Williamsburg, Va

Contributed by Kimberley Cuachon-Haugh

The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,107 islands, is deeply diverse and rooted in pride so it is not a coincidence that its foremost dance company, Bayanihan, literally means patriotism a Filipino tradition which means "working together for a common good." For over 50 years the company has been showcasing Filipino traditions through music, dance, and story-telling—capturing the country’s myriad of cultures.

Acclaimed by the Washington Post for its grace and beautiful costumes, Bayanihan presents to the world the many colors of the Philippines, a nation that has Spanish, Malaysian, Islamic, Hindu and Chinese cultural influences. Stemmed by all ofthis, the performance depicts a dynamism that cannot be seen anywhere else. The Kadal Tabaw, a dance from the T’boli people deeply rooted in mythology, is about the tabaw bird that is seen during harvest. From the region to the south, Mindanao, it reveals the natural connection that is the basis of many cultures in the Philippines. Juxtaposed to that is the Aray dance, sung in Chabacano, a hybrid of Spanish, it elegantly portrays the outcome of 377 years of Spanish colonialism. The famous Singkil, one of the oldest true Filipino dances about a legendary princess lost in the forest amongst fairies displays skill, precision and poise.

Bayanihan is a cultural mosaic that is centrifugal. It is a perfect fusion that brings to light a nation whose culture is for the

most part, unknown by many, and often synthesizes with many other Asian countries. But it achieves to show why Filipinos are so contrasted and proud of their heritage.

The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company will be coming through Virginia on their coast-to-coast US Tour: First in Newport News at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, November 12, then through Fairfax at George Mason University, November 13 and 14.

See the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company at Ferguson Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Newport News, Friday, November 12, 2010 08:00 PM. Click here to purchase your tickets online.

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