The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company

I went to Young Auditorium's, in Whitewater, Wis., performance of The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company on October 16, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. According to the program, the Company was founded in 1956 by Dr. Helena Z. Benitez of the Philippine Women's University, and was organized a year later. Their mission is to research and preserve indigenous Philippine art forms in music, dance, costumes, and folklore; restructure an enhance these research findings to evolve repertoires suited to the demands of contemporary theatre; and promote international goodwill through performances at home and abroad (taken from Young Auditorium's fall program.) Since they originated they've mounted fourteen major world tours, performed six continents, sixty-four countries, and 658 cities world wide. They're also a multi-awarded company, who has awakened a new pride among Filipinos in their cultural heritage and added a new dimension to the country's dance tradition.

There were five acts in this particular show and lasted roughly two and a half hours. The first act, Earth Rhythms, was like a tribute to the origin of man in a form of dance mixed with colors, sounds, and rhythms of the wind, waters, trees, animals, and all the elements in nature. The second act, Tribal Tapestry, was more dramatic and relational, focusing on maidens flirting with men and a Tiboli-Bagobo, which is rhythmic footwork along with bells. The third act, Hispanic Past Remembered, was one of my favorites. There was a scene of a trading post and/or market with Chinese, Spanish, Indian, Mexican, and Filipino merchants vending gems, jars, silk, etc. creating an acceptance of all cultures and coming together with one common goal. The music and dance combined created this warming acceptance and left you coming back after intermission.

The next two acts, Mindanao Splendor and People under the Sun, were about warriors in a battle, the Voyage of Love, and a huge victory celebration party. For each of these they used whatever props they had to create the prop they really needed, but was unable to be found. They used an oriental sheet wrapped around two long poles and somehow transformed it into a boat, The Voyage of Love, and two women were afloat these remarkably creative boats. For the party they used many creative ways to make lights, and play games. Many of the women's costumes glowed in the dark and many of their dresses were reversible fabric.

Overall, I thought this dance was a great and entertaining way to introduce a new culture and share a part of it with everyone in a very passive, yet aggressive way. I only wish they told more dance stories in their folklore, so I could better understand the culture, but either way how they did perform, and what they did do, was far better than I had anticipated.