Vlad Bunoan

Circuit Makati hosts International Day of Dance Festival

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

MANILA — Move over, Timothée Chalamet. While the Hollywood star has inadvertently turned ballet into a trending topic, the Philippines is ready to showcase the real deal. The International Dance Day Festival returns for its third year from April 22 to 25, bringing world-class grace to Circuit Makati’s Samsung Performing Arts Theater.“Year after year, we’ve been trying to really elevate and make the International Dance Day Festival a true flagship and signature event for us at Ayala Land,” said Samsung Performing Arts Theater managing director and Ayala Land arts and culture manager Christopher Mohnani.“Last year, there were 1,200 artists who participated in a span of five days. This year will even be more exciting as we once again gather passionate artists and communities to one meaningful platform where people from different backgrounds come together through a shared love for dance. In many ways, that evolution really mirrors the journey of Circuit Makati itself.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776386322523IMG_3442.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-dragging" width="960"/>Ballet Manila dancers perform “Paquita” pas des deux</div>“We’ve always envisioned Circuit Makati to be more than just a destination,&quot; he continued. &quot;Today, we’re seeing it come to life as a center for arts and culture, a space where creativity is not only showcased but continuously nurtured and elevated. To make sure that dance can be really inspiring and will allow a lot of people, especially the Timothee Chalamets around, to realize that dance remains relevant to this day.”Makati continues to strengthen its position as a vibrant cultural destination as the International Dance Day Fest returns bringing together artists, communities and audiences in a celebration of dance as a universal language.Established in 1982 by the International Theatre Institute, International Dance Day is celebrated every April 29 in honor of Jean-Georges Noverre, widely regarded as the father of modern ballet.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776386359983IMG_3451.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>High energy street dance from Mixed Nuts.</div>Mohnani noted that after three years of staging International Dance Day Fest, they have not changed the formula in mounting the event. “I am grateful, humbled and honored that I have fabulous curators who worked with me,” he said. “Myra [Beltran] is curating the contemporary gala. Ronnie [Mirabuena] is curating the folk dance gala.“I’m really very thankful that collaboration is something that’s ingrained in us in Ayala Land. We always want to make sure that we include everybody. One’s success is everybody’s success. That’s our process.”The occasion serves as a reminder that dance transcends borders, cultures and language – connecting people through shared expression of dancers, choreographers and artistic directors.The opening gala of International Dance Day Fest on April 22 kicks off this year’s festival performance featuring Thomas Forster and Christine Shevchenko, the principal dancers of the American Ballet Theater’s Studio Company.“It is a privilege to welcome internationally renowned artists to our stage and equally meaningful to see Filipino dancers share the same platform where we can showcase the discipline and artistry of local talent alongside the best in the world,” said Mohnani. The folk dance gala follows on April 23 and the line-up will include the Bayanihan National Folk Dance Company, Philippine Normal University Kislap Sining Dance Troupe, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild, Kaloob Philippine Music and Dance Ministry; UP Filipiniana, Alun Alun Dance Circle with the Marikina Dance Guild, Likhang Sining Dance Company, the Sining Tanglawan of the San Jose Del Monte Performing Group and the Perpetual Sanlahi Pangkat Mananayaw from Perpetual Help System Dalta in Las Piñas.April 24 will feature Unrvld, W3, Mixed Nuts, and Eleven11, bringing the most dynamic crews and performers in the local scene.The ballet gala on April 25 brings together for the first time all four professional ballet companies in the Philippines in one stage – Ballet Manila, Philippine Ballet Theater, Ballet Philippines, and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines and two academy schools represented – Steps Dance Studio and the Association of Ballet Academies in the Philippines.Artists from the Royal Ballet, Tokyo Ballet and The Australian Ballet are set to fly to Manila as special guests.To end the International Dance Day Fest on April 26 is the contemporary gala with Hiraya, Galaw Company, Galaw Ko Dance Theater, Air Dance, Daloy Dance Company, UP Dance Company, Dance Forum, Rosan Potenciano, Benilde Experimental Dance and the Far Eastern University Dance Company.“The festival also spotlights para-dance, an inclusive form of dance that integrates dancers with disability, allowing them to experience the joy of movement. Dance is a universal language, it’s evocative and necessary in our cultural heritage,” said event host Yanah Laurel-Siguion Reyna.“It is important to keep dance alive with our world-class talents here in the Philippines who need to be championed.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776386560962IMG_3444.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Hiraya Contemporary Dance Company perform “Sowing,” an excerpt from “Animal: Anihan ng Malay.”</div>They will also have programs like open dance fitness classes, “reminding us that while dance can be world class, it is something for everyone,” said Mohnani.As part of its expanded education and outreach program, the festival will host a public lecture-demonstration and workshop on April 21 at 2 p.m., led by Sascha Radetsky of the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, for public school students in the Circuit and Makati areas.Joining Mohnani in the International Dance Day Fest are founder and director of Steps Dance Studio Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, chief culture and arts officer, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Arts and Education Department and Philippine Folk Dance Society Ronnie Mirabuena, dance artist-choreographer and founder of Myrabel Dance Forum Myra Beltran and project development manager at Ayala Land Misha Quimpo.After three years, International Dance Day Fest is creating a strong identity in the arts and Ayala Land has consistently supported cultural initiatives that position Makati as a cultural and lifestyle destination.“We really make this a place where the goal is inspiration in the air,” said Quimpo. “In Makati, we really want to pioneer change. Events like this really does something. Not just to the community but also to the artists and creatives who participate. We always remind ourselves that our goal is performing arts is one, visual arts is something that is also coming up. A new museum is also opening this November.”Quimpo announced that the retail row where the Blackbox Theater is located will soon be renovated and there will be some spaces given to artists. “We really want to pioneer change. We want to show that we are not just karaoke people. We have a whole gamut of talents to showcase. We are a venue and a space where change happens.”<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776386427822IMG_3440.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>From left: Ronnie Mirabuena, chief culture and arts officer, CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) Arts and Education Department and Philippine Folk Dance Society; Misha Quimpo, Ayala Land Project Development Manager for Makati; Myra Beltran, dance artist, choreographer and founder of Myra Beltran’s Dance Forum; Sofia Zobel Elizalde, Steps Dance Studio founder and director; and Chris Mohnani, Samsung Performing Arts Theater managing director and Circuit Makati arts and culture manager</div>As part of its cultural exchange initiatives, the International Dance Day Festival has partnered with the Gerald Arpino Foundation to stage excerpts from two of Arpino’s works, to be taught by répétiteur Christine Rocas, with participation from Steps Dance Studio and the Association of Ballet Academies in the Philippines.“Personally, I’ve been exposed to contemporary and classical world, but to see what happened last year, the energy and dancers coming together from different companies, folk dance, street dance, I think it’s incredibly important that we are exposed to all kinds of dance from other parts of the world and internationally,” said Zobel-Elizalde. “It’s also important to see what’s going on in other parts of the world and international dancers come here to see what we’re doing. International dance brings all dances together. We learn from one another, especially choreography. Choreographers here will agree that it gives us a chance to be exposed to them. They also see what we’re doing.“It’s just a beautiful exchange coming together and being close to one another. It’s a big learning for everybody. It gives young students a chance to see international dance companies come here and some of them have the chance to travel. We are seeing dancers from New Zealand and Tokyo. It’s a real trade. I find International Dance Day Fest is a very exciting week for people who love dance.”Zobel-Elizalde announced that Thomas Forster and Christine Shevchenko are doing the balcony scene of “Romeo and Juliet” from Kenneth MacMillan on April 22, as well as the grand pas des deux of “The Nutcracker,” by Alexei Ratmansky.“We don’t get to see the works of these international dance companies often and we are also exposed to these world-famous choreographers, so all of that make this festival very, very special,” Zobel-Elizalde said.She calls it fortunate that Steps Dance Studio was chosen to be taught by Rocas, a former principal dancer of Joffrey Ballet, to do a piece by Arpino. “They stepped up to this opportunity, a very special collaboration,” said Zobel-Elizalde.“We give opportunities to students to learn pieces from world-renowned choreographers. It’s all about exposure, learning, education and coming together of artists to celebrate dance.”

Dance will take the spotlight in Circuit Makati as the third International Dance Day Festival kicks off April 22 and runs through April 25 at Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

Dance will take the spotlight in Circuit Makati as the third International Dance Day Festival kicks off April 22 and runs through April 25 at Samsung Performing Arts Theater.