"SUNGOD" (Destiny)

AUDIENCE REVIEWS:

" I am agnostic, but this was a spiritual experience..."

"I was blown away by how expansive it was, with not just dance but film, story, acting, interactivity, and the indigenous cultural experience." 

                                                                                                                                                           - Hannah Sung

"I did not know what to expect; it was absolutely riveting" 

                                                                                                                                                            - Hamidat Mohammad

"Such a raw personal story, Joyce's connection to land, spirit, God, and "rebirth" was powerful. Watching her journey of grief is something many of us can take with us. It was very inspiring. So much to take in " 

                                                                                                                                                             - Marey Griffith, Associate Choreographer -The Lion King

"Amazing, magical..." 

                                                                                                                                                             - Potri Ranka Manis, Founder - Kinding Sindaw

" Through an adroit mixture of film and both modern and traditional dance Joyce Lao invites her audience to accompany her on her voyage home to her late father’s Philippines, and, once there, to join in the communal dancing, or sit around an imaginary fire, which a good many did. Sungod is many things, an exploration of lostness and belonging, of grief and final goodbyes, of indigenous identity and modernity. " 

                                                                                                                                                             - Oliver Conant, Actor, Director and Dramaturg

"The show SUNGOD (destiny)  was about a daughter’s longin' for her father, it's about love that never disappears, even in absence. It was tender, heartbreaking, & quietly powerful. It settled somewhere deep inside me becoz  I know that kind of lost & longing. For years, I have been writing poems & letters addressed to my dad. Words I keep collectin', No one to send to. I watched Joyce's story , it felt as though she had taken those unwritten conversations from my heart & placed 'em gently on the stage. Some stories entertain us. Others remind us that grief is another language of love. Iyaman for sharing her gift with the world. Keep going. She's not just living her dream, She is giving others permission to believe in theirs." 

                                                                                                                                                            - Lily Dapliyan - Cultural Leader, Author and Fashion Designer

"This experience will remain unforgettable and one of the most memorable. As a Cordilleran, I am proud of this film and theatre production, more so because at the center of it, is an authentic Cordilleran Artist with such multi-disciplinary talent and ingenuity. Joyce is a special artist with incredible proficiency and competence in dancing, singing, and acting, to name a few. SUNGOD will become a living testament to her spectacular artistry. It was an honor to perform alongside her and the whole CCE team." 

- Gerry Dupingay, Co-founder - Cordillera Cultural Ensemble