Thursday, October 11, 2012

A Wild Weekend 3: Filipino Processional



On Sunday morning, we breezed through the big calligraphy special exhibit at the Asian Art Museum, which is only for the initiated, meaning that it probably helps immensely to be able to read Chinese, and even more so to write it. The most interesting sight at the exhibit was watching a middle-aged man standing in front of a huge scroll air-guitaring what the strokes might be to create a particular character.



Though it was a Target Free First Sunday, the museum was fairly empty, which allowed us to comfortably watch the opening processional for a Filipino-American History Celebration.



The acronym ANAK means child in Tagalog, and is the title of Filipino folk musician Freddie Aguilar's biggest hit, one of the most popular songs in the world.



The old marble stairway left over from the building's former role as the Main Library is a beautiful place to stage a ritual, and it's surprising to think I have never seen that done before.



The little girl dancers were shy, graceful and colorful...



...and they acquitted themselves nicely...



...even with the fussy gentleman above in white, who we took to be the choreographer, gesturing them forward.



He need not have worried, because his young troupe used the space well.

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