>> U P C O M I N G

ADAM-EVE/MAN-WOMAN (PART 1)

July 11th - 12th, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
Dancing on the Edge Festival, (EDGE 5)
Firehall Arts Centre
280 Cordova St E Vancouver, British Columbia

Alvin Erasga Tolentino/Co.ERASGA contributes a 20-minute dance duet, Adam-Eve/Man-Woman (Part 1). The commissioned piece is one of ten new works to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dancing on the Edge Festival 2008.

Choreography: Alvin Erasga Tolentino
Dancers: Alison Denham and Billy Marchenski
Lighting: James Proudfoot

The charismatic duo of Alison Denham and Billy Marchenski perform Tolentino's new dance that captivates an emergence of the male and female figure. Sculptural and fluid, the dance is evocative, tender and revealing.

Contact Information: Box office: 604 689-0926
Email: Firehall@firehallartscentre.ca
www.firehallartscentre.ca

PARADIS/Paradise is a cross-continental dance project between Canada and France led by Vancouver choreographer-dancer Alvin Erasga Tolentino in collaboration with French musician-composer Emmanuel de St Aubin and Vancouver media artist Donna Szoke. In exploring the relationship and breath of dance through live music and visual images, PARADIS streams within the moments of synchronicity between three art forms.

Witness the raw, eccentric and bold palates of sounds, imagery and movement that project the body's internal paradise out to the external world. With this collaboration, Co ERASGA contributes to the global performing arts world and raises the international profile of work produced on the Canadian West Coast.

Choreography and performance by Alvin Erasga Tolentino, Co. ERASGA
Music by Emmanuel de St Aubin
Mixed media by Donna Szoke
Lighting by James Proudfoot
PARADIS/Paradise is dedicated to Larisa Fayad (1976-2007)

Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF)
March 25-26, 2008 (World Premiere)
8PM at the Roundhouse Community Centre/181 Roundhouse Mews Vancouver, BC
VIDF Box office 604 662 4966
www.vidf.ca
www.companyerasgadance.ca

The Music and Dance Conservatoire Laon, France
May14-15, 2008
quartier Foch, 2, ruelle Classon
02 000 Laon
Tel : 03.23.392099 0r 06 429035
www.ville-laon.fr/fr/sortir/indSortir.html

May 21, 2008 8:30 pm
Jean Marc Chamblay
Saint Gobain

June 21, 2008
French Music National Day
Mal Studio/Theatre, Laon, France

Anita Guerin (allerretour.anita@gmail.com) International Agent

Studio Process
Paradis/Paradise
January 24, 2008 @ 8 p.m.
Blerancourt France
Atelier Y

Paradis/Paradise
January 31 @ 6:30 p.m.
Mal Studio/Theatre Laon, France

An exciting Studio Process rehearsal for Paradis/Paradise is set for Thursday, February 21st @ 7:00 p.m. in VIVO (formerly known as Video Inn) 1965 Main Street, Vancouver.

Interprocess/Voicework

February 29-March 2, 2008 @ The Scotiabank Dance Centre, Vancouver. Toronto interdisciplinary artist Katherine Duncanson leads Voicework, an intensive 3-day workshop to engage artists of any discipline. Voicework is presented by Co.ERASGA's 4th season of "Inter Process Program,"an educational program to allow artists and non-artists to engage in dialogue, research and creative processes in different disciplines.

International Dance Day is set for Tuesday, April 29, 2008. Watch for stunning performances around the world and in your own community (More info TBA)

Co.ERASGA exchanges November 17-28, 2008 in and out of Vancouver Our first series featuring artists exchanges from Quebec City through Lydia WagerÕs CorresponDanse and Vancouver (more info TBA) A

 

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In remembrance of Larisa Fayad

Larisa Fayad was a true friend, a companion, a gifted artist, a compassionate and passionate woman who lived her life to the fullest with courage. Her death is a great loss to her family, friends and community.

Her artistic contribution to the arts, especially in dance, was immense. Her passion for the performing arts was remarkable.

So much is to be said and shared about my dear friend Larisa Fayad, who has also been a companion, but most of all, a major collaborator of Co.ERASGA Dance in promoting dance to the world since 2002.

Larisa worked with the company as stage manager, technical support, director and lighting designer both at home and on tour worldwide. Her huge contribution to several repertoires of the company include the production and presentation of VOLT, Flesh and Blood, SHE SAID, FIELD, Orientik/Portrait, BODYGlass. She was set to create her new lighting design for the creation of the solo PARADISE to premiere in the spring of 2008.

Her contribution in mastering the technicality and lighting adaptation of the acclaimed solo work FIELD was her most toured and worked piece to date for Co.ERASGA. She toured this piece with us in Singapore, six cities in Venezuela, across Canada and several times at home in Vancouver. One week before her tragic death Larisa was on a three-week tour with the company in four venues in the Philippines presenting Field.

Our experience was both challenging and enriching. We showed the work to more than 3000 spectators. Our time amongst new friends was memorable. We could have never done the tour without Larisa's courage, magic touch, expertise and knowledge of theatre and staging the dance. Larisa was the backbone of the tour! By staging Field, she helped me accomplish a dream of sharing and planting in the eyes and soul of so many Filipinos the importance and heritage of rice. Across the globe as we toured, Larisa earned praise and admiration as a woman of courage with technical expertise, professionalism, work ethics, beauty and charisma. She was a companion to me while meeting people and discovering the culture and insights of so many places where we shared the art of dance.

Larisa enjoyed travel, adventure, meeting people, food. She rose above challenges. She was a brave and simple soul who touched the lives of so many fortunate to know her. Her beautiful life and spirit continues to give light to us all.

Larisa, I could never thank you enough for your generous gift. Thank you for your love and support, and for giving light to dance.

Love and peace to you,
Alvin Erasga Tolentino