BY way of total theater, a team of Boholano artists in the performing arts would be telling the story of a village whose people’s simple dreams were washed away by the overpowering waves brought by super-typhoon Odette in the 2022 Gyeryongsan Mountain International Dance Festival in Korea.
This year’s Bohol participation in the Gyeryongsan Mountain International Dance Festival is Bohol’s second appearance in the mountain shrine venue.
In 2019, Bohol sent to the festival, Teatro Bol-anon’s “Dagon sa Hoyohoy,” (Talisman of the breeze) via a 25-man drama theater company and technical support. This was Bohol’s participation in to South Korea-Philippines 70th year of international relations.
This year, through Kasing Sining, the team of actors and technical staff would be doing intricately choreographed dance movements, engaging original music composition, original musical score, and light show.
Using select artists from dance groups of Kasing Sining’s multitude of organized community collectives and theaters groups in Bohol, the team would present their official dance festival entry: Usa ka Isla (One Island).
“Usa ka Isla” is a 30-minute physical theater performance culled from the personal experiences of its creators and communities, during and after the Super Typhoon Rai, says Kasing Sining founder and creative director Lutgardo Labad.
Kasing Sining, a local arts group, has been into stress and psychological relief of communities affected by natural and man-made calamities, has helped Bohol communities through arts for healing and arts for expression programs.
Their exposure to distraught communities affected by calamities and climate change related issues has become a treasure chest of rich materials for community awareness through education and information through the creative industry.
Through songs, dances and drama, the piece aims to invite the audience to peek and be immersed into the experience of our island communities in the context of disasters, climate change and resilience, he added.
And using the universal language of dance and theater amidst the stark language-barrier, the dreams, hopes and aspirations of the community of Jao Island in Talibon, Bohol, would be retold in the eloquence dancing artists.
Usa ka Isla are stories of hope and resilience after the Super Typhoon Rai-Odette, he summed.
To be staged in the renowned Gyeryongsan Mountain International Dance Festival on October 15-16, 2022, Usa Ka Isla will also be tour Seoul on October 17-20, 2022.
Written by Kasing Sining and directed by Engr. Jirrey David Aguilar, the 30 minute dance drama is choreographed by Bryll Dumandan and music score by Odoni Pestelos.
The play’s production design is by Marvin Ablao and Angelo Inguito, lights by Charo Mae Apipe.
The lean team of Usa ka isla is performed by Marvin Ablao, Angelo Inguito, Nicole Apipe, Mikay Naraga, Paolo Javier, Gian Ale, with the special participation of Rama Marcaida and Skyzx Labastilla.
Usa ka Isla ran both matinee and gala shows for its Bohol premiere at the Bohol Cultural Center, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, October 6 and 7. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)
