at the Capitol Social Hall.
Volume 2 of Sayaw Sugbo is slated to be released in 2019.
Copies of Sayaw Sugbo vol. 1 will be sold at the launching price of P720 per copy (from the regular P800) during the event only.
Copies are available at the Casa Gorordo Museum shop and in museums and hotel shops in the city.
For inquiries about the book and to reserve a seat at the talk, both on Sept. 21, contact (032) 411-1700 local 24537, or send a message at www.facebook.com/casagorordomuseum.