World Dance Photo Workshop #4: Philippine Folk Dance

Join us for our fourth World Dance Photo Workshop. This exclusive series of workshops will give us the opportunity to explore vibrant dance traditions from around the world, all without leaving the SF Bay Area. Each workshop will feature a different style of traditional dance.

Our exciting next workshop features Philippine folkloric dance, a vibrant and expressive art form deeply rooted in the myriad different cultures of the indigenous groups throughout the Philippines. We will be exploring the dance and cultural traditions of the Kalinga people (and possibly also the culture of a second indigenous group). The Kalinga people live in an autonomous region never colonized by the Spanish. They have been dubbed the "peacocks of the north" due to their ornate attire. Kalinga dances express themes of unity, nature, and courtship. Examples include the Banga dance, where women balance clay pots on their heads, and the Salip dance, a courtship ritual where a warrior pursues a woman. Two of the most accomplished culture bearers of the Philippine indigenous people are our guest artists Jenny and Rex. Jenny has performed and conducted Kalinga traditional arts workshops in her native Cordillera region, Metro Manila, Switzerland, Germany and in the US. Since immigrating to California with her family in 2006, Jenny has been a valuable resource on Kalinga culture for the Filipino American community. Originally from Las Pinas, Philippines, Rex developed a strong passion for the performing arts early in life, particularly for Philippine folkloric dance. His notable projects include serving as a cultural researcher for a book that showcases the stories and lifestyles of indigenous cultural bearers, and acting as curator and project lead for an attire and tapestry exhibition created in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

Photographers will shoot in a number of timed rounds, with one photographer shooting at a time. Wardrobe, movement styles, lighting, and/or sets will change between rounds.

We will be using Pocket Wizards to trigger the studio flashes, so bring one if you have one. We do have some to share if you don't already have a pocket wizard.

Bring your camera and a lens that covers a standard zoom range of about 24-70mm and/or a standard prime of about 35 mm or 50mm (full-frame equivalent). Your lens does not have to be fast, as we will be using studio strobe lighting.

Attendees will be provided a promotional usage release. Commercial releases will be available from the models for an additional fee.

You won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to photograph these two talented artists as they present Philippine folkloric dance traditions in a variety of settings: solo and duo, in a range of stunning traditional costumes, and in different dance styles. We will capture their vibrant artistry using a number of photographic techniques which may include high-key, low-key, colored gels, and long-exposure motion blur.

Looking forward to creating with you at the workshop.

Kyle