Original Repertoire

“[Dulce] Capadocia has a gift for fusing elements of her contemporary dance background with the gentle nuance of traditional Philippine Dance. And she stages narrative gracefully.”
Los Angeles Times, Calendar Section

 

MOTHER NIGHT (2001)

(A Dance Drama based on the theme of Death and Dying)


View excerpts of "Mother Night" by clicking here.

Mother Night


“Brilliantly conceived and flawlessly executed… the audience was stunned by what they were witnessing and at the show’s conclusion gave Ms. Capadocia and her company an extended standing ovation.” - Dan Marcus, Playwright, National Playwrights Association

A socially relevant, multi-media one hour epic of emotional and dramatic impact. The work retells the death of Silayan Dance Company’s Founder, Sonia Capadocia. After heart attack complications, she was left in a perennial vegetative state for over 6 months under a life support machine, leaving family members feuding and divided. Woven with autobiographical information, hospital images, spoken word, mythology, storytelling, new music/sound score and new film, the work is a powerful spiritual, ethical and political examinaton of life passage.

 

MA'I LOST (1999)

A contemporary, visually arresting, one hour dance epic based on the life of Kapinangan, the Philippine counterpart of the Arthurian Guinevere and wife of Datu (Lord) Sumakwel—one on Panay Islands’ historical figures. Fleeing political persecution from Brunei in the 12th century, he created a Malayan settlement in Antique, a part of Ma’i (former name of the Philippines) after bartering the land for a price of a golden hat from the black nomadic Ati tribes. Woven with underwater photography, field research documentation, new film, spoken word, new music/sound score, the award-winning work dramatizes Kapinangan’s secret love affair with Gurong Gurong (Sumakwel’s trusted ally), her banishment from Ma’i, and her renewal among the Atis.


Ma’i Lost, Alexis Camins, Sandy Mendez, Cisa Payuyo, Johnny Tu, Roger Fojas, Claire Soldevilla, Jill Parago, Edsil Tan, T.C. Wayne
Ma’i Lost, Dulce Capadocia, Roger Fojas
Ma’i Lost, Marcus Flye, Alder Dixon, Ronaldo Bowins, Nina Autajay, Dulce Capadocia
Ma’i Lost, Ronaldo Bowins, Alder Dixon, Marcus Flye, Gerise Stripling, Nayala And Tiza Wynn, Kim Reitinger

 

 


 

SUMMER SOUNDS (2012)

 


Summer Sounds Performance Excerpts


Video by Roger Fojas

 

Summer Sounds - Behind the Scenes
Discussing Singkil rehearsal notes for our Summer Sounds Children's Concert, Walt Disney Concert Hall

Behind the scenes of Summer Sounds/Philippines presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic (Winner of Los Angeles Magazine's Best of LA award for 'Concerts for Tots!') at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Videos by Juan Martinez:

Video 1
Video 2

Video 3

 


BIHAG/Captive (2009)

 

MORE ABOUT THIS WORK: Read a blog post about the choreographic process of creating Bihag

Bihag
Bihag
Bihag
Bihag

 

Bihag
Bihag
Bihag
Bihag


Interview with Dulce Capadocia, the creation of "Bihag" (her most controversial and most violent dance drama based on the hip hop Tinikling and the societal issues of entrapment and captivity, Performing Diaspora fellow, Counterpulse, San Francisco, 2009)




SINGKIL STORIES (2007)

The lighter, comedic sequel to "Mother Night." Framed around the popular Muslim bamboo folk dance Singkil, this contemporary dance theatre work brings to light the complexities of a zany, sometimes irreverent, entirely dysfunctional Mother/Daughter relationship. The full-length, satirical dance drama in "drag" is woven with spoken word and skillfully written storytelling. It retells the difficult, thought provoking challenges that two head-strong, self-possessed women artists have when placed in collaborative projects and work situations! Giving life to the oral traditions and important stories of many Filipinos residing in Los Angeles, Singkil Stories premiered as part of a City of L.A. Cultural Affairs Dept. grant-sponsored workshop led by celebrated playwright Henry Ong.

Singkil Stories
Tomas Tamayo in Singkil Stories
Singkil Stories
Singkil Stories



WHERE YOU STAY? (2006)

 

Where You Stay? is a collaborative multi-disciplinary work under the direction of Performance Artist Alison De la Cruz. The multi-media story-based creation follows the journeys of a small group of Angelinos as they share the nature of their relationships to both the urban and earth-based landscape of Los Angeles in an artistic ode to the city.

Where You Stay?
Where You Stay?
Where You Stay?
 


 

 

ISANG DIWA / One Soul (1997)

 

Woven with Poetry, Music, Spoken Word and Dance, the intimate full-length multidisciplinary works highlight the original creative offerings of well-known actor Muni Zano with Modern Dancers Rose Lago and Dulce Capadocia.

". . . a breathtaking triumvirate." - Los Angeles Times

Isang Diwa (One Soul) Concert
Isang Diwa (One Soul) Concert
Isang Diwa (One Soul) Concert



SONG FOR TATAY (1996)

Commissioned by the Dance Kaleidoscope Festival and presented as part of "Isang Diwa" (One Soul) Dance Concert. Tatay is "father" in Filipino. Set to the Kundiman music of honored musician Juan Silos, the intimate autobiographically-based work tells the relationship between an impaired father and his dutiful daughter.


Song for Tatay, Dulce Capadocia, Muni Zano
Song for Tatay, Muni Zano, Dulce Capadocia
Song for Tatay, Muni Zano, Dulce Capadocia



THE GATHERER (1995)

Initially created for Highways Performance Space as a solo piece, the work blossomed into a site-specific ensemble piece commissioned by and for the California Plaza’s Performing Arts Series. Celebrating the power of indigenous women and inspired by field work on Igorot tribal culture, the choreography uses real fire, earth and water as a backdrop for contemporary work fusing traditional and modern Dance forms.


The Gatherer, Dulce Capadocia
The Gatherer, Tiza Wynn, Dulce Capadocia, Patricia Evangelista, Benitha Blakely
The Gatherer, Dulce Capadocia




MALAKAS AND MAGANDA (1994)

RECONSTRUCTION, CHOREOGRAPHY BY RAMON OBUSAN

According to Philippine Manobo tribal myth, a weary bird perched on a long bamboo tree during the beginning of time. Hearing noises from within, she pecked the tree open and out came forth the first man and woman - Malakas (the strong) and Maganda (the beautiful). From them sprang all the great peoples of the island.


Malakas and Maganda
Malakas and Maganda
Malakas and Maganda
Malakas and Maganda
MALAKAS AND MAGANDA - photographer: John De Fato
Malakas and Maganda - photographer: John De Fato
Malakas and Maganda - photographer: John De Fato

 



DIWATA, FLY (1995)

Diwata is "Spirit". Set to the original musical score of kulintang gong master, Danongan Kalanduyan, the all male trio investigates the spiritual connection that people have to all living things.


Diwata, Fly, Solo Feat. Dulce Capadocia
Diwata, Fly, Solo Feat. Dulce Capadocia




JUAN AND THE CROCODILE (1991)

Based on a children's tale co-written for the stage by playwright and actor Ed Ramolete, this fable teaches the important lesson of gratitude or "utang ng loob". It retells the mischievous adventures of popular Philippine folktale character Juan Tamad. One day, he finds a crocodile tied to a tree. The crocodile promises him a golden boat only to find out that he wants to make Juan a tasty meal!


Juan And The Crocodile, Tim Kuster, Maura Riley, Ronaldo Bowins, Shinichi Ogura, Manop Buranapramest, Sam Donlavy
Juan And The Crocodile, Manop Buranapramest, Sam Donlavy




THE LEGEND OF THE MAYON VOLCANO (1985)

A Philippine Romeo and Juliet dance drama based on the origin of one of the Philippines' famous landmarks.


The Legend Of The Mayon Volcano, Oscar Baldemor
The Legend Of The Mayon Volcano



SOLILOQUY (1980 / 1995)

Performed as part of Temple University’s Conwell Dance Theatre concert showing celebrating the work of Philadelphia-based Dance artist and legend Judith Jamison.


Dulce Capadocia in Soliloquy

 

Watch Silayan Dance Company's Anthology of Choreographic Excerpts:
(Link to USC's Glorya Kaufman Dance Heritage Video Archives Google Drive)

Silayan PR Video