Maritess De Ocampo

'Brown Madonna' choreographed and performed by Ea Torrado | Photo by Jhay Em Nacion

Article (news)

Ea Torrado  (Brown Madonna)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786638098948Brown Madonna Thumbnail.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>&#x27;Brown Madonna&#x27; choreographed and performed by Ea Torrado | Photo by Jhay Em Nacion </em></span></span></span></div><p>After performances in Germany, Filipino choreographer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eatorrado/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ea Torrado</a> is bringing Brown Madonna home for its Philippine premiere.</p><p>The full-length contemporary dance theatre work will be presented on August 15 and 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Myra Beltran Dance Forum Studio in Quezon City. The performances form the centerpiece of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/daloydancecompany/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daloy Dance Company’s</a> 12th anniversary celebration, which will also serve as a fundraiser for the company’s participation in the 2026 Yeosu World Island Exhibition in South Korea this September.</p><p>Following its performances in Germany, Brown Madonna finally comes home for its Philippine premiere. Created and performed by Ea Torrado, the full-length contemporary dance theatre work explores Filipina identity, Catholic iconography, labor, class, pop culture, and queer sensuality through an intimate and visually striking performance.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786638326690BM 7.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong>Seven Years in the Making</strong></div><p>Created and performed by Torrado, Brown Madonna was developed over seven years through research, performance, collaboration, and embodied practice.</p><p>The work was originally commissioned and premiered at the Sincerely Yours, The Philippines Festival at Mousonturm, Frankfurt in Germany in 2025. It returned to Europe in June 2026 for performances at Theaterformen Festival in Braunschweig, Sophiensæle Berlin, and SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin, along with other public presentations.</p><p>Through its encounters with new audiences, conversations, and performance contexts, the work continued to evolve. It was also recently featured in the German dance magazine tanz, which described it as an exploration of labor, Catholicism, colonialism, race, and survival.</p><p>Part ritual and part spectacle, Brown Madonna traverses Filipina identity, motherhood, labor, class memory, Catholic iconography, and pop culture. It refuses singular notions of beauty, holiness, or womanhood and instead proposes a body that can be contradictory, excessive, grieving, ecstatic, political, erotic, exhausted, and divine all at once.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786638402670BM 2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong>Reimagining Two Feminine Figures</strong></div><p>In Brown Madonna, Torrado reimagines two feminine figures that have profoundly shaped Filipino consciousness: Mama Mary and global pop icon Madonna.</p><p>Rather than presenting them as opposites, the work allows the two figures to merge into the Brown Madonna, who shifts between saint, mother, diva, laborer, fiesta queen, drag figure, and survivor.</p><p>At its emotional core, the work is also deeply autobiographical. Inspired by Torrado’s mother and grandmother, both hardworking Marian devotees, Brown Madonna examines how faith, care, sacrifice, labor, and inherited femininity are passed from one generation to another.</p><p>The performance becomes both an act of remembrance and an invitation to imagine new possibilities for Filipina womanhood.</p><p>The production features costume design by internationally acclaimed Filipino artist Leeroy New, with Arvie Santos as associate costume designer. Internationally renowned choreographer Eisa Jocson serves as dramaturg.</p><p>Beyond its autobiographical elements, Brown Madonna functions as an embodied archive that brings together colonial history, working-class resilience, Catholic devotion, spectacle, humor, performance art, and contemporary dance in a singular theatrical experience.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786638444912BM 3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong>A Homecoming and a Fundraiser</strong></div><p>The anniversary program will open with two world-premiere ensemble works highlighting the next generation of Daloy Dance Company’s choreographic voices.</p><p>“The evening will also feature two new ensemble works by Daloy Dance Company: Add to Cart by Jan Lloyd Celecio and In a Box Full of Walls by Pat Valerio, Kaye Salcedo, and Iya Desamero. As we celebrate 12 years of Daloy Dance Company, these performances also serve as a fundraiser to support the company’s participation in the 2026 Yeosu World Island Exhibition in South Korea, where Daloy has been invited to represent the Philippines this September,” Torrado says.</p><p>Together, the two new works frame Brown Madonna within Daloy’s continuing commitment to developing emerging Filipino choreographers alongside its internationally touring repertory.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786638491793BM 1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong>About Daloy Dance Company</strong></div><p>Founded by Torrado in 2014, Daloy Dance Company is an award-winning contemporary dance theatre company based in Quezon City. Its original performance works bring together contemporary dance, theatre, ritual, performance art, and Filipino cultural narratives in immersive and socially engaged experiences.</p><p>The company explores identity, memory, spirituality, gender, labor, ecology, and community through an interdisciplinary approach that values both artistic excellence and accessibility. Its performances have been created for theatres, museums, galleries, heritage sites, public spaces, festivals, corporate events, and international cultural exchanges.</p><p>Daloy also supports artist development through scholarships, apprenticeships, workshops, mentorship, and choreographic incubation. It nurtures emerging dancers and choreographers while creating opportunities for Filipino artists to engage with international audiences.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:957.995px;display:block" width="957.995"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786638537493BM 8.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:957.995px;height:auto" width="957.995"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>After-show photo from Brown Madonna with Ea Torrado, members of the current pool of Daloy Dance Company dancers, costume design associate Arvie Santos from Leeroy New&#x27;s team, and rehearsal mistress Julienne Depatillo</em></span></span></span></div><p>The company’s work has been presented in Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and across the Philippines. Daloy has collaborated with cultural institutions and organizations including the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Goethe-Institut Philippinen, Japan Foundation Manila, Ayala Museum, Vargas Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Samsung Performing Arts Theater, WhyNot MNL, and international festivals and presenting organizations.</p><p>Outside the arts sector, Daloy has created performances for brands and institutions including Dior, Bvlgari, Charriole, Vogue Philippines, Miss Universe Philippines, Metrobank, Nestlé, Shell, Unilab, H&amp;M, and Grand Hyatt Manila.</p><p>Through its work, Daloy continues to develop original Filipino contemporary dance theatre while building sustainable pathways for independent dance artists in the Philippines.</p><div><em>Brown Madonna&#x27;s Philippine Premiere is happening on August 15 and 16, 2026, 6:00 PM at Myra Beltran Dance Forum Studio, 36 West Avenue, Quezon City. Buy your tickets are through </em><a href="https://ticket2me.net/DaloyDancePH?fbclid=IwY2xjawTq0jpwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTNhS05tcU5HZ2R5UXhTY2FzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe8Rn3yb3WLxHtuiZHxD70cT7W8cOtIZtE7zOxfJQrauNUkn7b0qyp6hA5wQE_aem_ygQ68efKE5386PjOuu0S3Q&amp;queueittoken=e_t2meprod~q_00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000~ts_1786639264~ce_true~rt_disabled~h_228e4186b03f01d7c7fa6080dfd4582945cfe13779ea5554b9359cf2064612af" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Ticket2Me</em></a><em>. To know more about Daloy Dance Company, visit the website<a href="https://www.daloydancecompany.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> here</a>.</em></div><div><em>Photos by Jhay Em Nacion.</em></div>

<p>Presented as the centerpiece of Daloy Dance Company’s 12th anniversary celebration, the full-length contemporary dance theater work will be staged alongside two new ensemble pieces on August 15 and 16 in Quezon City.</p>

Presented as the centerpiece of Daloy Dance Company’s 12th anniversary celebration, the full-length contemporary dance theater work will be staged alongside two new ensemble pieces on August 15 and 16 in Quezon City.

Ea Torrado’s ‘Brown Madonna’ comes home for its Philippine premiere

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

Ea Torrado’s ‘Brown Madonna’ comes home for its Philippine premiere

Mawi Fojas De Ocampo

Published August 14, 2026 12:40 AM PHT

Read More:

Brown Madonna

Daloy Dance Company

Ea Torrado

Philippine Contemporary Dance

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.