Kulintang Arts, Inc. - Agos Program (formerly American Center of Philippine Arts - ACPA)
Agos (“currents or flow”) began in Oakland in 2009 as American Center of Philippine Arts, an Oakland-based community arts program, serving over 15 Bay Area families (approximately 25 youth, 5-17 yrs old). We teach folkloric dance, its musical accompaniment and its origins. The curriculum is contextualized with indigenous belief systems and related cultural practices such as weaving, farming, fishing. Through this approach, teaching artists and their students address the history of colonization, immigration, cultural and racial equity issues impacting the Pilipino youth and their families. By intertwining art and political education, youth look holistically at ideas around healing and belonging, informed by traditional practice, but within the context of the Bay Area’s diasporic Pilipino community. Our core programs include: Agos Youth Programs – Instructing youth ages 5-17 in Philippine folk dance. Rondalla Music Classes and Workshops – Rondalla intensives for Pilipinx community and organizations across NorCal.
