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PASACAT
35th Anniversary Extravaganza When the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company toured to Tahiti for the South Pacific Asian Festival in 1976, a last minute addition to their thirty-minute repertoire was requested by Ramon Obusan, Bayanihan dancer also representing the Philippine Department of Tourism. Petite Joji Ramirez-Castro, PASACAT Choreographer-Dance Director, was asked to learn and perform Vinta, a dance depicting the colorful sail boats off the shores of Mindanao. The dance involves balancing on top of two bamboo held by two men and perform a variation of the pangalay with languid arm and hand movements as if imitating the waves of the ocean. Castro subsequently performed Vinta in the 1981 and 1983 Bayanihan World Tours and will be one of the production numbers in the upcoming PASACAT 35th Anniversary Extravaganza, September 30, with two performances, 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre, 6611 University Avenue, San Diego. Castro will share her technique in style and skill with Joyelle Cabato, a student at Grossmont College and Monica Carino, a student at Otay Ranch High School, will perform the dance. Vinta captures the mystique of Mindanao as performers sway colorful sails, fan dancers imitate ocean waves, while the whirling spins of the fish are mimicked by a corps of girls. The two-hour production will include a repertoire reflecting the traditionally based Philippine dances, music and song from the Cordillera or Mountains of Luzon and Mindanao, the aristocratic era during the Spanish regime, the coastal regions of Mindanao, and the barrios of lowland Luzon and central Philippines. Twenty-eight dancers and six musicians transformed in brilliant costuming from the Philippines will bring the stage to life in a program with live musical accompaniment. The cultures of Mindanao are the most intriguing to many non-Filipino's. Other dances from Mindanao are Janggay, new to PASACAT's repertoire, from Jolo and named after the extended brass nails placed on the finger tips which enhance the arm and hand movements. Mindanao's predominant faith is Moselm, but the Bagobo refers to the non-converted Islams of the Cordillera of Mindanao. In Bagobo male dancers imitate the monkey and frog. With the sounds of brass bell belts and ankle bells, the men perform with agility in a mesmerizing physical and quick-paced choreography. The intriguing T'boli depicts the women's participation in the Lem-lunay Festival in hopes that it will reenergize and renew itÕs people as they strive for a paradise state of life. Adorned in colorful attire and hats, the women assemble to exchange stories and break into movement as women press their lips to chew on beetle nut - considered a type of narcotic. A new version of Paso Doble takes us to the turn of the century during the Spanish occupation in a contemporary sounding piece featuring seven female and three male dancers. The panuelo shawl draped over the shoulders of the women was modified to reveal more of the back and shoulder, a bold move for a bolder Paso Doble. From the lowlands of Luzon, the Sakuting is of Chinese origin and incorporates the arnis martial arts performed by men. Rounding out the dance program, PASACAT incorporates song to give the full glimpse of Philippine artistry. Cabato, a musical theater major at Grossmont College and seen at local theaters in San Diego will perform the challenging classicSa Kabukiran, about the simple life in the countryside. The contemporary response is the complex choral score, Musika by Ryan Cayabyab. The majority of performers are non-Tagalog speakers but are taught the song as a way of connecting to the language. The powerful lyrics send a message of the keys we hold in send a message of goodwill through many types of music. New to the Extravaganza production is Sheena Rudio, 21, of Valencia Park. She moved from the Philippines to San Diego in 2000 and joined PASACAT in 2004. "I'm surprised that you have Philippine dance here, I never expected it," Rudio explained. "What you're doing here in San Diego is the same as in the Philippines Š itÕs really like home!" Robert Prades, 17, of Mar Vista High School is in awe of the dances and enjoys listening to the experiences of PASACAT's seasoned dancers. "I want to learn as much as I can," he shared after a recent performance. Prades joined PASACAT in May, 2005, and takes the bus from Imperial Beach to the PASACAT Center, National City to attend the rehearsals on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. His sacrifices have paid off as he has developed into one of PASACAT's highly skilled performers mastering the Binasuan (a dance where the male executes a backward summer sault and with his knees, removes the glass on top of the head) and Tinikling (the international favorite bamboo dance). Carissa Villena, 15 of Rancho Penasquitos, trained in balley and follows her sister and brother who performed in the 1992 Extravaganza. "I want to learn about my culture and share it with others," a confident Villena proclaimed and smiled, "and have fun, too!" Reserved seats are $25 for the evening performance and $22 for the matinee. Discounts are available for students with an ID, seniors, children 5-11 and active military with an ID. PASACAT is funded in part by a program managed by the City of San Diego's Commission for Arts and Culture and the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Fund. |