Dennis Gupa & Gossip with Whales Gets First Green Award Honour

  • Page Views 245
  •  

    Dr. Dennis Gupa and his unique artistic collaboration “Gossip with Whales: Exploring Ocean Science through Applied Theatre” is honoured by The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) Inaugural Green Award this year as the Individual Artist Runner-Up.

    The Inaugural PACT Green Award is initiated by PACT, a “leader in the national performing arts community and a devoted advocate for the value of live performance”. The Green Award goes to one winning project along with two runner-up projects, one for a company and one for an individual artist.

    At the Ceremony on Thursday, Feb 23 EST/12pm EST, the Winner, The Only Animal Theatre Company for its project The Artist Brigade, Artist Runner Up Dennis Gupa for Gossip with Whales, and Company Runner Up Soulpepper Theatre for The Green Sessions will present on their projects and share their experiences with the community.

    Dr. Gupa is now Assistant Professor at the University of Winnipeg, Theatre and Film Department. While working with Gossip with Whales, he was then a PhD student at the University of Victoria’s Theatre Department and the artist-in-residence with Ocean Networks Canada (ONC). For Gupa, this residency fitted in with his doctoral focus on Indigenous sea rituals, climate change, and sustainable ecology. He presented Gossip with Whales in its world premiere,  with the performances of four new choral compositions, musical performances with artists from the Philippines, and a panel of artists, performers, and scientists.  This feast of music and celebration of the ocean which all of humanity shares was presented at the launch of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.

    Gossip with Whales was made possible by the University of Victoria-Faculty of Fine Arts and Ocean Networks Canada, the Victoria Filipino Canadian Association, UP Alumni Association in BC, Bayanihan Community Centre in Victoria, and the National Pilipino Canadian Cultural Centre. Gupa worked with his collaborating team made up of Karla Comanda, Roijin Suarez, Darren Vega, Thai Hoa Le, and Jeremiah Carag.

    Gupa beautifully used the collaboration of ocean science and the arts and drew upon the Filipino tanaga and mangyan lyrical art forms to produce four original and beautiful choral compositions: Corals Crawl, To the Pacific, Gossip with Whales, and Bamboo Stilts.

    “By looking at the experience and knowledge of local people—who have been experiencing these climatic events for so many years, but are not really given a lot of opportunities to tell their stories—we can learn from their knowledge and wisdom,” said Gupa at the panel interview during the world premier. “Our poetries and songs renew our kinship with the ocean.”

    Listen to the songs of the ocean and watch Gupa’s Gossip with Whales via this free and accessible online webinar. ###

    National Pilipino and Canadian Cultural Centre (NPC3)

    Reference: Prof. Leonora Angeles |nora.angeles@ubc.ca

     

    PHOTO CREDITS: Photo credit: NPC3, Oceans Network Canada

    Dennis Gupa in February 2021. (Photo credit: John Threlfall)

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • 27 March 2023
      8 hours ago No comment

      ‘Walang KaPARIS’ brings back Empoy and Alessandra;BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon in the movie

        Comedian Empoy Marquez flexes his dramatic muscle for his reunion with much awarded actress Alessandra de Rossi, “Walang KaParis.” The movie also serves as their reunion with their “Kita Kita” director and writer Sigrid Andrea Bernardo. At a recent roundtable with the “Walang KaParis,” Direk Sigrid said she ...

    • 27 March 2023
      8 hours ago No comment

      DISGC double Celebration: International Women’s Month and Anti-Racism Awareness Month

        Congratulations on the first community event commemorating International Women’s Month and,Anti- Racism Awareness Month, hosted by the Diversity and Inclusion Support Group of BC. Headed by Lina Vargas – President of DISGC community group. It was wonderful to see DISGBC Family Community CHANGE Makers come together with the ...

    • 27 March 2023
      8 hours ago No comment

      Vice Ganda grateful for being named most trusted entertainment presenter

        MANILA — Vice Ganda was overflowing with gratitude after being awarded this year’s Most Trusted Entertainment & Variety Presenter by Reader’s Digest for the fifth time. Speaking on “It’s Showtime” on Tuesday, he said: “Maraming maraming salamat po. Hanggang ngayon pinagkakatiwalaan niyo pa rin ako na magpatawa sa ...

    • 27 March 2023
      8 hours ago No comment

      Edgy “Teen Clash” premieres on iWantTFC

        New original series pushes the envelope with out-of-the-box storytelling and life lessons from Black Sheep SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.– “Teen Clash,” a part-rom-com, part-coming-of-age series, produced by iWantTFC and Black Sheep, recently premiered on iWantTFC. Inspired by the hit Wattpad story of the same title, the series navigates a ...

    • 27 March 2023
      8 hours ago No comment

      Anne Curtis raises more than P2 million after Tokyo Marathon

        MANILA – Anne Curtis was able to raise more than P2 million after finishing the Tokyo Marathon early this month. The funds will go for the Filipino children who are victims of abuse and violence in our country. “We can ALL be heroes, even if it’s just for ...

    %d bloggers like this: