PENINSULA INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL 2023
An extraordinary feast for the eyes and ears!
Featuring over 200 dancers and musicians from 20 Bay Area companies performing traditional work from: Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Congo, Greece, Hawaii, India, Mexico, Native America, Peru, Philippines, Spain, and the USA.

Welcome to this year’s edition of the Peninsula International Dance Festival, a festival that has doubled in size and scope since last year’s inaugural showcase. We are so enthusiastic about presenting this year’s incredible artists, a rich mosaic of extraordinary dancers and musicians led by master teachers, choreographers and artistic directors all working to share, preserve and energize their cultural traditions. What a great honor for all of us to present this new annual summer tradition that represents the very best of the San Francisco Bay Area. Enjoy the show!
Christine Leslie, Executive Producer and Gregory Amato, Artistic Director

The PLA 2023-2024 Schedule has been announced​
All season and ticket information is now on the Peninsula Lively Arts website
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or click the link to the direct page: https://www.peninsulalivelyarts.org/season-and-tickets
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PIDF PROGRAM
Saturday, July 15 at 7 p.m.
ASSOCIATION OF RAMAYTUSH OHLONE
EDDIE MADRIL/SEWAM AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE
Founder & Artistic Director: Eddie Madril
www.sewamdance.com
ENSAMBLES BALLET FOLKLÓRICO de SAN FRANCISCO
Flor del Campo/Zapateado/Morena de la Mañana (Veracruz-Sotavento)
Choreographer: Zenón Barrón
Music credits: Flor del Campo/Zapateado/Morena de la Mañana composed and performed by Vinc-Kay (La Gente y el Canto)
Dancers: Aline G. Salazar, Chelsea Atziri Ferreira, Garin Coyazo, Hugo Flores, Javier Espinoza, Jeannette Quintana, Jennifer López Ramírez, Jesús Gómez, José Martín Gómez, María Anaya, Mariana Hernández, Maricela Benavides, Mario López, Oscár Humberto Ludwig, Pablo Daniel Jiménez Garcia, and Zenaida Guerrero.
Artistic Director: Zenón Barrón
www.ensambles-sf.com
FENG YE DANCE
Inner Mongolia Bowl Dance
Choreographer: Ye Feng
Music Credits: Andagai Band
Dancers: Angela Li, Eloise Xia, Amy Ma, Ella Xia, Hannie Du, Ayaka Daito, Elena Sun, Joy Yang, Yameng Liu, Kathy Fang, Jingjing Liu, Helen Guan, Tracy Xie, Meng Wang, Yaxuan Han, Ada Sun, Ruoxi Jin, Jin Zhang, Ying Mei, Tiana Yu, Lunani Yen, and Debby Bian.
Artistic Director: Feng Ye
www.fengyedance.com
THEATRE FLAMENCO OF SAN FRANCISCO
Solea
Choreographer: Carola Zertuche
Music: Bill Burgess
Dancers and Musicians: Carola Zertuche- Flamenco Dancer; Bill Burgess-Flamenco -Guitar; Felix De Lola-Flamenco Singer
Artistic Director: Carola Zertuche
www.Theatreflamenco.org
PENINSULA BALLET THEATRE
A Jazz Suite
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Léna Alvino, Aline Carili, Zoé Foy, Kelley Hashemi, Alyssa-Marie Muña, Bernardo Ramos, and Chloé Watson
Music: Dave Brubeck, Vono Box
Video: Vin Eiamvuthikorn
Artistic Director: Gregory Amato
www.peninsulaballet.org
CHITRESH DAS INSTITUTE/CHITRESH DAS YOUTH COMPANY
Choreography: Charlotte Moraga
Music: Rajasthani folk song, Mari Ghumarie
Performers: Heeya Das, Maahi Desai, Pakhi Gupta, Reya Lakhani, Ayana Modi, Sanjana Rao, Grishma Shukla, Avani Viswanathan, Aanya Gupta, Meera Minocha, and Neema Sakariya, Apprentice CDYC
Members: Ananti Badhwar, Shivaranjani Das, Anisha Gaonkar, Anushka Garg, Anusha Hiremath, Lila Landsittel Patel, and Aarini Naskar.
Artistic Director: Charlotte Moraga
www.chitreshdasinstitute.org
CHARYA BURT CAMBODIAN DANCE
Forever My Ancestors
Choreography: Charya Burt, after Khmer classical dance style
Music: Traditional Pin Peat music performed by Khmer Arts Ensemble with Charya Burt on vocals
Artistic Director: Charya Burt
www.charyaburt.com
HÄ€LAU O KEIKIALI’I/KAULULEHUA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Ka Hula Kahiko: Traditional Songs and Dances of Hawai`i
Choreographer: Kumu Hula Rae Kahikilaulani Fonseca, Kawika Keikiali`i Alfiche
Music: Traditional
Company Artists: Kumu Hula (Teacher) Kawika Alfiche, Ho`opa`a (Chanter) Kia`i Maurille, `Olapa (Dancers): Kealoha Giron, Apana Lei, Keli Hom, Anela Pong, Hokuokalani Espaniola, Adrianne Dizon, Raena Sebay, and Kaiwa Fong.
Master Teacher: Kawika Alfiche
www.keikialii.com
FUA DIA CONGO
Etumba Na Gwaka and Dibwe
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Choreographers: Sandor Diabankouezi / Constant Massengo
Fua Dia Congo Artists: (Dancers) Muisi-kongo Malonga (Artistic Director), Janeen Ella Johnson, Tamika Harris, Rashid Mpugani, Kulwa Apara, and Felicia Harris; (Musicians) Kiazi Malonga (Musical Director); Constant Massengo; Rocssy Mahania; and Armel Mampouya.
Artistic Director: Muisi-kongo Malonga
PERU EXPRESSIONS
Peruvian Roots
Choreographer: Monica Mendoza
Dancers: Valeria Cachay, Michael Scavotto, Guillermo Poth, Samantha Chavez, Susana Mejia, Emiliano Castro, Arianna Grillo, Andrea Grillo, Monica Mendoza, and Luis Valle.
Founder & Artistic Director: Monica Mendoza
BOLIVIA CORAZÓN DE AMÉRICA
Encounters in the Altiplano
Choreographer: Isidro Alfonso Fajardo Mis
Dancers: Sarath Sok, Aranza Lopez, Grace Torres, Flor Diaz, Yadira Saavedra, Andrew Perez, Samantha Flores, Paola Claros, Isidro Alfonso Fajardo Mis.
Artistic Director/Choreographer: Isidro Fajardo
www.bcadance.com
TRADICIÓN PERUANA
Pisa, Lando y Festejo
Choreographers: Juan de Dios Soto and Lydia Soto
Dancers and Musicians: Vanessa Soto, Eddie Whitfield, Susana Mejia, Missa Perron, Amairayni Meza, Ingrid Verastegui, Antonio Johnson Smith, Sashae Cooper, Japera Smith, Katie Vilchez, Italo Valle, Demond Ware, Jose Rivera, Bruce Demetrius, Naaman Black, and Tafara Manning.
Executive Director: Juan de Dios Soto
www.perutpcc.org
Sunday, July 16 at 3 p.m.
EDDIE MADRIL/SEWAM AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE
Founder & Artistic Director: Eddie Madril
www.sewamdance.com
CALPULLI TONALEHQUEH
Founder & Artistic Director: Miltlal Tilli
www.aztecadancers.com
ANTARA ASTHAAYI DANCE
Hindol Tarana, 12 1/2 matra
Choreographer: Antara Bhardwaj
Music Credits: Original music by Pandit Chitresh Das. Arranged by Qais Essar.
Dancers & Musicians: (dancers) Ojaswee Chaudhary, Suhani Chaudhary, Sana Indap; (musicians) tabla: Neelamjit Dhillon; santoor: Kamaljit Ahluwalia; vocals: Swaroon Sridhar
Founding Executive & Artistic Director: Antara Bhardwaj,
www.antara-asthaayi.org
JUBILEE AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE
The Little House in the Big Woods
Choreography: Rebecca Coulter and traditional folk dances
Music: songs from tunes, played and recorded by Joe Weed, Martha Kendall, James Tepperman; vocals by Martha Kendall and Suzy Mead
Dancers: Becky Coulter, Mitchell Allen, Lucia Benson, Carol Braves, Dee Brown, Diana Greenleaf, Van Hadaway, Lori Koch, Mal Mead, Dale Petros, James Smith, Lonnie Stevens, Ruth Suzuki, Eve Tarquino, and Nancy Weston.
Artistic Director: Rebecca Coulter
www.jubileedance.com
MELISSA CRUZ FLAMENCO
Los Tientos del Momento
this piece is a traditional interpretation of the flamenco “palo” or style, Tientos. This palo asks the interpreter to evoke emotions of longing and loneliness and its binary rhythm is reminiscent of American Blues in its heaviness. The title, “del momento,” means the piece will be mostly created “in the moment” on stage in homage to the spontaneous and improvisation nature of flamenco.
Choreographer: Melissa Cruz
Dancer & Musicians: Melissa Cruz (Dancer), Gopal Slavonic (Flamenco Guitarist), and Azriel “El Moreno” (Flamenco Singer)
Artistic Director: Melissa Cruz
www.melissacruz.weebly.com
PENINSULA BALLET THEATRE
A Jazz Suite
Choreography: Gregory Amato
Dancers: Léna Alvino, Aline Carili, Zoé Foy, Kelley Hashemi, Alyssa Marie Muña, Bernardo Ramos, and Chloé Watson
Music: Dave Brubeck, Vono Box
Video: Vin Eiamvuthikorn
Artistic Director: Gregory Amato
www.peninsulaballet.org
BALLET FOLKLÓRICO MEXICANO DE CARLOS MORENO
Veracruz: La Carretilla, La Bamba and El Zapateado
Choreography: Carlos G Moreno
Music: Conjunto Jarocho de Lino Carrillo
Dancers: Alexandra Flores, Luna Garcia, Fatima Lopez, Ariela Moreno, Noelia Lizalde, Jazmine Pacheco, Itzayana Toscano, Dominique Ceballos, Kimberly López, Nelea Del Toro, Jude Gallardo, Michael Ogi, Francisco Arevalo, Adriel Pena, David Wolff Urzua, Mateo Ceballos, Javier Del Toro, Emmanuel Gonzalez, and Alfredo Cabrera.
Founding & Artistic Director: Carlos Moreno
www.balletfolkloricomexicano.org
PARANGAL DANCE COMPANY
Manumbalik (to return, go back)
Choreography: Eric Solano, after traditional Philippine folkloric
Dancers: Krystle Viray Simon, Jasmine Celeste, Tariq Celeste, Mayari Alegre, Emelita Goco Hernandez-Bravo, Jose Rexiel Dela Cruz, Dio-Ann Valmores, Ophelia Nombrado Sampang, Brandon Rabanal, Leilani Westman, Tet Giron Alabado, Sydney Leong, Kirsten Millan, Gilbert Magsino Laylay, Gigi Callaghan, June Arellano, Don Aguillo, and Vince Ian Zabala.
Musicians: Mariya Angelica Uson, Makasi Salonion, Joel Josiah Uyenco, and Matthew Espina Harris
Artistic Director: Eric Solano
Music Directors: Major Julian and Matthew Espina Harris
www.parangal.org
AMOR DO SAMBA
Take Me Back to Rio
Choreographer: Tanilee Amor
Music Credits: Sergio Mendez, Magalenha and Fanfarra; The Girl from Ipanema Astrud Giberto
Dancers & Musicians: Dancers: Tanilee Amor, Barbie Pen, Sylvia Tellez; Musicians: Sebastian Jimenez and Guiermo Hoppe
Founder & Artistic Director: Tanilee Amor
www.amordosamba.com
THE MINOAN DANCERS
Dances from the Island of Crete, Greece
Choreographers: Vasilis and Effie Fourakis
Music Credits: Sousta by Antonis Martsakis; Syrtos by Ilias Horeftakis; Pentozali by Antonis Martsakis; Maleviziotis by Ilias Horeftakis; and Sousta (exit dance) by Antonis Martsakis
Dancers: Eleni Antonis, Katia Antonis, Alexis Captanian, Stephanie Gikkas, Eavy Hall, Demi Hall, Paula Plessas Hall, Achilleas Fourakis, Odysseas Fourakis, Dimitri Kokalis, Lena Kokalis, Helena Mackis, Athena Palombi, Anna-Maria Simos, Katerina Simos, Yianni Simos, Alena Starling, and James Starling.
Artistic Directors: Vasilis and Effie Fourakis
www.minoans.com
FUA DIA CONGO
Etumba Na Gwaka and Dibwe
Choreographers: Sandor Diabankouezi / Constant Massengo
Fua Dia Congo Artists: (Dancers) Muisi-kongo Malonga (Artistic Director), Janeen Ella Johnson, Tamika Harris, Rashid Mpugani, Kulwa Apara, and Felicia Harris; (Musicians) Kiazi Malonga (Musical Director); Constant Massengo; Rocssy Mahania; and Armel Mampouya.
Artistic Director: Muisi-kongo Malonga
HÄ€LAU O KEIKIALI’I/KAULUULEHUA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Ka Hula Kahiko: Traditional Songs and Dances of Hawai`i
Choreographer: Kumu Hula Rae Kahikilaulani Fonseca, Kawika Keikiali`i Alfiche
Music: Traditional
Company Artists: Kumu Hula (Teacher) Kawika Alfiche, Ho`opa`a (Chanter) Kia`i Maurille, `Olapa (Dancers): Kealoha Giron, Apana Lei, Keli Hom, Anela Pong, Hokuokalani Espaniola, Adrianne Dizon, Raena Sebay, and Kaiwa Fong
Master Teacher: Kawika Alfiche
www.keikialii.com
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BOLIVIA CORAZÓN DE AMÉRICA
Encounters in the Altiplano
Choreographer: Isidro Alfonso Fajardo Mis
Dancers: Sarath Sok, Aranza Lopez, Grace Torres, Flor Diaz, Yadira Saavedra, Andrew Perez, Samantha Flores, Paola Claros, Isidro Alfonso Fajardo Mis.
Artistic Director/Choreographer: Isidro Fajardo
www.bcadance.com
TRADICIÓN PERUANA
Pisa, Lando y Festejo
Choreographers: Juan de Dios Soto and Lydia Soto
Dancers and Musicians: Vanessa Soto, Eddie Whitfield, Susana Mejia, Missa Perron, Amairayni Meza, Ingrid Verastegui, Antonio Johnson Smith, Sashae Cooper, Japera Smith, Katie Vilchez, Italo Valle, Demond Ware, Jose Rivera, Bruce Demetrius, Naaman Black, and Tafara Manning.
Executive Director: Juan de Dios Soto
www.perutpcc.org
Administrative & Artistic Staff
Executive Director/CEO: Christine Leslie
Artistic Director: Greg Amato
Festival Coordinator: Chloé Watson
Ballet Mistress: Nina Amato
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With Special thanks to PIDF Advisory Committee
Carlos Carvajal
Zenon Barron
Charlotte Moraga
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Crew
General Manager of Facilities Use: Charlie Royce
Interim Theatre Manager: Josh Grush
Lighting Designer: Bob Klemm
Light Board Operator Max Pereira
Technical Director: Dave LeBlanc
Crew Chief: Kay Tetzner
House and Box Office Manager: Masha Amato
Sound Operator: Brian Yang and Robert Gonzales
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Business Staff
Chief Financial Officer: Jan Mendez
Marketing: Michael Davis
Publicity: Jon Finck
Bookkeeper: Annette Mellado
Web Design: Maria Nichols
Operations: Lance Huntley
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