Cultural Workshops and Performances

2010, Community Conversation Events Focus on Women Writers

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2010, Jay Baza Pascua, An Evening with the Storyteller

In May 2010, the Council brought to Guam Chamorro storyteller Jay Baza Pascua and selected his works to be included in the project, “8,000 How Will It Change Our Lives?” Community Conversations on the US Military Buildup in Guam.  While on Guam, Jay was involved in a weeklong series of readings and discussions with high school and college students, presentations with the larger public, including a larger community conversation event on Wednesday, May 12 at the Outrigger Guam Resort, and An Evening with the Storyteller on Thursday, May 13 at Meskla Restaurant. 

Jay Pascua, a cultural artist and advocate, has utilized a variety of media to relay his stories including performance and visual art. His chant Fakmåta was featured in the film The Return of Our Elder Hurao, a sixty-second experimental spot funded through a grant from Pacific Islanders in Communications.   He has been an avid participant of Sinangån-ta, Guam’s forerunner to spoken word poetry.

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2010, Craig Santos Perez, An Evening with the Author

In March 2010, the Council brought to Guam Chamorro poet Craig Santos Perez and selected his works to include in the project, “8,000 How Will It Change Our Lives?” Community Conversations on the US Military Buildup in Guam.  The Council coordinated a weeklong series of readings and discussions with high school and college students, presentations with the larger public including An Evening with the Author poetry reading and fundraiser on Thursday, March 25 at Meskla Restaurant and a larger community conversation event on Wednesday, March 24 at the Outrigger Guam Resort.

A native son of Guam, Craig has lived in California since 1995. He received his MFA in Poetry from the University of San Francisco and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Ethnic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He is co-founder of Achiote Press and author of two books of poetry, From Unincorporated Territory Hacha and Saina.

Craig Santos Perez states, "Poetry has always connected me to home, but I never thought it would bring me home after so many years. I am excited to work with the Guam Humanities Council and explore how poetry can bring about civic reflection."

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2009, Black Grace Guam Tour, Dance and Identity

In March 2009, the Guam Humanities Council brought to Guam Black Grace, New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance group.  The tour provided an exciting opportunity for our island community, especially for our middle, high school and college students, to highlight our connections as Pacific peoples, as well as to promote our unique culture and identity in a time of anticipated change and transformation. 

The Council coordinated and hosted a weeklong series of workshops and performances conducted by Black Grace with several local dance groups, students from various public schools, the University of Guam, the island’s southern community, and the larger public. A film and discussion series titled, Dance and Identity, led up to the tour and focused on larger issues of identity and authenticity as expressed in performance arts.

The Guam premiere of the documentary, Black Grace: From Cannon’s Creek to Jacob’s Pillow, followed by a performance by Black Grace, was also part of the tour. This film follows Black Grace's journey from Cannon's Creek, a small town outside of Wellington, New Zealand to the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the oldest one of its kind in North America. A gala event on Saturday, April 4, 2009 featured performances by Black Grace and a special appearance by a select group of workshop participants at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort.

Black Grace founder and Artistic Director Neil Ieremia is in the vanguard of New Zealand’s most accomplished choreographers and, through his vision, imbues Black Grace with an explosive mix of rhythm, spirit and energy. In recognition of his considerable achievements, Neil was the recipient of the 2005 Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award for outstanding creative achievement and his contribution to the Arts in New Zealand. Over the past decade, Neil has also choreographed work for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Opera New Zealand, New Zealand Wearable Arts, the New Zealand School of Dance, and the Rotterdam Dance Academy.

Black Grace has held a unique position on the world stage for over 10 years. Fusing Pacific and contemporary dance in an extraordinary and dynamic form, Black Grace has become internationally renowned for its artistry, creative excellence and innovation, while also becoming the world’s leading exponent of Pacific contemporary dance.

Black Grace has toured extensively throughout New Zealand and internationally to critical acclaim. In 2005, the company celebrated its tenth anniversary and performed to sell-out seasons in Auckland, followed by an extensive tour of the US and Mexico. During this time, the company performed a return season at the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, debuted on New York’s 42nd Street for a four-week season, and performed at Mexico’s renowned Cervantino Festival. Black Grace also performed at Tourism New Zealand’s ‘100% Pure’ event in Sydney, at the Aichi World Expo and for the New Zealand Embassy at the Tram Theatre in Tokyo.

Most recently, Black Grace enjoyed a successful 2008 tour of North America and Canada followed by a sold out season at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea, New Caledonia.

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