Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Wifi Body 5 IndepenDance and Gala

Last year, I got my first taste of the Wifi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival during its 4th edition. I got dragged into it when my friends decided to watch the IndepenDance performance and they decided to surprise me with it thinking that I would like it.

I did like it since it is always interesting to watch contemporary dance performances since I usually see more variety in it. And I've learned not to set any expectations since getting surprised by the performances is one of the main draws for me.

I managed to catch two main performances held at the CCP Little Theater in this year's 5th edition. I was also able to catch the opening of the photo exhibit by Paolo Bicones and a viewing of the video by Ruelo Lozendo. These were preceded by a short performance by the UP Dance Company of the Bach piano pieces they performed at Greenbelt 5 a week before.

The first show that I was able to watch was the IndepenDance which featured previous winners of the New Choreographers Competition. There were seven dance pieces performed and they were:

Walk with Me
Choreography: Ava Maureen Villanueva
Dancers: Elena Laniog, Vinia Pamplona-Peralta and Ava Maureen Villanueva

Fickle Minded
Choreography: Rhosam Prudenciado Jr.
Dancers: Joanne Cabrega and Rhosam Prudenciado Jr.

Untitled
Choreography: Zyda Marie Baaya
Dancers: Jairo Ibarrientos, Christian Love Valdez, Philip Sustrina, Gary Gomez, Maynard Baylon, Zyda Marie Abaya

Pasaiyo
Choreography: Johnny Amar
Dancers: Ava Maureen Villanueva, Alfred Jan Mercado, Rhosam Prudenciado Jr.

Hiyas
Choreography: Gerardo Francisco
Dancer: Kim Mendoza

Elpidio
Choreography: Gerardo Francisco
Dancer: Elpidio Magat

Amidst Wanderings
Choreography: Herbert Alvarez
Dancers: Rhosam Prudenciado Jr., Elena Laniog, Ava Maureen Villanueva

Sloth (seven deadly sins... a sequel)
Choreography: Christine Crame
Dancers: Seven Contemporary Dance Company, Kristoffer Legarde, Christian Love Valdez, Zyda Marie Baaya, Jairo Ibarrientos, Joel Garcia, Mark Lauron, Christine Crame.

The IndepenDance featured dances with sentimental themes which surprised me a bit. Even though I don't set many expectations, I somehow hoped that the pieces were a lot more varied. After this performance, the UP Dance Company performed some sort of dance improv based on children's games of years past at the CCP ramp.

I was then able to catch the Wifi Body Gala that was held on the last night of the festival. I liked this show a lot better since there was a greater deal of variety in music and in themes. Heck, there was even humor in a couple of dances, even in one that featured Chopin's waltzes!

The pieces performed were:

Gothic
Choreography: Christine Crame
Dancers: Seven Contemporary Dance Company, Christian Love Valdez, Zyda Marie Baaya and Christine Crame

T-zone
Choreography: PJ Rebullida
Dancers: Karla Javier and PJ Rebullida

Silhouettes
Choreography: Ma. Elena Laniog
Dancers: UP Dance Company, Nicole Primero, Chantal Primero, Angela Sebastian, Dina Magat, Sarah Maria Samaniego, Criezamor Pardito, Eunice Velasco, Janessa de Guzman, Chaya Barris and Angela Betina Carlos

Rey-sing
Choreography: Carissa Adea
Dancers: Richardson Yadao, Angel Gabriel, Emmanuel Guillermo, Marvin Arizo, Ej Arisola

Loro
Choreography: Raul Alcoseba
Dancers: UP Dance Company, Al Bernard Garcia, Erl Emmanuel Sorilla, Jm Cabling, Dina Magat, Sarah Samaniego and Angela Sebastian

Bliss
Choreography and Performance: Julie Alagde

Transient
Choreography: Mia Cabalfin
Dancers: Airdance, Ava Maureen Villanueva, Rhosam Prudenciado Jr., Vinia Pamplona-Peralta, Joanne Cabrega, Carlo Valderama, Melvin Apostol, Alfred Jan Mercado and Anna Agawa

Excerpt from Sayaw Sabel
Choreography: Agnes Locsin
Dancer: Christine Crame

Waltzes
Choreography and Performance: Ma. Elena O. Laniog and Ava Maureen Villanueva

Mr. Morales wants to say
Choreography: Paul Alexander Morales

Impossible
Choreography: Myra Beltran
Dancers: Reagan Cornelio and Myra Beltran

Also performed were the winners of this year's edition of the New Choreographers Competition which I missed. The winning pieces performed were Kulambo by Frederick Fernandez which won 2nd place and Due Date by Alfred Jan Mercado which won 1st place and also the Audience Choice Award.

The most memorable number in here was Bliss and it was absolutely jaw dropping. Such extension and control was shown in this performance which drew the loudest applause from the audience.

And after the Wifi Gala, the people flocked to the CCP Main Theater Lobby for a performance of the Polecats which was wildly cheered by the people who decided to stay on. Overall, this year's edition is a bit trimmed down compared to last year which is a shame. I hope that I'd be able to catch this festival again during it's 6th staging.

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