Titled “Sining SAMAHAN – The Art of Coming Together”, the concert showcases the Filipinos’ cultural music and dances from various villages and regions in the Philippines. The two-hour program features a rich repertoire of traditional dances and live music performed by SAMAHAN’s talented performers in vibrant traditional Filipino attire. Showcased in the first half of the concert, are the indigenous cultural dances and rituals of the Kalinga tribe of the Cordilleras in Northern Luzon, the Maranao in Mindanao, the Sama and Tausug of the Sulu Archipelago. Their dances and rituals are traditionally performed with the beats of flat and bossed gongs called Gangsa and Kulintang and bamboo or “gabang”. The Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble of SAMAHAN, foremost Kulintang ensemble in Southern CA, provides the Gangsa, Kulintang and bamboo percussion music. The Maranao repertoire features the cultural dances and rituals taught by master artists and cultural bearers to SAMAHAN’s creative committee members during their field research in Mindanao in 2019. The Sama and Tausug indigenous dances were learned by SAMAHAN artists who conducted research in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines and Eastern Sabah, Malaysia. SAMAHAN’s field research was sponsored by the Dr. Lolita Diñoso Carter Endowment through The San Diego Foundation. Featured in the second half of the concert are the European or Western influenced dances, such as the Maria Clara dances, and the rural dances of the folks in the country side in central regions of the Philippines. These dances are performed with live music accompaniment by the SAMAHAN Rondalla String Ensemble. The exhilarating dances and lively music of the SAMAHAN Rondalla and Pakaraguian Kulintang Music Ensembles promise an enjoyable evening! Through the Concert of Philippine Dances and Music, SAMAHAN shares with the audience the exquisiteness of Filipino folk dances and music. The Filipinos’ dances and music performed in rituals, courtship, and festivals, depict the people’s rich culture, customs and traditions. The diversity of their dances and music reflects the interconnectedness with Asian and Western traditions throughout the history of the Filipinos, from the Indian, Chinese, Indochinese, Indonesian, Malay, Spanish, to the Americans. The Concert is made possible in part by the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, the Dr. Lolita Diñoso Carter Endowment through the San Diego Foundation and the contributions of individual donors. SAMAHAN Performing Arts is a non-profit organization. Follow on Socials! Facebook & Instagram
