A New Generation of Filipino Contemporary Dance Emerges in “Bagong Sayaw” this September 10-18

A New Generation of Filipino Contemporary Dance Emerges in “Bagong Sayaw” this September 10-18

Six brave choreographers are set to push the boundaries of dance with the young dancers of Ballet Philippines II this September with “Bagong Sayaw”, to be staged at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater).

Translated as “new dance”, this production celebrates just that – the emergence of fresh ideas expressed in various choreographic forms. The choreographers featured in this production are Al Bernard Garcia, Erl Sorilla, Gia Gequinto, Bonifacio Guerrero Jr., Danilo Dayo Jr., and John Ababon.

“’Bagong Sayaw’ is a venue for us to give our young dancers and choreographers the necessary challenges and for them to be able to grow as artists,” says Ballet Philippines artistic director Paul Alexander Morales. “They say that experience is the best teacher, but more than that, we also think it’s important to let their voices be heard.”

Taking the stage for this production are the dancers of Ballet Philippines II, BP’s junior performing company. It is composed of the most outstanding apprentices and scholars of the company and the Ballet Philippines Dance School. Through various performance opportunities, the dancers not only develop their talents in performance and choreography, but they ultimately help fulfill BP’s commitment to the development of the youth and of dance in the country.

 

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHERS

Al Bernard Garcia has been making waves in the Philippine contemporary dance scene as an independent dance artist, teacher, choreographer, and performer. He won First Prize at the 2012 Wi-fi Contemporary Dance Festival New Choreographers’ Competition held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and featured the winning piece at the Yokohama Dance Collection EX Showcase in 2013.

Erl Sorilla is steadily earning recognition as one of today’s most exciting young choreographers. At the 1st CCP National Ballet Competition in 2014, he won the Trudl Dubsky award for his choreography entitled “Dolores”, and was nominated for Outstanding Choreography for a Dance Production for “Requiem to a Cygnet” at the 2015 Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards.

Company member Gia Gequinto regularly choreographs for the Ballet Philippines Dance School’s recitals and Ballet Philippines 2’s productions. She is coming into her own as a choreographer, having premiered her first work for the company in 2014 for “The Art of Dance”, and being chosen as one of the choreographers for the dance film, “Where the Light Settles”.

Bonifacio Guerrero Jr. was a finalist at the 7th Wifi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival in 2014. He has choreographed several contemporary pieces for Ballet Philippines II such as “Maniera” for International Dance Day 2015, and “Dance in You” for “Hugot sa Rosas”. His first full-length work as a director and choreographer, “Bai Bankeul (The Obstinate Princess)”, pays tribute to his Southern Philippine roots, interlocked with the dance influence of his years of training with Ballet Philippines.

Danilo Dayo Jr., a newly promoted company member of Ballet Philippines, is also an aspiring young choreographer. He choreographed “Torpe” for “Hugot sa Rosas”, and has also choreographed twice for “The Young Choreographers and Dancers Showcase”, restaging an excerpt from his thesis, “Déjà vu” in 2015, and premiering “Belle Donne” and “Monay” in 2016.

Newly promoted company member John Ababon has been honing his knack for choreography by creating pieces for Ballet Philippines II. He premiered “Padayon” for “Hugot sa Rosas” in Ballet Philippines’ 46th Season, and “Prelude to Partita”, “The Way We Were”, and “Malibay Wonderland” at the 2015 “Young Choreographers’ Showcase”.

Show Details

“Bagong Sayaw” will be staged at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater) from September 10 & 17 at 6:00PM and September 11 & 18 at 3:00PM. Tickets are priced at Php 600, with discounts for students, senior citizens, and government employees.

For more details about what’s happening in the Manila theater scene, please view our Theater Calendar.