Get to know Man@ng is Deity cast member, Dre 'Poko' Devis!

What is your immigration story?

I was born in Yelamu / San Francisco. My maternal lola was born in Zamboanga, Mindanao and raised in Bohol. My maternal lolo was from Ilokos Sur. She became a nurse and he was in the air force. They fell in love through letters. They started their family of five daughters and migrated to California.

What’s your favorite food?

My favorite vegan Filipino dishes are ampalaya with tomatoes and onions, vegetable sinigang, vegan lumpia and ginataan.

Tell us about your character and what you know about women during the Manong Generation.

My understanding of women during the Manong generation is that we were unseen, unheard, misunderstood, unequally valued, quieted and used for pleasure and fun. This understanding informs my character's fierceness, meaning if I must work at the taxi dance hall - I'm going to play my way. She feels resilient and powerful in her temptress ways. Resilient and powerful much like my Lola. I take after her, as she is a fierce matriarch.

Tell us about your background as a dancer, and your most memorable moment as a dancer.

My movement foundation is gymnastics and martial arts. I am trained in street style / freestyle dance. I was a core company member of Mix'd Ingrdnts for 2.5 years and I'm in my second going on third year as a core member of Embodiment Project. My most memorable/intense moment as a dancer was during an experimental battle last year where I tapped in so deeply that I have no memory of what I danced but I can recall the vibrational frequency in the space and all the beings in it.