PIÑA is an interdisciplinary dance work that explores constructions of diasporic identity and how the body carries history and ancestry in a globalizing world. Inspired by Artistic Director Ralph Escamillan’s experience as a first-generation Canadian-born Filipino, this work considers the parallels between the physicality of this experience, and piña—a traditional and celebrated Philippine fiber made from pineapple leaves. The delicate yet resilient textile parallels the fragility and strength of contemporary diasporic people, and by investigating the many facets of this culturally embedded textile, an anthropological journey through the body is created. Incorporating traditional folk dance, history, music and costume, the political, economic and social dimensions of contemporary diaspora revealed.

Ang PIÑA ay isang pinagsama samang sayaw para tuklasin ang katawan sa mga nakalipas na panahon at nakasanayan ng ating mga ninuno. Dahil sa inspirasyon ng Artistic Director na si Ralph Escamillan bilang isang first-generation Canadian-born Filipino,. Inihahalintulad niya ang sariling karanasan sa tradisyonal na Nipis na gawa sa hibla ng dahon ng pinya. Ang maselan ngunit nababanat na tela ay tumutukoy ng kahinaan at lakas ng mga nangibang bayan. Sa pagsisiyasat sa maraming aspeto ng telang ito. At dahil sa nakasanayang kultura, ang isang antropolohiya sa paglalakbay sa katawan ay nilikha. Sa pinagsama samang tradisyonal na katutubong sayaw, kasaysayan, musika at kasuotan, ang politikal, pang-ekonomiya at panlipunang dimensyon ng mga nangibang bayan ay inihayag

CREDITS

Created by - FakeKnot

Artistic Direction and Choreography by - Ralph Escamillan

Dancers - Ralph Escamillan, Tin Gamboa, Raul Lorenzo “Buboy” Raquitico Jr, Danah Rosales, Justin Calvadores (Swing)

Costumer - Robyn Jill Laxamana 

Assistant Costumer - Julay

Lighting Design - Gabriel Raminhos

Original Music and Sound Design - Kimmortal

Dramaturg - Denisa Reyes

Piña Textile - Raquels Piña Cloth 

Stage Manager - Kayleigh Sandomirsky

PIÑA is produced by FakeKnot, and co-produced by the National Arts Centre.

FakeKnot gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the British Columbia Arts Council, the City of Vancouver, SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs, The Dance Centre’s Artist-in-Residence program, Toronto Dance Theatre, Far Eastern University (Manila), Dance Victoria, and Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre. A special thanks to Joyce Rosario.

FakeKnot Learning Series: Piña (2021-2023)

FakeKnot Learning Series is an effort to expose the creation process and allow research for projects to be accessible to the public. This series is an extension of the current research of the Philippine textile piña - both in its anthropological and contemporary histories. This project was supported by Dance Victoria, Canada Council for the Arts and BC Arts Council in 2021 + 2023 HABI: Philippine Textile Union, The City of Vancouver, the BC Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and in association with vAct’s Spring Board Series.

Previous

CROQUIS
Next

whip