Collection Guide
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Finding aid to the Kularts Records
(1986-2011)
SFH 535
SFH 535
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Table of contents
Title: Kularts Records
Date (inclusive): 1986-2011
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 535
Creator:
Kulintang Arts
Creator:
Kularts
Physical Description:
2 cartons, 2 flat boxes, 7 pamphlet boxes
(6 Cubic Feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: Kularts has produced contemporary and tribal Pilipino arts in the United States since 1985. The collection contains a five
year plan (1985-2000), production notes, educational program files including children's work, meeting agendas, letters of
recommendation, some correspondence, brochures, posters, photos, t-shirts, and production recordings.
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English
.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours
in advance.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item], Kularts Records (SFH 535), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Donated by Alleluia Panis of Kularts on January 31, 2014.
Related materials include Filipino American Development Foundation Records (SFH 705), and The Filipino guide to San Francisco:
an introduction to the Filipino-American community of San Francisco. Additional SFHC Filipino American collections include
the Celestino Tagimacruz Alfafara Papers (SFH 557) and the Maxine Gonong Papers (SFH 59).
Materials were returned from the California Revealed digitizing project in 2022. Media was shifted from a carton (carton 4)
to pamphlet boxes for preservation and access. Digitized and non digitized recordings remain in separate boxes.
Founded in 1985, Kulintang Arts, Inc., now known popularly as Kularts, presents contemporary and tribal Pilipino arts in the
United States. Kularts' work makes the contributions of Pilipino Americans visible and creates room for cultural continuity
and knowledge.
The founders, musician Robert L. Henry, dancer Marcella Pabros, and choreographer/director Alleluia Panis chose "Kulintang"
in honor of the ancient music tradition of Mindanao, Philippines. Its first office and rehearsal space was in the South of
Market Cultural Center in San Francisco.
Kulintang Arts's primary program was the work of Kulintang Arts Ensemble (KAE), a ten-member music and dance ensemble which
presented contemporary work rooted in the indigenous Filipino traditions. Danongan Kalanduyan, a musician from the Southern
Philippines, was KAE's resident artist and Kulintang music director/instructor (1985-88). KAE members included Musiban Guiabar,
Frank Holder, Joey Maliga, Dana Nuñez, Anna Sun Foo, Frances Cachapero, Ric Serrano, Joshua Francisco, Daniel Giray, Sharon
Sato, Jesse Bie, among others. Panis choreographed full-evening works: Ancient Rhythms/Urban Sounds (1988); Lm' Ehek: at the
heART of the sharpenINg stONE (1989); Cycles: Timeless Rituals to Ancient Icons (1990); and Diwata (1993).
KAE performed at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival from 1985 to 1990 and toured nationally and internationally; including
the Dance Theater Workshop, New York; Lincoln Center, New York City; the Kennedy Center; the Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle;
the Verona Jazz Festival, Italy; the Baguio Arts Festival, the Philippines; and the Asian Arts Festival, Singapore. KAE Music
recordings include Fred Ho's 1988 album A Song for Manong, originally released by Asian Improv. Recordings released by Kulintang
Arts Inc. include Ancient Rhythms/Urban Sounds; Kulintang Arts Live! In Concert with Jon Jang; and Cycles: Timeless Rituals
to Ancient Icons.
Kularts (originally known as Kulintang) has produced contemporary and tribal Pilipino arts in the United States since 1985.
The collection contains Kularts' five year plan (1985-2000), production notes and performer applications, educational program
files including children's work, meeting agendas, letters of recommendation, some correspondence, brochures, posters, photos,
t-shirts, and production recordings.
The collection is arranged in 4 series: Series 1: Kulintang Arts Ensemble, Series 2: Community Engagement, Series 3: Promotion,
Series 4: Recordings. Series 2 is further organized into Sub-Series 2.1: POMO (Post Modern Pilipino Performance), Sub-Series
2.2: Kularts Arts Education, Sub-Series 2.3: Kularts PMAIR (Philippine Master Artist in Residence)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Filipino Americans -- California -- San Francisco.
Filipino American arts.
Filipino Americans -- Ethnic identity
Performance.
Theater.
Dance.