CoErasga
company website:
Co.ERASGA's mandate is to produce and promote original contemporary dance to a broad audience in the unceded ancestral, traditional territories of the Coast Salish people of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations also known as Vancouver, across BC, Canada and internationally; to recognize and celebrate Asian heritage and diversity within Canadian multiculturalism; to foster the creation of inter-disciplinary performance works; and to partner with emerging and professional dance artists through involvement in the company’s artistic endeavours. Co.ERASGA is founded on the principles of innovation, artistic integrity and social reflection led by founder and artistic director Filipino-Canadian, Alvin Erasga Tolentino.
Co.ERASGA believes that dance serves as a vital form of physical communication and medium for catalyzing social reflection and awareness propelling the company’s relation and work to the community-at-large. Our works have a local, national and global perspective exploring issues such as the nature of gender, identity, ethnicity, equality, decolonize, the spiritual realm and freedom as integral parts of the human experience, and the nature of self in relation to the creation of art. Co.ERASGA aims to reach a wide demographic through our dance creations and outreach activities; to challenge the art of dance through inter-disciplinary collaborations; to be an artistic expressive catalyst, a strengthening link, and an expansive cultural force, extending from the West Coast across the nation and abroad; and to be faithful to the kinetic power of dance as a source and tool for dynamic communication.
Charitable status:
Founded in 2000, the mission of Co. ERASGA is to:
A) Support and realize the creative vision of Alvin Erasga Tolentino through dance,
B) Foster the research, creation and production of innovative new works in partnership with dance artists, and other creative genres (visual arts, music, theatre, performance art, video and film),
C) Recognize the Asian heritage and diversity within the Canadian multicultural context, and
D) Promote, share and celebrate dance to the widest and diverse audience in BC, Canada and abroad. Co. ERASGA also supports dance artists at both the emerging and professional level through involvement in the company's artistic processes, creations and productions.
Under the artistic directorship of Filipino/Canadian choreographer and dancer, Alvin Erasga Tolentino, the company explores issues of cultural identity, redress, hybridity and by juxtaposing the public and private territory to promote inter and cross-cultural visionary works.
Co. ERASGA is faithful to the kinetic power of dance as the core, source and tool for dynamic communication.