Bayanihan Folk Dance Co. Review
A review of the "On Golden Wings of Dance" tour
A review the Bayanihan Company's 2006 performance at Rhode Island College
Attending a performance by the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company is like spending two hours inside a kaleidoscope. The Company’s graceful, perpetual motion springs to life with the spirited accompaniment of the troupe’s musicians. The dancers’ precision movements dazzle, transforming their costumes into a luminous parade of colors.
Part of the 2006 Performing Arts Series at Rhode Island College, the Bayanihan troupe played Roberts Hall Auditorium on November 2 to the delight and amazement of their Providence audience. Bayanihan’s performance, presented to a nearly full house, was a two-act show divided into five sections. Each piece traced the company’s Filipino heritage, culture and traditions through movement, music and costuming.
Act One’s closing segment, Hispanic Past Remembered, was especially impressive. Dancers portraying workers, merchants and villagers gathered in an open air market, and Spanish influence on the Philippine culture was displayed through the precise, controlled choreography. The dance took on a distinctly European flair, with a lyrical guitar piece complimenting the style.
The Bayanihan musicians shared the spotlight in a brilliant solo performance, presenting a talent no less precise or disciplined than that of the company’s dancers. Troupe singer Mary Anne Luis made her first appearance on stage, her voice a fine match for the musical style. She was vocally clear, with a sweet tone and a strong range.
The movement’s final scene was a breathtaking display of elegance. Female dancers took the stage attired in stunning white gowns detailed with black accents, each of a unique design. Vibrant hued shawls added a punch of color to their dress. Male dancers joined the women in presenting a joyous and refined society ball.
As an additional display of grace and detail, the men balanced glasses on their ladies’ heads during the last intricate steps of the dance. The liquid inside the glasses perfectly matched the colorful tint of each woman’s shawl.
The second act opened with Mindanao Splendor, a dance piece which won the troupe Gold Temple Awards in 2002 and 2005. This section highlighted Asian motifs, another dominant influence in Filipino culture.
Heavy percussion accompanied a chanting vocalization as the male dancers performed a ritualistic, war-like dance. Each movement was controlled and powerful, their steps acrobatic and aggressive. Even the color palate of their costumes reflected the atmosphere of battle, red and gold for blood and glory.
The women joined the dance, their gestures delicate and soft in contrast to the men’s choreography. Yet their movements were no less precise or powerful, which enabled both to blend their styles together and compliment each other flawlessly.
Special lighting effects were used skillfully as the women performed an intricate sequence with multihued baskets. An eye-catching visual even in regular stage lighting, the troupe earned admiring gasps from the audience after switching to straight black lighting. The baskets seemed to float and dance of their own accord across the stage.
A stunning malong dance demonstrated the art of transformation, the performers showcasing the various forms and functions this garment can assume. Seamless transitions were executed perfectly to create a dazzling array of dancing shapes and colors.
The segment concluded with Bayanihan’s original piece “Voyage for Love and Peace,” opening on a queenly procession, a regal spectacle full of splendor and sparkle. The dance’s “royal couple” performed a complex series of steps through crossed poles, their movements shadowed by a chorus of dancers with fans.
The Bayanihan Company takes its name from the ancient Filipino tradition of bayanihan, which embodies the spirit of community working together for the common good. Founded in 1957 by Dr. Helena Z. Benitez, the Company is celebrating its golden anniversary this season with the “On Golden Wings of Dance” program.
“In these 50 years, we have ingrained ourselves into the cultural and artistic consciousness and expectations of the world, as well as of our country and fellow Filipinos, through dance, music and costume,” wrote Bayanihan’s Joe Cabazor on the troupe's website.
A special act of Congress named the multi-award winning troupe the official national folk dance company of the Philippines in 2000.
“We began as performers of traditional dance and music,” wrote Cabazor, “evolved and developed over the years into interpreters, innovators and trend setters by remaining faithful to our folk heritage while enriching and ennobling the traditional dances we have inherited with creativity, artistry and audacity.”
