FESTIVAL DANCERS
LIKHA PILIPINO FOLK ENSEMBLE
NATIONAL/ETHNIC IDENTITY: Filipino
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Rudi C. Soriano
COSTUME DIRECTOR: Warren Manuntag
First Appearance in SF EDF: 1994
Website: www.likha.org
The Philippines is an archipelago – a scattering of many tiny islands
between the Philippine and South China Seas in Southeast Asia. These
"little lands" have been inhabited by distinct indigenous groups,
each who have worked on and with the land using materials in their
natural
environment to live by. An important creation myth even explains
how the indigenous Filipino people were born out of one bamboo rod.
What ties these islands together culturally are the influences that
come by living in a common geographical environment, as well as the
sharing of common historical threads. Invaders from China, Indonesia
and Spain passed over these lands each leaving behind traces of their
customs, art and language.
2004 PERFORMANCE
 TITLE OF PIECE: TODAK
CHOREOGRAPHY: Ramon Obusan
DANCERS: Emmanuel Benisano, Beverly Buhain, Ron Cabarloc,
Kirsi Cabatbat, Gary Cruz, Manny De Vera, Cassie Dominguez, Christian
Dominguez, Genee Dominguez, Chariss Ilarina, Laurie Laxa, Randy Miranda,
Kristin Nepacena, Bryan Pangilinan, Pebbles Remulla, and Paulino Tamayo
MUSICIANS: Ernie Andrade (tangungo), Ed Cruz (tangungo),
Herna Cruz (gong), OJ Pahati (drum), Fredeswinda Santos (gong), and
Emmanuel Grueso Jr. (babandil)
For the 2004 Festival, Likha presents dance and music derived from
the aboriginal Bagobos people of the region Davao in the southeastern
part of the Philippines near Mindanao. These people live between the
ocean towns of Davao del Sur up to the foot of the towering Mt. Apo.
This staged version of a Bagogo harvest dance depicts in mime and symbolic
movement the time cycle of rice growing, from planting to harvesting.
Todak refers to the bamboo poles topped by clappers used
by the male dancers. Here the men clean the field in preparation for
planting, while others jab the todak into the earth to make
holes for seed planting. Young women throw the grain into the holes
and later return to cut the rice stalks to place in their baskets.
Finally they thresh and pound the grain for consumption. The set concludes
with men and woman dancing together in celebration of a hard days work
completed.
The costumes represent the type of clothing made by the Bagobos people.
The fabric is woven of abaca fiber, a kind of hemp grown abundantly
in the Philippines, and is adorned with embroidery and designs made
with shell disks and beads. The musical instruments consist of the tangungo,
a set of eight metal gongs hung on bamboo frames, the kubing,
or jew's harp and drums.
Back to top
|
