title: Alvin Erasga Tolentino
text: # Alvin Erasga Tolentino
  
  Alvin Erasga Tolentino is a Filipino Canadian choreographer and dance artist, and the founding Artistic Director of Vancouver, British Columbia's Co.ERASGA Dance.
  
  ## Early life and education
  
  Tolentino was born in Manila, Philippines. He studied with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, at York University in Toronto and at the SUNY Purchase and Limon Institute.
  
  ## Career
  
  Tolentino worked with several dance companies, including EDAM, Lola Dance, Mascall Dance, Kinesis Dance, Kokoro Dance and Karen Jamieson Dance.
  
  In 2000, Tolentino founded Co.ERASGA Dance. As its artistic director, he has choreographed several major works for this company, including SOLA, BATO/stone, MINORI, VOLT, FIELD, SHE SAID, OrienTik/Portrait, BODYGlass, (with Peter Chin), PARADIS/PARADISE, ADAMEVE-Man/Woman, Shadow Machine and 2011's EXpose, (with Martin Inthamoussú,) some of which toured internationally.
  
  Tolentino's work SOLA has been choreographed for film and was a recipient of two 2001 BC Leo Awards, and awarded the Grand Prix Video International competition for UNESCO in Paris in 2002.
  
  In 2010 Tolentino was awarded the Vancouver Mayor's Arts Award for dance in recognition of his contribution to the city's culture.
  
  In 2012, Tolentino choreographed and performed a solo piece, Colonial In 2015 he collaborated with Thailand's Pichet Klunchun on a piece entitled Unwrapping Culture.
  
  