A World Cultural Dance Festival grand-prize winner, Sidlakan presents traditions from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao through colorful, rhythm-rich folk choreography.

★ Sidlakan Dance Company won the Grand Prize at the World Cultural Dance Festival in 2018.

Sidlakan Dance Company Inc. was founded in 2012 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, the Philippines, by a group of performing-arts practitioners and cultural advocates. In Cebuano, “Sidlakan” means “place of sunrise,” reflecting the group’s hope of using dance to bring greater visibility to the Philippines, especially the rich cultural traditions of the Visayas. The company has long been dedicated to preserving and performing Philippine folk dance and won a major award at the 2018 IYF World Cultural Dance Festival. It continues to promote Philippine culture on international stages.

【Performance Highlights】
The performance is built around the LuzViMinda Series, linking traditional dances from the Philippines’ three major island groups: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The repertoire includes Indigenous ritual dances, festive dances from the Visayas, and the Spanish-influenced Maria Clara dance tradition. Costumes and props are designed to reflect regional characteristics, while the music incorporates traditional sounds such as Kulintang gong music and bamboo instruments. The result is a colorful, rhythmically varied program showcasing the diverse cultural landscapes of the Philippines.