#DANCEMNL

#DanceMNL audience

Never before has Philippine dance gotten a boost until #DanceMla came along.

jampacked CCP Lobby

For once,  the top three  dance companies in the country decided to pool their resources together and conduct a week-long event involving the art. The three Artistic Directors Ronilo Jaynario of Philippine Ballet Theater, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde of Ballet Manila and Paul Morales of Ballet Philippines got together to plan this collaboration featuring the greatest artists of this generation as far as classical ballet and contemporary dance is concerned.

Ballet Manila Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

Master classes in dance technique, lectures, round table discussions on the future of dance as a profession and art form were devised to prepare the younger dance students for a career... a lifetime of dance. Dance professionals, educators, company members, choreographers and pioneers in Philippine dance were invited to ensure #DANCEMNL's success. Some dance schools with exceptional students also performed for the gala evening headed by the Halili Cruz School of Ballet, Acts Manila, Dwight Rodrigazo's school and Malu Rivera- People's Westlake School of Dance in Daly City, USA.

Me with PBT Artistic Director Ronilo Jaynario

The gamble paid off, I would think. #DANCEMNL attracted a huge turnout judging from the attendance of the Gala performance dubbed as The Winner's Circle.  Filipino dance artists who have won awards in dance competitions abroad and who are now performing in foreign companies had a home-coming specially for this show. 

Me, Robert Medina, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

The evening proved to be a re-union of sorts also for the past generation of dancers from the three companies as well as the "greats and the near-greats" of ballet. So prior to the performance, there were pockets of performing artists happy to see each other and gathering for groupies and reminiscing the good old days.

Me with Augustus Damian III

The Winner's Circle Gala was a spectacle of more than two hours with a combined repertoire of classical and contemporary pieces. Among the stand outs were: 

Jasmine Cruz's Kitri variation from Don Quixote. Her performance elicited applause from an appreciative audience. Her turns were sharp and her endings were spot-on. This little firecracker from Malu-Rivera-Peoples' school can probably do pirouettes on a saucer if you ask her to. She's daring and flirty and her cambres are a source of envy for the students in the audience.

Rench Isaac Soriano.  This unassuming lad from Bacolod who danced Colas' variation from La Fille Mal Gardee did a clean performance. Dwight Rodrigazo's ward was perfect for the variation. All of fifteen years with a face that brings out the maternal instinct in everyone, his jumps were done well  and his endings were solid.

Monica Gana and Victor Maguad. They did the pas de deux and variations from Esmeralda. I guess it helped that Monica just arrived fresh from the Helsinki Ballet Competitons with Gary Corpuz (who performed earlierin the evening with Denis Parungao). I noticed a renewed confidence in her performance. This is interesting because apart from the fact that her technique has improved even more, she now, obviously is enjoying her performance. she just oozes confidence in her balances and turns. Her patner, Victor once again amazes us with his aerials. his tours enl'air and jetes en tournant were amazingly high amd his turns left nothing to be desired.

Front row: Edna Vida Froilan, Perry Sevidal, Cecile Sicangco-Ibarrola, Gener Caringal
Back row: Butch Esperanza, Ramon Victoria, Brando  Miranda, Robert Medina

I could go on and on reviewing each piece but I have to praise eachand  everyone in the production. The ensemble pieces by Halili-Cruz, Ballet Manila's Amid Shadows, the modern and classical variations just elevated the standards of dance in the country. Tiffany Chiang, Regina Magbitang, Jemima Reyes, Rita Winder, Gerald Francisco, Cyril Fallar. Rudy de Dios were the ever-reliables. They weren't boring! You just knew what to expect from them. Christine Rocas, Jared Tan and JM Cordero and Candice Adea, I think, deserve their status in the ballet firmament. 

The next gathering is slated after three years. I can only wait with bated breath...