Where it all began!

Founding Board of Directors (left to right): Alvin Tolentino, Cath Bray, Tarig Adam, Brian Dedora.

Bottom row (left to right): Marie Choeng, Lea Paulson, Brigitte Potter-Mael.

Summary of Co.ERASGA

over the past 25 years

days of dedication, innovation, and growth – here's to the journey that keeps on going, fueled by passion, driven by purpose, and inspired by the future we’re building together!

"The milestone achievement of Co. ERASGA’s 25th year is one I am proud of as a testament to an enduring work in dance as a contribution of the company's arts and culture service here at home, nationwide and global. I am honored to have such a creative journey with Co. ERASGA's  countless beautiful artists I have worked with and continue to do so in dance productions, community engagements and multiple special projects past and present.

In the course of 25 years,  our commitments have been firm and strong, resiliency working in dance and arts that has transformed  me as a creative citizen, my creative collaborators and community members that allowed arts and culture as a pivotal and integral part of our lives towards relational and transformation.

Thank you to each and all that have been and will continue to be part of Co. ERASGA past,  throughout this year and beyond. May dance continue to hold a special place in our heart and that we continue to cross paths again and again in sharing, talking, learning, seeing and dancing together."

Alvin Erasga Tolentino

“I am one of Co.ERASGA’s founding members. I sat on its board of directors and am currently its acting president. Back in 1994, at University of Victoria, I saw my first Alvin Erasga Tolentino performance; his choreography was based on a minimal scar in his hand. This prompted my great interest in further works. Today, I see the symbolism of what was written in Alvin’s hand as his uncompromising responsibility to share his calling and purpose. To love and nurture what one loves and believes in, unconditionally, is what Alvin and Co.ERASGA Dance have manifested throughout the past 25 years.”

Brigitte Potter-Mael - founding member & current president of Co.ERASGA (2015 - current)

“I first met Alvin going to lessons in the building where I had my framing shop. That began and caught my interest in Alvin’s dance and performances. Alvin was in the growth process of inventing and feeling out what would become his vocabulary, what in his body desired him to cross a stage; tangents, diagonals, left, right, the duration of a flicker of bird hands climbing, to shake and swift- move an actuation in accordance with his danced vocabulary to both perform and encourage other dancers/partners in a reciprocity of form, movement andsocial engagement to become not just at-one for himselfbut to welcome partners and audiences who followedevery move for once it’s performed that fleeting moment affects the next and the next, on and on to exert its pressure... Alvin, you introduced me to so much (who else could get me on the Stanley Park Halloween Train) I love you for it! Happy Anniversary!!”

Brian Dedora - founding member & first president of Co.ERASGA (2000 - 2007)

“In 2007 I had the opportunity to see a performance of “Field”, choreographed and performed by Alvin Erasga Tolentino.  I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of this work.

I was honored when Alvin approached me with a request to join the board of Co.ERASGA Dance.  The company had grown from its fledgling stage into a more established cultural organization in the city.  Alvin’s work garnered a lot of respect in the dance community, and as choreographer-in-residence at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, Alvin had a magnificent opportunity to showcase his talent.

I was delighted to serve as president of the board for a few years, and I continue to attend Alvin’s magnificent shows to this very day.”

Marijn Eterman - former president of Co.ERASGA (2007 - 2011)

“I am a keen supporter of Co.ERASGA, serving on Board of Directors as member at large and then president. I first encountered Co.ERASGA through the Vancouver Philippine Women’s Centre  (Alvin donated the proceeds of a performance to the PWC). Co.ERASGA’s performances are powerful, unique and brave, created in collaboration with other dancers, dramaturgs, costume and set designers, and musicians, in Canada and beyond. In 2012, along with Marilou Carrillo, I travelled to the Philippines and witnessed the creation of Colonial. Like other CO.ERASGA performances, Colonial told a powerful story of colonization, resistance and transformation. Happy anniversary Co.ERASGA – 25 years is a remarkable achievement. Looking forward to the 30th birthday party.”

Shauna Butterwick - former board member & president of Co.ERASGA (2011 - 2015)

Co.ERASGA founded MigARTion in 2017 a community arts project in support of im-migrants serving close to

migrants with racialized origins from Philippines, Mexico, Columbia, Uruguay, China, Korea, Vietnam and Cameroon.

spectators in our multiple national tours of the Philippines serving close to 65% students in several Philippines high schools and universities.

Co.ERASGA is the ONLY contemporary dance company in Canada founded by a Filipino-Asian Canadian director (Alvin Erasga Tolentino) to be funded with the operating support in the Municipal, Provincial and Federal funding agencies.