Mari Dance to Restage ‘a dance in a day in a dance’ at Areté This May

Mari Dance to Restage ‘a dance in a day in a dance’ at Areté This May

Mari Dance will restage its full-length dance theater production, a dance in a day in a dance, from May 16 to May 31, 2026, at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté. The rerun follows the work’s premiere in October 2025 and marks a three-weekend engagement for the company.

Founded by choreographer JM Cabling and fellow artists Michael Que, Abbey Carlos, Sarah Samaniego, and Ricca Bautista, Mari Dance positions the piece as a reflection on the lived realities of dancers. It features unfiltered aspects of a dancer’s life, presenting narratives that include a choreographer confronting frustration, a performer fighting for a role, and artists navigating questions of identity, relationships, and creative voice within a competitive field.

Reprising their roles in the production are Al Garcia, Michael Barry Que, and Sarah Samaniego, with Janine Myrtel Arisola joining the cast for the May run. Arisola’s background includes work with Ballet Philippines and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines.

The production is co-presented by Areté in partnership with Guang Ming Dance Project, featuring choreography by Cabling. The creative team includes Mikko Angeles (direction), Wika Nadera (set design), Arvy Dimaculangan (sound design), Joyce Garcia (video projection design), and D Cortezano (lighting design). The show carries a PG-13 rating.

Cabling’s recent works include choreographing for Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s Mula sa Buwan, The Sandbox Collective’s Side Show, Scene Change’s Dagitab, Tanghalang Pilipino’s Kisapmata, and Newport World Resorts’ Bagets The Musical. He currently serves as associate choreographer for Theatre Group Asia’s upcoming production of A Chorus Line.

The ensemble includes dancers from Guang Ming College who were trained by Cabling and Mari Dance’s co-founders. They come from various regions of the Philippines and receive full scholarships for their training. The company notes that their experiences informed the development of the piece, particularly in its approach to pedagogy and collaboration. During its initial run in 2025, Mari Dance also facilitated sponsorships that enabled over 100 youth members from 10 dance troupes to attend performances.

The company describes the work as part of its broader aim to contribute to the growth of audiences for dance theater.

a dance in a day in a dance runs from May 16 to May 31, 2026, at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté, with 7:30 PM performances on Fridays and 2 PM and 7:30 PM performances on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets are priced at P2,500 for premium and P2,000 for regular, and may be purchased through Ticket2Me.