Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada
On Saturday the 8th, the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada performed Indayog: Rhythm and Sound at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts at Shadyside Academy. In the hallway and foyer there was an art show, and I had a chance to view the original of one of the reproductions at the upper level (from the Abola's private collection).
The program, after opening remarks, consisted of:
I Cordillera, ethnic dances of the Bibak Highlanders
II Maria Clara
III Morolandia, from the Muslim south
~~~Intermission~~~
IV Regional Variation
V Pista sa Nayon, a town fiesta
Finale--Tribute to Michael Jackson
The two suites after the intermission had music provided by the rondalla group. The Pista sa Nayon featured a 12-bamboo-pole dance, the Tinikling. Likewise, the the Morolandia suite featured a TWO-princess, TWO-handmaiden Sinkil dance, along with the sword- and shield-wielding prince.
Considering that the talent was composed largely of amateurs and children, it was a stunning show of Pilipino culture and Pilipino-Canadian talent.
Labels: Canada, celebration, dance, international culture, Philippines, Pilipino culture, singing, talent
Kidd Pivot
I did a load of laundry at 6.30 this morning, had breakfast (pumpkin muffins, bacon, soy chai) with Maureen in Regent Square, and went office supply shopping with Maureen east of her 'hood.
Karina was in a car accident, so we helped her out by standing next to her car while she unloaded it, going to the garage for her to store her car until the official assessment this week, and hanging out in Maureen's place with her.
I went this evening with Charles and Susan to see Kidd Pivot at the Byham Theater. Conscious of the present-ness of dance, the choreographer described the sense of loss and memory of loss to the audience after the show. I felt the fugue-ness of the movement vocabulary of the piece, which was called "Lost Movement." All the dancers joined the choreographer on the stage apron in answering questions at the end of the show. Repetition of movement themes/ movement vocabulary was paramount to the work. I asked after the Q & A period whether there were any themes that were supernatural or religious in the work (as there was a theme of death & rebirth), and I was told, no, the piece was mainly about loss and memory, of loss and remembering the loss. It was therefore successful in this regard.
The choreography and score reminded me of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, from Belgium, as well as movement snippets being similar to those of Mark Morris.
We enjoyed a snack at a cafe in Bloomfield afterward.
Labels: Canada, Church, dance, friends, international culture, laundry
Toronto V, August 2009
It was great fun the last day in Toronto...Uncle Alex, Auntie Baby, Mom, Dad, and I went to the dinner theatre to see the Neil Sedaka tribute show. The buffet food was good, and the show entertaining, which was set in the Catskills. Afterwards, we met up with Lourdette and her youngest son. We spent quite a bit of time chatting with them, and then Dad drove home via Niagara and Buffalo.
This morning we received an email from Allan about the visit...we all vowed that we would not let another decade plus pass before contact from our branch of the family.
Labels: Canada, family, singing, theater, travel
Toronto V, Home Again, Home Again, Jig-a-dee-jig
Ah, home sweet home!
Labels: Canada, citizenship, home, international culture, travel
Toronto III and IV, August 2009
Yesterday Allan and I took Colleen to the Ontario Science Center after lunch that included sinigang and pad thai and chicken curry. We had fun on the way to KidsPark: seeing the green forest, looking and touching the minerals and rocks, riding the escalators, and coloring outside (and receiving free milk). It was a feat
to turn away from KidsPark...
to the artist's billiard ball contraption. We visited D level, then the mezzanine/Eagle's eye view and the Human Body on E level.
In the end, we returned to KidsPark and the artist's kinetic sculpture,
and visited the Space section before leaving about four hours after arriving.
Colleen had a grand time, and wants to return.
We had Greek food at Allan's home for dinner.
~ ~ ~
Today, the Lolos and Lolas drove Colleen and I to downtown Toronto, where we
drove through Chinatown,
parked, and walked through the mall with Sears.
We then attended the anticipated Mass for Sunday at St. Michael's Cathedral. We sat right by the candles for St. Jude.
We visited two Chinese bakeries for snacks before continuing on to dinner.
Dinner was with Allan, Sonia, Samantha, and Matthew; Christie and Petrie and Colleen, and the two Lolos, two Lolas, and me. We truly enjoyed the Korean barbeque-it-yourself at our tables. Colleen entertained us with songs and fingerplays; she in turn was entertained by Sam's I-pod.
Labels: adventure, Canada, cold, dine, dining, family, games, garden, geology, health, ice cream, international culture, Mass, museum, niece and nephew, photos, science, walking
Niagara and Toronto I, August 2009
Mom,Dad, and I travelled to the American side of Niagara Falls (which is a New York State Park and the oldest state park in the United States), visited the visitor center, went to the observation deck (outstanding) and to the Maid of the Mist,
where we saw the American Falls,
other Maids of the Mist, and a view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. We enjoyed our picnic lunch from the disabled parking spot, where a cool breeze blew and there were multicolored hydrangea in full bloom.
We continued on to Toronto, where Uncle Alex and Auntie Baby live. Colleen, their apo, was visiting and we had our merienda. I took a nap, and Allan, Sonia, and their family had arrived as well as Christie and her family. We all dined together on Pinoy food.
After dinner, we took group photos, and Allan shared his thoughts on what to see. I decided I wanted to see many things that are part of their life in Toronto, and some touristy sites, too.
Labels: automobile, Canada, citizenship, family, flowers, ice cream, international culture, New York, photos, Pilipino culture, reunion, travel, visitor, walking, water
