CHOREOGRAPHING THE DANCE OF TWO CULTURES, PEOPLE.Byline: Vicki Smith Paluch Correspondent USING the Spanish galleon galleon, oceangoing warship used by the European naval powers in the 15th and 16th cent. A large, cumbersome vessel, the galleon was three-masted and square-rigged, usually with two decks, and with its main batteries in broadsides. trade from Acapulco to Manila as their golden thread, two of Los Angeles' most prominent folk dance folk dance, primitive, tribal, or ethnic form of the dance, sometimes the survival of some ancient ceremony or festival. The term is used also to include characteristic national dances, country dances, and figure dances in costume to folk tunes. ensembles - Danza Floricanto/USA and Kayamanan Ng Lahi - join forces to explore their common heritage today and Sunday at the Ford Amphitheatre List of Ford Amphitheatres
In the program, ``Acapulco to Manila: The Untold Story of the Pacific Rim Pacific Rim, term used to describe the nations bordering the Pacific Ocean and the island countries situated in it. In the post–World War II era, the Pacific Rim has become an increasingly important and interconnected economic region. ,'' Danza Floricanto/USA, Los Angeles' oldest professional Mexican folk dance troupe, and Kayamanan Ng Lahi, the area's most prominent Filipino folk arts and dance company, share their cultural connections. The common heritage of the Mexican and Filipino people Filipinos are the citizens of the Philippines, located in Southeast Asia. The term (feminine: Filipina) may also refer to people of Philippine descent, regardless of citizenship (i.e. was forged by Spanish colonialism, bringing a common second language, Spanish, and a common religion, Catholicism, and a ``caste system'' to the indigenous peoples The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition, but can be used about any ethnic group who inhabit the geographic region with which they have the earliest historical connection. of the Pacific Rim, explained choreographer cho·re·o·graph v. cho·re·o·graphed, cho·re·o·graph·ing, cho·re·o·graphs v.tr. 1. To create the choreography of: choreograph a ballet. 2. Gema Sandoval, founder of Danza Floricanto. Spain ruled both Mexico and the Philippines for 250 years, from 1565 to 1810. The ``black galleon'' sailing from Acapulco to Manila and back carried fine porcelain, silks, brocade, velvet, perfumes, spices, mangoes and pearls, she said. The trade created strong cultural streams among the people of the two port cities. In ``Acapulco to Manila'' Danza Floricanto and Kayamanan Ng Lahi trace the Spanish conquest and the commerce of movement, music and language between the countries. ``We're going past the history to bring it to life,'' said Joel Jacinto, co-artistic director of Kayamanan. The evening-long work weaves works from the repertory of both companies with new choreography for sections the troupes dance together. Kayamanan Ng Lahi's rondalla (string ensemble) and ethnic percussion ensemble A percussion ensemble is a musical ensemble consisting of only percussion instruments. Although the term can be used to describe any such group, it commonly refers to groups of classically-trained percussionists performing primarily classical music. will provide the live musical accompaniment. Jacinto and Sandoval began to explore the Mexican-Filipino connection in 1998, when Jacinto invited Sandoval's company to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Philippines' independence from Spain in a performance at California Plaza's Water Court. ``We, as cultures, have much in common - a common history, common struggles,'' said Jacinto, who also runs Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, a nonprofit social service organization for youth and families in central Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . ``It far outweighs our differences in skin and appearance.'' By placing the traditional folk dances in a different historical context, Sandoval hopes to show the similarities of the two cultures and the people. ``This is a much more personal point of view. My challenge as a choreographer is how to use traditional dances to create a language for my life and my time,'' she said. FROM ACAPULCO TO MANILA: AN UNTOLD PACIFIC RIM STORY Who: Danza Floricanto/USA and Layamanan Ng Lahi. Where: Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood. When: 8 tonight, 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $20 adults; $12 students and children. (323) 461-3673. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Kayamanan Ng Lahi will perform during ``Acapulco to Manila'' this weekend at the Ford Amphitheater. |
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