Eric Espartinez Solano — Artistic Director & Founding Visionary, Parangal Dance Company Eric began his journey as a Philippine dance practitioner in 1993, training with renowned groups such as Barangay Dance Company, Bayanihan Dance Company, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, and ensembles from Maguindanao and Ifugao. In 2008, he co-founded Parangal Dance Company in San Francisco (on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone territory) to honor and present the rich heritage of Philippine dance through performance, research, and education. Since 2005, Eric has maintained regular immersive experiences with over 30 Indigenous communities across the Philippine archipelago, working with more than 80 culture bearers to ensure authenticity in Parangal’s repertoire. He has produced multiple home-show productions for Parangal, including: Eight major productions with 22 world premieres, showcasing newly choreographed works rooted in Filipino traditions. Under his leadership, Parangal has performed at highly acclaimed venues and events, such as: San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Carnegie Hall, The White House, Merrie Monarch Festival, Ho’ike Festivals across the U.S. (Las Vegas, North Carolina) and continents including Europe, Asia, and South America. Eric has served as a dance consultant for institutions in the U.S., Canada, England, Australia, and the Philippines, and has mentored Philippine Culture Night performances at Bay Area universities such as USF and SFSU for decades. As a solo artist, he performed in three Bulgarian folk festivals, earning an award for Best Authentic Performance at one of them. Eric is an Adjunct Professor in the Performing Arts and Social Justice program at the University of San Francisco, teaching Philippine Dance and Culture. Publications and film projects to preserve endangered traditions include a documentary on the Sagayan dance (Mindanao) and living cultures initiatives such as ACTA grants to archive Yakan music and more. Parangal became the first Philippine-identifying folk dance group to receive NEFA’s National Dance Project Product Grant (2022). In 2024, Eric was honored with President Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Outstanding Filipino Awards, recognizing his decades of service and commitment to preserving Philippine cultural arts.