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
MULTI-MEDIA WORKS:
MOTHER NIGHT (2001)
(A Dance Drama based on the theme of Death and Dying)
Video Editing & Design: EZTV; Videographer: Adrian Ravarour
“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.
STAGE WORKS:
SUMMER SOUNDS (2012)
Summer Sounds Performance Excerpts
Video by Roger Fojas
BIHAG/Captive (2009)
MORE ABOUT THIS WORK: Read a blog post about the choreographic process of creating 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Watch Silayan Dance Company's Anthology of Choreographic Excerpts:
(Link to USC's Glorya Kaufman Dance Heritage Video Archives Google Drive)
Background Image Photographer: Shatto Light
Performers: Giovanni Ortega, Dulce Capadocia, Muni Zano, and Rose Lago
Copyright © 2008 Dulce Capadocia. All rights reserved.