TEATRO Kandusay, a cultural ensemble based in Los Angeles, cast a spell on a crowd of adoring Filipino-Americans at a recent trade expo with their dazzling interpretation the Philippine arts and culture through aboriginal music and tribal dances.
Backstopped by talented and dyed-in-the-wool artists and cultural thespians that represented the Philippines at the famous Honolulu Festival in 2006, the group, spearheaded by Feriorein and Rowena Bontor, E.M. Casuga II, and Emann Mallorca, took center stage with their dance routines that drew ear-splitting applause from a huge crowd of expo-goers. Other Kandusay core members are Julius Valmores, Rochdell Valmera, Renan Leuterio, Eireen Alaiza, Jojo Villanueva, and Jovy Sombero.
“Ang galing nila! (My, they are so good!)” enthused a teary-eyed Maxima Cruz, who came all the way from Riverside to watch the star-studded expo show. “Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganyan. Puwede ipagmalaki. (I have never seen like it. I am proud of my culture).”
“I am impressed with the way you preserved and present the Filipino culture and tradition through the performing arts,” said Dr. Leo Pandac of the Lotus Festival Advisory. “What you guys are doing certainly makes a lot of sense among Fil-Ams particularly the younger generations… I mean those who are born and raised here in America who never has the chance of knowing their roots,” he told the group.
To which, Feriorein Bontor, who is the spokesperson for the group, responded that Teatro Kandusay exists primarily to re-educate the second and third generation Filipino-Americans about richness of their cultural heritage. “This is a tough job, but we believe this is one effective way to teach Fil-Ams about who they are, and how beautiful is their culture,” Bontor said.
Teatro Kandusay (kanta-dula-sayaw) was one of the featured group performing artists during the 22nd Phil-Am Expo. They presented such stunning folk and tribal dances from the Southern Philippines like: “Kagsagayan” (welcome fan dance from the Tribe of Maguindanao), “Binanog-banog” (bird dance from the Talaandig Tribe of Bukidnon), “Sagayan” (a war and peace dance of the Maranao and Maguindanao Tribes), “Silong sa Ganding” (a maiden dance of the Maguindanaons of Cotabato), and the “Singkil” (the royal dance of the Muslim Filipinos in Mindanao). During the expo group also presented an ethno-contemporary fusion where they danced to the tune of a music culled from the blending of contemporary and tribal instruments and original compositions.
Kandusay Artistic Director Julius Valmores said, “The traditional arts of the indigenous peoples, their crafts, their dances and their music that managed to survive the onslaught of pop culture are what we are concerned about.”
Teatro Kandusay, which is supported by No Limits Foundation headed by Bruce and Letty Encino, has been performing before community audiences, including church events, and always, Filipino-Americans gave them encouragements to continue their work if only because it is one of the few things truly beautiful about the homeland. In the process of their performances, the group was able to recruit American-born Filipinos to be special participants and volunteers (musician and dancers) in their cultural engagements. Fil-Am teeners and volunteers who performed at the expo include: Ryan Alunan, Nick Alunan, Kim Padilla, RoseAnn Casuco, Camina Fricia Adea, and Kathy Jimenez.
Ryan Alunan 15, born and raised here in the South Bay area said, “I feel proud performing Filipino dances and play indigenous instruments like the gongs. I think I am lucky I am given this opportunity,” he added.
A member of her school’s dance team, it did not take long for Rose Ann Casuco, 18, a second generation FilAm of Hacienda Heights, to learn the ethnic dances. “I like the (tribal) dances. It’s kinda cool,” she said.
For inquiries about training and calendar of performances of Teatro Kandusay, call 323.527.6928.
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