Filipino-Canadian choreographer and dancer, Alvin Tolentino creates this single signature work with a captivating sensitivity and Asian aesthetic of contemporary dance, Japanese drums (taiko) and classic music. In a series of dynamic portraits, OrienTik/Portrait celebrates the marriage of dance and music with an extraordinary ability to transport and explore the ordinary to the imaginary, the emotion and to dreams.

…One the most eclectic dance performances I’ve seen in the past year…

– The Vancouver Sun

Trained with a diploma from Toronto’s York University, choreographer and dancer, Andrea Nann has been with the Danny Grossman Dance Company for the last 15 years where she has created and interpreted principle roles. Andrea Nann collaborated as a dancer with numerous Canadian choreographers, novelists and filmmakers creating close to 40 original works before founding her own dance company.

Artistic Director of the Dreamwalker Dance Company, Andrea Nann celebrates the power of unifying art, by collaborating with creators of different artistic disciplines. These artists include authors and poets such as Michael Ondaatje and Chris Chambers, visual artists Wayne Ngan, Michael Caines and Janet Morton, musician Andrew Cash, many other composers, designers and film directors such as Veronica Tennant.

Filipino Alvin Erasga Tolentino settled in Canada in 1983. He studied dance at the Royal Ballet in Winnipeg, art at the University of Fine-Arts in Toronto and at SUNY (The State University of New York) and at Limon Institute in the US. He trains regularly with distinguished dance professors in Canada and internationally.

After years as an independent dancer, Alvin Erasga Tolentino founded Co.ERASGA in 2000. Two years later, the prestigious Philippine Ballet Company invited him to create a work to explore his Asian roots. It is at this turning point that he fused eastern and western aesthetics that were presented to more than 4,000 spectators.

During his travels in his country of origin, Alvin Tolentino met important contemporary artists such as filmmaker, Tad Ermitano and choreographer, Dennisa Reyes. In that same year, Co.ERASGA presented a work in partnership with the Festival of Dance in Flight in Brussels. European critics were conquered. Tolentino was defined as an upcoming artist to watch out for.

In 1995 at the age of seven, Jordan Riley began taiko drumming under the instruction of Shinobu Homma with Chibi Taiko. Taiko has allowed him to perform at many venues including a commercial for the 2010 Olympic bid, Taiko Jam in Seattle, Powell Street Festival, a joint performance with California’s TAIKOPROJECT, and a performance in Onomichi, Japan. His drumming style has western influences, playing drum set, snare drum and other percussion with his elementary and high school band for eight years. Currently, Jordan Riley is completing his Bachelors degree with a major in Marketing at the University of British Columbia.

Japanese-Canadian classically trained pianist, Alison Nishihara, has been a regular in the Canadian and American scenes for the last 20 years. Collaborating with numerous companies, Nishihara explores avant-garde innovation and the boundaries between classical and contemporary repertoires. Alison Nishihara teaches piano as well as mathematics and resides in British Columbia.