about
Co.ERASGA
We are a contemporary dance company founded on the principles of innovation, artistic integrity and social reflection.
// the company
We are a contemporary dance company founded on the principles of innovation, artistic integrity and social reflection.
Founded by choreographer and dancer Alvin Erasga Tolentino in 2000, Co.ERASGA has a distinguished international reputation with its vision of hybrid dance, diversity and collaborations with other artistic practices and multimedia.
At the heart of Co.ERASGA is Artistic Director Alvin Erasga Tolentino, a Filipino-Canadian artist of remarkable commitment, talent and energy, whose diverse cultural background and heritage has been a driving force for much of the company’s work. In addressing themes that reflect Tolentino’s individuality, global awareness and ethnicity, Co.ERASGA exposes and explores issues of cultural identity, gender, hybridity, and promotes cross-cultural dialogue.
Celebrating its 18th anniversary in 2018, Co.ERASGA has created critically acclaimed contemporary dance productions: SOLA, BATO/Stone, MINORI, Volt, She Said, Field, OrienTik/Portrait, BODYGlass, PARADISE/Paradis, ADAMEVE/Man-Woman, Shadow Machine, EXpose, Unwrapping Culture, and most recently Collected, Traces and Still Here.
Co.ERASGA is a contemporary dance company founded on the principles of innovation, artistic integrity and social reflection. Its works explore such diverse and complex issues as the nature of gender and identity, ethnicity in a global world, the spiritual realm and freedom as integral parts of the human experience, and the nature of self in relation to the creation of art.
// our mission
To produce and promote original contemporary dance to a broad audience across British Columbia, Canada and internationally. To recognize and celebrate Asian heritage and diversity within Canadian multiculturalism; fostering the creation of interdisciplinary performance works. To partner with dance artists at the emerging and professional levels through involvement in the Company’s processes.
Co.ERASGA’s purpose and goal is to expand to a wider demographic through our creations, dance performances, training, development activities, and community outreach. To realize original interdisciplinary works that challenge the art of dance through diverse collaborations. In dance the company aims to be an artistic expressive catalyst, a strengthening link, and an expansive cultural force, extending from the Canadian West Coast across the nation and abroad.
Co.ERASGA is Registered as Company Erasga Dance Society. Charitable registration number: 894061514 RR0001
As an arts organization with roots of Filipino heritages, migrant stories and racialized settlers, we acknowledge our privilege to be living and creating art here on Turtle Island. We acknowledge the land upon which most of Co. ERASGA's work takes place: the traditional and unceded lands of the Coast Salish people including the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ) and Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Nations, the original stewards and caretakers of these lands.
As artists, we humbly recognize the continued work that needs to be done on the road to reconciliation. We commit to our own education, sharing of resources and artistries for continued respect, solidarity, awareness towards decolonial relation and work with the Indigenous people of Canada.
© Co.ERASGA 2021