ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA — In a city where tradition is treasured, the next generation is learning to move with the rhythm of their ancestors. The School of Living Traditions Dance Class is a free cultural program under the Angeles City Government, designed to teach traditional indigenous dances, discipline, and cultural heritage to young residents. And at its helm is a name synonymous with Kapampangan arts and youth empowerment.
The Cultural Master Leading the Dance
The Dance phase of the SLT is guided by Peter De Vera, a recognized cultural master and the artistic director of Sinukwan Kapampangan . De Vera is no stranger to using the arts as a tool for transformation—he founded Bale-Balayan, a museum and music-and-dance training center in Barangay Santa Teresita that caters to less fortunate youth, with a mission to "transform youth through the arts" . His work has touched hundreds of young lives, with at least 80 of his former students graduating and building successful careers. For the SLT Dance class, De Vera brings decades of experience—and a deep commitment to passing on the fire of Kapampangan cultural heritage to a new generation of performers and culture-bearers.
The Program That Preserves Heritage and Why This Matters
The SLT is more than a dance class—it is a comprehensive effort to preserve Kapampangan culture. Launched in September 2026, the program's first 15 participants completed seven learning sessions covering parol-making, Kulitan script, sisig cooking, and Kapampangan folk dances, with the Dance phase being one of four learning tracks alongside Parol-making, Kulitan and Calligraphy, and Sisig . The initiative is led by the Angeles City Tourism Office, headed by Louie Lazatin, under the support of Mayor Carmelo "Jon" B. Lazatin II, reflecting the city government's strong commitment to cultural preservation and youth development. For young Angeleños, the SLT offers more than free lessons—it offers a connection to their roots, a chance to learn the dances, scripts, and crafts that have defined Kapampangan identity for generations. And for the city, it is an investment in the future: a way to ensure that the traditions of the past are not just remembered, but lived. To Peter De Vera, the cultural masters, and the Angeles City Tourism Office: this is what heritage preservation looks like in action. To the youth of Angeles City: the opportunity is free. The culture is yours. Come and claim it.
