Labayen
Dance/San Francisco's mission is to promote, preserve and present dance
& theatre that enriches and empowers Asian American artists, primarily
through presenting the works of Asian American choreographers and the
choreographic and artistic vision of its founder Enrico Labayen and other
artists that share and contrasts our artistic vision. Labayen Dance/SF
provides a base for artists who seek connection to their roots, their
history, their sense of community. Encouraging the creation of new and
innovative forms of expression in dance/theatre inspired by Asian American
experiences. Labayen Dance/SF stresses the importance of art as a bridge
for cultural understanding and to better enhance the pluralistic experience
of the contemporary American society.
Since its formation in 1990, Labayen Dance/SF (LD/SF) aka The LAB Projekt Group-USA have grown dramatically over the years, building a unique and recognizable repertory and an expanding audience base that cuts through race, generation, age, sexual and ethnic orientation and artistic forms. LD/SF has four performance season per annum in San Francisco Bay Area and tours its works in festivals in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Every Christmas, LD/SF produces an annual holiday program " Helping Hand" which donates proceeds to Bay Area charities assisting artists living with AIDS.
Over the past years, LD/SF and its founder Enrico Labayen have gained recognition for artistic excellence and have been invited to represent the United States to participate in international festival as well as local and national dance/theater festivals.
1998-1999 in particular was stellar years and Y2K started with stellar achievements:
" A voice that won't fade, his individual life celebrate all that the Filipino American is capable of. One of the Filipino Americans who have truly shaped our history in the United States and given us the inspiration to realize our own dreams." as conferred by Filipinas Magazine International
So
with the Isadora Duncan Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography,
local, national and international exposure, and as one of the Filipino
American Faces of the Century came invitations toperform at the Kennedy
Center in Washington DC (July 2000), a second invitation from Columbia
University's Music and Arts Festival in NYC (April 2001), International
Tanztheater-Bonn, Berlin Tanz 2000 in Germany (October 2000), Homecoming
celebration concert presented by The Cultural Center of the Philippines
(August). Enrico Labayen has been invited to create new works for Mainz
Stadt Theatre in Germany and Bern Ballet in Switzerland (November 2000).
The future is indeed bright and shining for Enrico Labayen and Labayen Dance/SF to continue to scale new heights in dance both locally and internationally and humbled to be one of America's ambassador of goodwill and in gratitude bring pride to the United States as the State of California, City and County of San Francisco nurtures Labayen Dance/SF and Enrico Labayen as its local artists.
LD/SF's Labdanspace was described by Asian Week as " Visionary Filipino American dance maker Enrico Labayen has been blessed to be a blessing, gifted with an extraordinary talent for dance...his Labdanspace, an experimental space for performances and screenings located in the heart of the Castro - a real blessing to the community for Y2K."
In April 20, 1999, Labayen Dance/SF participated in the All Filipino-American 5th Annual Filipino Arts Exposition at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in a full length concert evening. The event is co-produced by the Philippine Resource Center and Labayen Dance/SF. LD/SF has been involved with the Filipino American Arts Exposition since its first year (1994). LD/SF's involvement with the Filipino Arts Expo has resulted in an increase of Fil-Am presence in the company's home seasons and mailing lists and a glowing review for the Exposition and LD/SF. In 1998-99, LD/SF has performed in benefits with community based organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Arts Festival, Queer Arts Festival, PRIDE '99 and ArtFix.
Labayen dance/SF is connected to the AIDS service community through Enrico Labayen who teaches movement therapy workshop free of charge to persons suffering from AIDS, HIV and other life threatening diseases. Since 1998, LD/SF offered free board and lodging to struggling dancers and artists who are facing health and economic issues. To date, four artists has moved on with their lives normally, two dancers with AIDS are members of LD/SF having a successful dance experience and in return. We all leam. LD/SF donates tickets to charitable organizations such as: The Shanti Project, Casa de la Madres, Street Children Charity Group and Project Open Hand. LD/SF shows its commitment to the community by performing only in wheelchair accessible spaces, accommodates people who require seats for early seating and early leaving, provides deeply discounted tickets to students and seniors.
Labayen Dance/SF reflects Enrico's commitment to diversity. The company is comprised of a creative team of 16 dancers and 3 administrative personnel who represent the Bay Area's many multicultural communities. Persons who work for Labayen Dance/SF are from the Philippines, Denmark, Argentina, Thailand, Germany, Puerto Rico, Peru, Iran, China and from throughout the United States. In addition to the international backgrounds of the artists and personnel, 80 % of the company are gay or lesbian. The unique combination of artists in Labayen Dance/SF provides a rich tapestry of experience from which to draw inspiration for the company's singular movement style.
