PHOTO BY KULARTS
SAN FRANCISCO—Renowned Philippine filmmaker Cecilio Asuncion and his Thigh High Productions LLC are making a feature-length documentary entitled “Sayaw”—which films the casting, rehearsals and auditions of a San Francisco-based dance company led by dance master Jay Loyola—as it prepares to compete in the 2014 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.
Loyola, in association with ODC School Audition Series, will hold auditions for the group on Nov. 10 in San Francisco. His successful dance projects have built partnerships with dance artists, musicians, arts institutions, government agencies, universities, schools and other dance companies.
Loyola believes that Philippine dance can span geographic, etymological and cultural borders. His goal is to offer dance artists new sources for creative exploration and an energetic exchange with other artists. “Dance is not only comprised of form and technique, but a spiritual experience,” says Loyola,
Asuncion, a winner of the Outstanding Filipino American award, says, “Documenting Jay’s journey is truly exciting because dance is an art form I truly appreciate, and I do believe that the American dream is different for every person.”
“Sayaw” follows Thigh High Productions’ successful first documentary film, “What’s the T?”—which celebrates the lives of five successful transgender women who reside in San Francisco and New York, including one Filipino-American.
“What’s the T?” has been featured in numerous film festivals around the US and recently was selected Festival Favorite at the Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
“I’m proud to be Filipino,” Asuncion says. “I have a great team with Thigh High, and I hope that our film will inspire all types of dreamers to go out and make these dreams a reality.”
Interested parties who would like to audition for the project may contact Loyola or ODC
Dance Commons at 351 Shotwell Street, San Francisco CA 94110. Tel. 415/863-6606. Thigh High Productions will premiere Sayaw in 2014.