Cultural Lesson

Get a visual crash course today in Filipino history at the Folly Theater (300 West 12th Street, 816-474-4444) during Historia: A Philippine History Through Dance and Music. Presented by the Filipino Cultural Center, the show features 35 dancers, one for each year of the existence of the Sinag-Tala Performing Arts Troupe. “What I’m so proud about is the second generation of our Filipino-American members … have sort of taken the lead,” says Lillian Pardo, the troupe’s executive director. The artistic director for the 35th-anniversary show is KU student Julian Rivera. His history-driven vision incorporates the dominant influences on Filipino culture — tribal culture, nearly 400 years of Spanish rule, and the country’s large Muslim and rural populations. Performances are at 2 and 8 p.m., and tickets start at $10.

Historia: A Philippine History through Dance and Music

Sat., Nov. 17, 2 & 8 p.m., 2007