Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

SAN FRANCISCO—Considered the most prestigious gathering of its kind in the country, esteemed New York Times dance critic Alastair Macaulay wrote of the 2009 Festival: What other city in the world has anything like the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival? I heartily envy the Bay Area residents who can see the three programs I must miss An extraordinarily happy program.

From the powerful dances of the Philippines to a special Mexican Bicentennial Tribute, the 32nd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival will once again impress Bay Area audiences with a cultural feast unparalleled in the world. Devoted to nurturing the work of Northern California dancers, this year marks two world premieres from Parangal Dance Company and Barangay Dance Company. Also performing is the Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble.

Nearly 600 performers will take to the stage as 37 top Bay Area dance companies represent over 20 cultures in four weekends in June at San Francisco‚ Palace of Fine Arts. Performances are Saturdays at 2 & 8 pm. and Sundays at 2 pm. on June 5 & 6; 12 & 13; 19 & 20; 26 & 27, 2010 with a special Benefit Gala June 11 at 6 pm. Discounted family matinees are available every Saturday at 2pm.

The San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival was founded to present the diverse ethnic dance companies in the Bay Area. Over the years, the Festival has expanded its reach to include performers from throughout Northern California and has presented over 600 dance companies from over a hundred different genres.

During its rich history, the Festival has celebrated and fostered appreciation for the diverse cultural communities in the Bay Area and Northern California, through an annual performance season of dance styles that have included traditional classical dance, sacred dance genres, vernacular dance forms, social dance and folk dance presentations.

Originally founded and produced by Grants for the Arts of the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, the 1978 Festival was the first multicultural, city-sponsored ethnic dance festival in America. In 1982, following an RFP process, the contract to produce the Festival was awarded to World Arts West, then known as City Celebration. In recent history, three distinct programs have been presented annually in June at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, with three performances per weekend. This year, the Festival will expand to a fourth weekend celebrating 30 years of the best in Bay Area world dance and music!

Since 1978, the Festival performances have reached hundreds of thousands of audience members, providing outstanding opportunities to artists who seek to present the dance expressions of their cultural and ethnic heritages.

Tickets to the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival are $22 - $44 and are available by calling City Box Office at (415) 392-4400 or online at www.cityboxoffice.com. A subscription package for all four weekends of performances is priced from $80 - $158. Saturday Family Matinees offer 50% discounts to children age 16 and under, and group discounts for 20 or more are also available by calling City Box Office.

World Arts West has been presenting and promoting the dance and music traditions of the world since 1978, creating opportunities for individuals and communities to celebrate, share, and sustain the vitality of ethnic dance. Our work promotes the importance of cultural heritage for strengthening community and building cultural understanding. For more information about World Arts West, visit www.worldartswest.org.