Field : Land is the Belly of Man

Montreal, April 19th, 2007 - As part of its twelfth season, Festival Acces Asie, in collaboration with MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) and NAPWC/PWC-QC (National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada/Philippine Women in Canada-Quebce), presents Field : Land is the belly of man, an enthralling dance performance by Asian-Canadian choreographer Alvin Tolentino. Having received international acclaim, Tolentino returns to Montreal to present a delectable tribute to the disappearing rice-growing traditions of the Philippines. The performance encompasses emotion, beauty and reflection, and questions the ever-changing relationship between man and the land.

For many centuries, rice cultivation has defined the rural landscape in the Philippines. In a country where the rice paddies are regarded as the eighth wonder of the world, rice — the grain of life — is a source of energy, livelihood, and social stability. However, the recent economic development has disturbed the balance in those communities that had maintained ancestral cultivation practices but are now moving towards modernization, much to the detriment of their traditional way of life.

Reports of such transformation motivated Tolentino, during one of his visits to his country of origin, to create Field : Land is the belly of man. The multi-media solo performance employs contemporary choreography, music and visual elements in an ingenious and intriguing way to create a dance metaphor that draws attention to the beauty of the connection between man and the land that nourishes him. A thought-provoking piece, Field : Land is the belly of man pays homage to the traditional harvesting of rice. It is a solemn appeal for preservation of the ancestral cultural heritage that is contained in a grain of rice, of two millennia of agricultural knowledge and of historical and sacred customs.

Born in Manila, Alvin Tolentino has lived in Vancouver since 1983, and is a dancer, choreographer, instructor, visual artist, and the artistic director of his own dance company (Co. Erasga Dance Society). Trained in classical and modern dance as well as visual art, he is known for his bold and original choreography. Always in search of new horizons, his work is constantly evolving and delving into new realms of social engagement, intercultural dialogue, identity and hybridism. Tolentino's performances have been applauded in several countries, including Japan, France, Philippines, Croatia, US, Singapore, Italy, and Venezuela.

Professional dancers are invited to participate in a dance workshop given by Alvin Tolentino. For more information, please contact MAI.

At MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) May 11 at 8 pm, May 12 at 7:30 pm* and May 13 at 3 pm
3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, Montréal
Information: (514) 982-1812 www.m-a-i.qc.ca www.accesasie.com
Tickets: regular price 20$, reduced price 15$ (for seniors, students and professional artists)

*Benefit gala of the NAPWC/PWC-QC for the «Purple Rose» campaign against the sexual trafficking of Filipino women and children.

Media contact: Andy Carton (514) 575-9436