News & Events

Mask Whales Asia

I have just returned from Calgary after performing with Big Sky Collective Multi-Media in the International Animated Objects Festival. Since the late fall of 2008, I have been busy remounting Spirit Whales and Matriarch of the Earth for them, dancing, choreographing and directing. Our last show is February 11 scheduled for the Talking Stick Festival 2009 in Vancouver at the Roundhouse. In this process and performance, I was again reminded of the beauty and work of storytelling and Northwest Coast masks by Big Sky directors Sharon Jinkerson Brass and Victor Reece, two outstanding BC aboriginal artists with their visions to re-connect and share the light, message of the First Nations people. Returning to this work, I reflected on the truth of the arts, my relation to it, the circle of people I work with and my responsibility to the audience. Grounding, staying in the present and finding transformation in performance. I shared the working process and dancing for the first time with Donald Taruc, Alisoun Payne and Starr Muranko.

On the horizon: Partnering with CADA BC classes Feb. 9, 11, 16 and 18. This represents a long overdue teaching initiative that I have been hoping to return to due to my hectic schedule. This partnership is part of Co.ERASGA's outreach for the cost of $5 to provide dancers professional classes. Not a bad deal!

Special master class with Kababayang Filipino dance troupe members (focusing on youth) is held February 15.

A mini research solo for Adam (Billy Marchenski) in my ongoing investigation of ADAM-EVE/Man-Woman full-length creation for 2009.

Then to Tokyo, Japan at Tokyo Performing Arts Market (TPAM) March 4-7 And finally to my homeland, the Philippines, where I give workshops, outreach and lecture as part of the University of the Philippines in Los Banos.