The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Nov. 18 | Press Releases

The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company will appear at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. There will be a post-concert Art to Heart Q & A session with the company.

The internationally acclaimed Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company will take the Quick Center stage with 8 lively musicians, including a singer and 25 richly costumed dancers. The company will present a program that explores the origins and development of dance through its glorious evolution within the Philippine culture.

Pinpointed in five segments, are the perceived influences of color, sounds and the rhythms of nature; a many-colored tribal tapestry featuring an ethnic mix of rhythmic footwork accentuated by the sound of bells; an exploration of the multi-faceted cultural ambiance attendant on the Hispanic influence; the splendor of the island of Mindanao with the clamor of gongs, a flash of weaponry and a bevy of girls frolicking with colorful food baskets; and a kaleidoscopic dance of a village fiesta which builds to a rousing climax.

Considered a national treasure, Bayanihan was officially designated the National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines in 2000.

Since Dr. Helena Z. Benitez founded the company in 1957, it has diligently pursued its mission of research in ethnic rites, tribal folklore and regional folkways, the collection of indigenous art forms as expressed in music, dance, literature, arts and crafts and the distillation and transformation of these cultural traditions into theatrical presentations. The company has achieved great success in promoting international understanding through cultural exchange and performances abroad. 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 New York critics accorded unanimous critical acclaim to Bayanihan's 1959 Broadway debut. They 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. Bayanihan's auspicious New York debut was only the beginning of a score of national and international reviews that continue today.

Single tickets are $40, $35, $30. Subscribers to the "Dance America" series save 20 percent; student discounts available with a valid I.D. Call the Quick Center Box Office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396 to purchase tickets. For more information, visit the website, www.quickcenter.com.