2019 performers
Autonomous Region
The Autonomous Region presents both classic standards and modern arrangements of jazz favorites. Led by vocalist Caroline Cabading, this San Francisco-based ensemble performs regularly at the International Hotel Manilatown Center in the city's North Beach/Chinatown district and also enjoys a variety of public and private engagements throughout the Bay Area.
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Autonomous was originally founded in the Spring of 2015 as the house band for the I-Hotel's Club Mandalay pop-up jazz club, a community engagement project emphasizing family-friendly and affordable live music, spoken word and dance presentations. It was within this environment of creative support that they began exploring and presenting original compositions fusing jazz with the pre-colonial tribal music of the Philippines. They call this genre Kul Jazz, named after the traditional kulintang music of Mindanao, Philippines. Please click here for a sample of this developing genre.
In 2018 The Autonomous Region looks forward to another year of community building at the I-Hotel and Club Mandalay and stretching their creative wings with even more new jazz arrangements and Kul Jazz compositions.
BAY AREA Rondalla (ACPA)
The American Center of Philippine Arts (ACPA) Rondalla (or string ensemble) was established in 2009 as one of the organization’s ongoing programs, led by executive director and music director, Herna Cruz-Louie.
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The ACPA Rondalla started as music accompaniment to the Students Enriched in Education & Dance (SEED) Youth Program, as well as performing for local community organizations such as KulArts, Asian & Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership (AYPAL), and creative projects of ACPA’s Artistic Director, Sydney Loyola.
The ACPA Rondalla eventually expanded to providing ongoing Beginner Rondalla Music workshops at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in 2011. In 2013, they began partnering with the Filipino Organizations of University of San Francisco (Kasamahan) and University of California, Davis (Mga Kapatid) to provide Rondalla Music Workshop intensives and instruct students how to play the instruments of the Philippine Rondalla for their annual Pilpino Cultural Night (PCN) presentations. ACPA Rondalla has recently expanded their college workshop intensives to San Francisco State University’s PACE.
In the last decade, the ACPA Rondalla has performed and presented Philippines Rondalla Music at the AT&T Giants Ballpark, Oakland Raiders Coliseum, Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, PISTAHAN Parade & Festival of San Francisco, MA’ARTES Festival of San Francisco, Parol Lantern Festival & Parade of San Francisco, Herbst Theater, San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, Asian Art Museum, and many more community events! ACPA Rondalla has proudly accompanied multiple Northern California dance companies including Parangal Dance Company of San Francisco, Kariktan Dance Company of Concord, Little Manila Dance Collective of Stockton, and Barangay Dance Company of San Francisco.
https://philippinearts.org/
KARIKTAN Dance Company
KARIKTAN Dance Company is a nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) based in Concord, California. The organization’s goal is to promote Philippine Culture through dance and music.
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Its members, consisting at the present time of 20 young adults ranging from age 16 to 32, and their families. It helps young Filipino-Americans learn about the cultural traditions of their homeland and helps to provide them with the opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of their native culture and instill pride in their heritage. In many ways, the participation in the folk dancing, the use of native costumes, playing instruments, and singing Filipino songs, teaches them not only about tradition but also occupies their time in meaningful activities, develop confidence, social skills and respect for their elders, their peers and ethnicity.
@kariktandance
Barangay Dance Company
Barangay Dance Company is Filipino Folk dance organization whose mission is to preserve the rich Filipino cultural heritage through the arts of Philippine folk dancing and music. Established in 1987, Barangay continues to serve the San Francisco Bay Area through presenting, outreach and research of Philippine folk dance and music. Barangay endeavors to promote awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Filipino culture within the communities it serves.
Parangal Dance Company
Parangal Dance Company is a Filipino Folk Dance Group based in the San Francisco Bay Area that Aspires to Inspire. Parangal Dance Company’s mission is to give tribute to Philippine heritage by preserving and promoting ethnic attire, music, and dance through research, workshops, and performances. We aim to serve as a bridge, inspiring and connecting Filipino Americans to their roots to give them a sense of pride and identity, while educating diverse communities to foster awareness and appreciation of Philippine culture.