IN ARTS MONTH: Int’l theatre experts arrive in Bacolod

INTERNATIONAL and Manila-based theatre experts will come in Negros Occidental to share their expertise in playwriting, dance and theater practice as the Kuris Theater Festival and Workshops kicks off in Bacolod City, today (Wednesday, Feb. 20).

Ten local, national, and international artists in theatre arts will converge in two venues across Bacolod to lead various workshops participated by different theatre groups and enthusiasts around Negros Occidental starting today until Feb. 23.

Among the experts coming to Bacolod today are contemporary dance educator from Canada ParaskevasTerezakis will lead the workshop on “Dance Theatre”, dance master Alvin ErasgaTolentino who will engage with the participants on “Contemporary Dance Experience and Technique”, and Filipina-American Mary AlinneyVillacastin and New York-based Angelica JanabajalTolentino on “embodied Archiving Workshop”;

Designer Carlo Pagunaling on “Costume Design”, theatre director Dennis Gupa on “Creative Artistic Research Workshop”, multi-awarded playwright Glenn Mas on “Playwriting”, Professional events organizer from Manila Maria Theresa Belleza on “Production/Stage Management”, and Negrense creative designer Adrian Torres for “Set Design” workshop;

Playwright, director and cultural advocate August Melody Andong will facilitate the “Women Playwrights International (WPI) Satellite Readathon.”

“Our instructors are from Europe, Asia, US and Canada.  They are professional theater practitioners in their respective fields of dramaturgy, playwriting, directing, dance and design who volunteer to come to Bacolod to share their craft and expertise to the emerging theater practitioners in Negros and the Visayas,” Kuris Festival Director Tanya Lopez said.

Eight of the workshops will be held in University of Saint La Salle, while the eBody Archives will be at Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod.

Series of performances from different theatre groups will also be shown in Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, Sacred Heart Seminary, The Negros Museum and Orange Project as part of the festival highlights.

The Kuris International Theatre Festival and Workshop will end on Saturday, with the collaborative output of the workshops.

Lopez also urged Negrense theatre enthusiasts to participate and watch the performances of homegrown talents as they showcase readathon pieces, and original and adapted plays.*