PHILIPPINE BARANGAY PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
A Glimpse of Edmonton,Alberta’s Barangay
Barangay was founded 20 years ago to share the rich Filipino cultural
heritage with first-generation Filipino-Canadians and the rest of the
Canadian community (particularly the City of Edmonton) through
music and dance. By educating these children of the many cultural and
historical aspects of the Philippines, the Society enriches its children’s
cultural identity and enhances the multicultural fabric of the City of
Edmonton.
The Society encourages the children to give back to the community
through its performances. Barangay has evolved from a small children’s
group made up of 6 young girls in 1984 to the multi-awarded 55member performing arts society recognized for its unique repertoire of
Filipino and western dances. Its success as an organization is evidenced
by the unselfish rendering of its time and talent for various community
service causes, its continuing effort to share the rich culture of the
Philippines with the Alberta community through several high-profile
events, and by its phenomenal success in the competitive arena.
Over its 20-year history and its exceptional success in the competitive
and cultural arenas, Barangay remains true to its ideals of sharing the
rich Filipino cultural heritage through high quality performances and
community service events. Barangay’s West Coast Ambassadorial Tour,
was but an expansion of these ideals to cities beyond the border of
Canada. Encouraged by its success in North American competitions,
Barangay successfully brought its unique brand of performance to the
Pistahan Festival in San Francisco and Disney’s Magic Music Days in
Anaheim as ambassadors of music and culture. Its highly acclaimed
performances south of the border have brought honor and recognition
to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
PHILIPPINE BARANGAY PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
A Glimpse of Edmonton,Alberta’s Barangay
This world-renowned national dance of the Philippines
was named after the long-legged “Tikling” bird, which
farmers attempted to trap in rice paddy fields. To
relentlessly accelerating rhythm, dancers skillfully
impersonate the tikling birds, and the magical
movement of the birds’ feet skipping between striking
and clicking bamboos. Barangay’s version of tinikling
features complex choreography that requires dancers to
dance between moving bamboo poles.
PHILIPPINE BARANGAY PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
A Glimpse of Edmonton,Alberta’s Barangay
VINTA
The settling of the Philippine Archipelago by
pre-historic immigrants has been described as
the greatest maritime feat ever: the crossing of
the open seas in open boats. Vinta refers to the
boat used by the Muslims. In this dance,
dancers balance perilously on top of poles
imitating the movements of the Vinta.
PHILIPPINE BARANGAY PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
A Glimpse of Edmonton,Alberta’s Barangay
ANG PILIPINO AY TAYO
This number illustrates the unity and
diversity of the Filipino people. Clothed in
the distinct traditional costumes of the
Philippines’ three main regions (Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao), the performers
dance in unison, their white garments
signifying the oneness of their country’s rich
heritage.
PHILIPPINE BARANGAY PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
A Glimpse of Edmonton,Alberta’s Barangay
ITIK-ITIK
Named after the Tagalog term for
“duck”, this mimetic dance performed
by the junior dancers of Barangay
depicts the walking movements of
ducks and the elbow to simulate
wings.
PHILIPPINE BARANGAY PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
A Glimpse of Edmonton,Alberta’s Barangay
Along with the extensive repertoire of folk and fusion
dances, there has always been a strong emphasis of
allowing Barangay’s young performers to express
themselves through the music of their generation.
Barangay’s hip-hop repertoire is recognized in North
American Competitions through its numerous awards
in the hip-hop genre.
PHILIPPINE BARANGAY PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY
A Glimpse of Edmonton,Alberta’s Barangay
SINGKIL
This dance takes its name
from the bells worn on the
ankles of the Muslim
princess. Perhaps one of the
oldest of truly authentic of
Filipino
dances,
the
“Singkil” recounts the epic
legend of the “Darangan” of
the “Maranao” people of
Mindanao. This epic tells
the fateful story of Princess
Gandingan, who was caught
in the middle of a forest
during an earthquake that
was caused by the “diwatas”
(or fairies of the forest). To
this day, royal princesses in
the Sulu Archipelago are
required to learn this most
difficult and noble dance.