Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company
World Music & Dance
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Manager: Andrew S. Grossman
Management Territory: North America
The dancers were designed as much as choreographed, featuring constantly changing patterns and groupings and multiple entrances and exits... the pieces were short and fast-moving, performed with flawless deportment, and showcased costumes of embroidery, seashells, satin, straw, feathers and frilled lace...To judge a group like this on "authenticity" would be flat out wrong... Bayanihan is looking as pretty and gracious as ever. —The Washington Post
Tales of traditional Philippine life, religion, war and love, exhibited through creative dance skills and intense vocals...from tribal warrior attire to exquisite gowns, the whole cast looked very authentic and beautiful in the stunning array of wardrobe. Perfection through the costumes, and wisdom through learning a little about a different culture, was something the Bayanihan Dancers left the audience with. —The Clarion; Glendora, California
About
BAYANIHAN: A NATIONAL TREASURE
The Bayanihan story spans forty-three years of performances all over the world. It had its early roots in the Filipiniana Folk Music and Dance Committee of the Philippine Women's University (PWU). But it was not until 1957 that the PWU Bayanihan Folk Arts Center and its performing arm, the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company were founded by Dr. Helena Z Benitez to pursue the following objectives: to conduct researches in ethnic rites, tribal folklore and regional folk ways; to collect indigenous art forms as . . . expressed in music, dance, literature, arts and crafts; to distill and transform these cultural traditions into theatrical presentations; and to promote international understanding through cultural exchange and performances abroad.
The company takes its name from the ancient Filipino tradition of Bayanihan, which signifies working together for the common good. It is this spirit of togetherness that bonded parents, teachers, researchers, technicians, dancers and musicians, working as one in a common effort to achieve the objectives of the company.
As a civic response to a government appeal for a cultural program for the country's participation in the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, Bayanihan mounted a production called "Glimpses of Philippine Culture through Music and Dance", which proved to be "the sensation of the Fair". It was featured in Ed Sullivan's TV program on the highlights of the Fair and beamed coast-to-coast in the United States.
A year later the noted impresario Sol Hurok signed up Bayanihan for his annual International Dance Festival. Opening at the Winter Garden Theater on October 13, 1959, Bayanihan's Broadway debut was accorded unanimous critical acclaim by New York critics - a feat which earned the Company the affectionate title "Cinderella of Dance Theater".
Critics were particularly impressed by the dancers' skill, grace, and joie de vivre as well as by the Company's success in the transference of indigenous dance and music traditions from their ancient origins in the countryside to the confines of the stage without sacrificing authenticity.
Said Walter Terry of the New York Herald Tribune: "Bayanihan is one of the newest examples of an ethnic dance culture which has gone beyond simple preservation (important as that is), and into creative growth."
In a second review, he lavished praise on "the genius of Lucrecia Reyes Urtula, the choreographer, who ranks with Russia's Igor Moiseyev, Mexico's Amalia Hernandez and our own Agnes de Mille in the brilliant translating of ethnic dance forms into theatrical terms. While preserving authenticity of step and of regional colors, Mrs. Urtula has devised designs of incredible originality, visual beauty and excitement.
Initial success in Brussels and Broadway paved the way for numerous invitations from top impresarios of the world. From 1958 to date Bayanihan has mounted 15 international tours and over a hundred brief tours to international events and festivals covering 55 countries on 5 continents.
The first Filipino group to perform on Broadway, Bayanihan also has the distinction of being the first non-American dance company to take to the stage at New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, as well as the first Philippine cultural group to perform in Russia, the People's Republic of China and throughout South America. As official Philippine representative at the first CIOFF World Folkloriada held in the Netherlands in 1996, Bayanihan was one of the top five performing arts groups chosen from among 70 national groups to give repeat performances at the close of the festival. In 1998 the Bayanihan embarked on a centennial tour of Europe commencing at the Lisboa World Expo, followed by performances in Monaco, Germany, France, Madrid and in 16 cities of the autonomous region of Galicia in Northwestern Spain.
One of their notable international conquests was the 54th Almond in Blossom festival and 44th International Folk Festival in Sicily, Italy in February 1 - 7, 1999. They won 1st prize in the traditional costumes category and was the only Asian country that made it to the top four winners among 40 participating countries.
Other significant accolades include the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding which Bayanihan received in 1965; the Theatre des Nations Award (folk dance category) given in Paris in 1960; as well as the Program for Asian Projects (PAP) grant awarded twice to Bayanihan (1987, 1989) by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund/Ramon Magsaysay Foundation for the Company's projects "Peace and Unity among ASEAN Nations through Dance and Music."
A multi-awarded company, nationally and internationally, Bayanihan has awakened a new pride among Filipinos in their cultural heritage, preserved and added a new dimension to the country's dance tradition, and has built for the country a rich reserve of international goodwill.
Perhaps the most rewarding among its achievements is the fact that Bayanihan's example encouraged the growth of numerous folk dance companies in the country, some of which have been organized by former Bayanihan dancers. Beyond the Philippines, the company has also inspired other countries to exploit their own folk material for international presentation. Among these is Mexico, whose folkloric ballet group formed after Bayanihan's first performance there now gives the company lively competition.
In 2000 by an act of Congress Bayanihan was officially designated the National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines. Bayanihan continues to strive for artistic excellence and creative innovation.
Recent activities, following another heralded Coast-to-Coast American tour in 2001, have included performances in Spain, England and Holland in 2004, and performances at the Universal Forum on Culture in Barcelona and a gala engagement at the Hotel de Paris in Monte-Carlo. In August 2004 the company participated in the Third World Folkloriada in Budapest, Hungary, and was selected by the city of Athens to perform at the Olympic’s Cultural Olympiad. In the fall of 2005 the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company performed in over 80 cities throughout the United States and Canada to critical acclaim. The Company will undertake an intercontinental tour of the United States and Canada in the Fall of 2010.
