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Profile of the organization

Co. ERASGA Dance Society (aka Co. ERASGA) is a Vancouver-based contemporary dance company founded on the principles of innovation, artistic integrity and social reflection. Our works explore diverse and complex issues such as the nature of gender identity, ethnicity in a global world, and the nature of self in relation to the creation of art.

Co. ERASGA was founded by Alvin Erasga Tolentino in order to address the former issues within his dance practice. After fifteen years of experience as an independent and principal dancer for some of Vancouver's leading dance companies, Tolentino continues his creative voice with Co. ERASGA.

Founded in 2000, the mission of Co. ERASGA is to:

A) Support and realize the creative vision of Alvin Erasga Tolentino through dance,
B) Foster the research, creation and production of innovative new works in partnership with dance artists, and other creative genres (visual arts, music, theatre, performance art, video and film),
C) Recognize the Asian heritage and diversity within the Canadian multicultural context, and
D) Promote, share and celebrate dance to the widest and diverse audience in BC, Canada and abroad. Co. ERASGA also supports dance artists at both the emerging and professional level through involvement in the companyâs artistic processes, creations and productions.

Under the artistic directorship of Filipino/Canadian choreographer and dancer, Alvin Erasga Tolentino, the company explores issues of cultural identity and hybridity, by juxtaposing the public and private territory, and promoting cross-cultural dialogue.

Co. ERASGA is faithful to the kinetic power of dance as the core, source and tool for dynamic communication.

Co. ERASGA is carving a unique reputation and place for itself in BC, Canada and on the international scene, by creating works that appeal to many different communities. The impetus for much of the artistic work is the Artistic Directorâs identity and heritage. As a Filipino-Canadian artist, Tolentino is interested exploring " through modern dance" themes that are of interest to a wide and diverse audience.

As a Vancouver-based company, we bring a diverse and distinct contemporary Asian-Canadian voice to the performing arts. Our work has found a loyal following in the pan-Asian community, the visual arts and dance community, the gay community, and general audiences throughout Canada and abroad.

Our ongoing objectives include building and sustaining the proper infrastructure to fulfill our mission statement, and to harness the energy of our staff, board members/volunteers, and the public in order to empower diversity through cross-cultural dialogue and performance.

Administrative Structure of Co. ERASGA

Artistic Director: Alvin Erasga Tolentino
Senior Adminstrator: Sean Devine
Office Assistant: Kathyrn Hatashita-Lee

Board of directors:
Board President: Marijn S. Eterman, Owner & Director of Vancouver Computer Tutor
Treasurer: Marilou Carrillo, Speech Language Pathologist
Secretary: Jean Fowler, Speech Language Pathologist
Members-at-Large:
Kamala Sproule, Consultant
Gregory Chan, English Professor

Brief history and highlights of the organization

In 2000, long standing independent Vancouver dancer, Alvin Erasga Tolentino forms a dance company in order to continue to produce original, multimedia and diverse contemporary dance. In January of the following year, Co. ERASGA was registered as a non-profit society in the Province of British Columbia.

The company's first major successful work for six dancers, entitled BATO/Stone was presented as part of the Firehall Arts Centreâs 2000/01 dance season. In the same year, Minori: Fulfillment of Life, a collaboration with glass artist Miyuki Shinkai at Centre A , Contemporary Asian Art Gallery in Vancouver was also created. Also in 2001, Sola, another of Tolentinoâs full-length solo works was transformed for the camera into an award winning film that broadcasted for 3 years on BRAVO, winning a Canadian Gemini, BC's LEO, and a nomination for the 11th Grand Prix International Danse Video award for UNESCO in Paris. Sola was also selected as a featured work in prestigious video/film festivals across the nation and globally. Extendending solo comprised of 3 solo works toured across Canada in 2002 and the following year again to france, Croatia and San Francisco. In the Fall of 2002, a full-evening solo work, entitled Volt was presented at the Roundhouse Performance Theatre in Vancouver.

In 2002/03, Artistic Director Alvin Tolentino was commissioned by the Ballet Philippines to create a new dance piece for five dancers. The result was Field 1, a show that explored Tolentino's Asian roots and merged aesthetics from Eastern and Western cultural expressions showcased to 4 cities and over 4000 spectators. During his time overseas, Tolentino formed new alliances with acclaimed Filipino artists such as videographer and film-maker Tad Ermitano and with renowned choreographer Dennisa Reyes.

In 2003, Co. ERASGA took a bold leap to Europe. Transforming his multi-dancer work for the Ballet Philippines into a solo show, Tolentino created Field: Land is the belly of man in partnership with the 4th International Festival Danse en Vol in Brussels, Belgium. Three years after the premiere of Field, the piece is still alive and influential. The show was seen in Vancouver, helping to raise funds for the Philippine Women's Centre, at the 2005 Asian Arts Mart in Singapore, and in 6 cities in Venezuela for the 13th International Maracaibo Dance Festival. Critics in Europe praised his visionary works, and described him as an artist to be followed. Co. ERASGA continues to support Alvin Tolentinoâs trans-continental vision, and dance works that are cross-cultural and interdisciplinary in nature.

In 2005, Co. ERASGA created OrienTik/Portrait, a milestone work for two dancers and two musicians. The project was developed during a year-long Artistic Residency at the Scotiabank Dance Centre; sold out shows in Vancouver were followed by a fall tour in Belgium and France. In 2006, the company was invited to compete in the Biennale Danza E Italia, in Pesaro, Italy; as a result, the company placed among the finalists from 100 applicants around the globe.

Co. ERASGA continues to work with partners across BC, Canada and abroad to increase visibility for diverse, contemporary dance. The company is surely earning a place on the international scene, having already showcased on four continents: in Japan, the Philippines, Belgium, Italy, France, Croatia, the USA, Singapore, Switzerland, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

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