From classical ballet to folk dance, from pole dance to a dance fitness routine fusing Latin and hip-hop – the extensive variety of dance and movement will be on full display at the local celebration of International Dance Day on April 29.
Ballet Manila, in cooperation with Manila Broadcasting Company and Aliw Theater, and in partnership with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is hosting the celebration – dubbed the 2nd BM NCCA IDD Dance Festival – at Aliw Theater in Pasay City.
The festival features dance schools and companies in a day filled with performances and activities.
Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and co-artistic director Osias Barroso, the festival directors, enjoin the public to take this rare opportunity to see these performances which are all offered for free.
The festival’s first segment, set from 3 to 4:30 p.m., showcases BULSU Dance Troupe, Dance Theater Arts, Hampton Court Ballet, Pink Toes, Lahing Kayumanggi, Mananayaw ng Marikina, The Dance Conservatory of TDC Pampanga, Team Dance Studio, and the UP Dance Company.
The second segment, at 5 to 6:30 p.m., features ACTS Manila, Ballet Baguio, Danspace Manila, Halili Cruz School of Ballet, IDMM Ballet School, UST Salinggawi, LPU Dance Troupe and the PNU Balingsasayaw.
There is also a Gala at 7 p.m. which will highlight Anova Difino, Airdance, Daloy Dance Company, Ballet Manila, Ballet Philippines, Katutubo Exchange Philippines Performing Group, Korean Cultural Center, Le Bran, Philippine Ballet Theater, Polecats Manila, Sinag Lahi Dance Troupe and Yih Shian Folk Ballet.
Introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Council (CID, Conseil International de la Danse), a UNESCO partner NGO, the International Dance Day aims “to celebrate Dance, to revel in the universality of this art form, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together with a common language – Dance.”
The 2nd BM-NCCA IDD Festival serves as the NCR leg of the nationwide celebration of National Dance Week (April 24 to 30) spearheaded by the NCCA. Billed as Yugyugan Para sa Kultura ng Bayan with the theme “Pagkakaisa para sa Kapayapaan,” the event is a nationwide dance rally calling for cultural heritage preservation and peace and unity.
The highlight of Yugyugan will be the simultaneous dance performance to NCCA’s Sagisag Kultura at exactly 6 p.m. on April 29. Event partners in different parts of the country such as local government units, art organizations, schools and communities are set to participate in this synchronized dancing.
For inquiries about the 2nd BM NCCA IDD Dance Festival, call Ballet Manila at 400-0292 or 525-5967.