Media Release – October, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dancing in the Diaspora: Celebrating 50 years of Filipino Heritage, Identity, and Community
November 14-23, 2025 – Kennedy Theatre Mainstage
The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre & Dance, Kennedy Theatre, and the Center for Philippine Studies (CPS) proudly present Dancing in the Diaspora, a high-energy dance production directed by Dr. J. Lorenzo Perillo. As the Co-Director for the Center of Philippine Studies and also an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Theatre & Dance, Perillo created this dance concert in honor of CPS’s 50th anniversary. The production spotlights the Filipino diaspora in Hawai‘i through dynamic choreography and cultural storytelling. Performances run November 14-23, on the Kennedy Theatre Mainstage. Tickets ($6-$25) and more information available at: manoa.hawaii.edu/liveonstage/ditd. Content Advisories: Profane language, colonization and cultural struggles, loss and grief.
Blending cultural storytelling with hip-hop, street dance, contemporary, Filipino Indigenous, and ‘Ori Tahiti choreography, the performance interweaves live kulintang and soulful Tahitian music in a vibrant exploration of belonging, identity, and community. “Dancing in the Diaspora delves into the interconnected lives of Filipinos maneuvering the waters of belonging and exclusion in Hawai‘i and beyond,” says Perillo.
The production also highlights groundbreaking collaborations, including works by international and local choreographers Mary Chris (Mycs) Villoso, Von Ace Asilo, Angela Sebastian, Ron and Lydia Querian of House of Gongs, Manarii and Nalini Gauthier of Tahiti Mana, and local designer & cultural promoter Iris Viacrusis. From Hip-hop and House of dance fuse with kulintang music, to Filipino Indigenous and Tahitian connections across Oceania, each dance piece showcases the expansive reach of diasporic storytelling. “If you dig beneath the deep layers of colonization, you fine the ways the people of the Pacific are connected through language, food, stories, and beliefs,” shares Nalini Gauthier. “Dance has been a steady vessel carrying me through this journey of rediscovery and empowerment.”
Perillo notes that the staging is deeply connected to Hawai‘i’s social and cultural landscape. “Filipinos make up one-fourth of Hawai‘i’s population, yet there is a clear lack of Filipino representation in education. Representation matters. It’s critical in strengthening students’ self-worth, identities, and success.”
In addition to honoring CPS’s 50th anniversary theme “Rooted in the Past, Growing Together,” Dancing in the Diaspora distinguishes itself through innovative community engagement. The production incorporates outreach with local student organizations, groundbreaking collaborations among choreographers, and even a dance film created with Kennedy Theatre’s custodial staff. “As we honor the past, we look forward to mobilizing and transforming for a brighter future, inspiring new generations through education and cultural exchange,” shares Perillo.
“I hope audiences see how hip-hop, house, popping, locking, contemporary dance, budots, and ‘Ori Tahiti are equally compelling vehicles for Filipino storytelling,” says Perillo. He continues noting there is a proverb at the heart of the production, “Most people are familiar with the walis tambo, or straw broom…Matibay ang walis, palibhasa’y magkabigkis – A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.” Through its dynamic blend of dance, music, and cultural storytelling, Dancing in the Diaspora underscores the strength that comes from unity. By centering Filipino voices and honoring 50 years of the Center for Philippine Studies, the production not only celebrates heritage but also brings the local community together in recognition of shared histories, resilience, and the power of culture to heal and transform.
For more information about the show and a direct link to purchase tickets online please visit: manoa.hawaii.edu/liveonstage/ditd. For ticketing or accessibility questions, please email the box office at ktbox@hawaii.edu or call 808-956-7655.
Content Advisories: Fog/Haze effects, profane language, colonization and cultural struggles, loss and grief.
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