RP Celebrates International Dance Day thru Dance Xchange

Philippine dance troupes, together with international dance groups, celebrated the International Dance Day with seminars, workshops, and cultural presentations during the Dance Xchange: 1st Philippine International Dance Workshop and Festival held last April 28 – May 1, 2009 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the annual national dance congress aims to provide a venue for interaction and to facilitate learning among dancers, directors, choreographers as well as t tourism and cultural officers. The event is designed to provide new ideas and inspiration to encourage creativity of dance educators, directors, and choreographers.

Dance Xchange is also intended to showcase the unique dances of each country to promote cultural understanding and to strengthen network among dance organizations and diplomatic relations of the participating countries.

International delegations included Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Dance Troupe, the Dance Academy of Kuching Malaysia, Persadaku Seni Dancers of Singapore, Spanish Dance Troupe, Chinese Dance Company, Beijing Dance Academy, Japanese Dancers, Aswara Dancers of Malaysia, Korea, and Macau Dancers.

Local performing groups also joined the celebration, which included the Philippine National Folkdance Company (Bayanihan) Leyte Dance Theater, Philippine National University Kislap ng Sining Dance Troupe, Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe, Sinukwan Performing Arts, Douglas Nierras Powerdance, Halili-Cruz Dance Company, ADS Performing Arts, University of San Carlos Dance Troupe, Helobung Community Dance Troupe, Inc., Bohol Punta Cruz Cultural Collective, Kahayag of South Cotabato, Professional Dance Teachers Association, Hwa Yi Ethnic Dance Troupe, Jambangan Dance Troupe, Sinanduloy Dance Troupe, and MEV Dance Troupe.

For more information about the event, contact the NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) at (632) 527-5529, 527-2192 loc. 508, 612 to 615, email at ncca.paio@gmail.com, public_affairs@ncca.gov.ph or visit their website www.ncca.gov.ph

UP Centennial Artists Held “Festival” Exhibit

The distinguished University of the Philippines (UP) Centennial Artists group held a painting exhibition at the Trade Hall of the Gateway Mall at the Araneta Center in Quezon City last April 23 to June 5, 2009.

Entitled “Festival”, the exhibit had for its theme the various festivities all over the country, given the Filipinos’ innate love for celebrations, and showcased the works of several outstanding UP alumni painters.

“Festival” is their first exhibition 2009 and fourth in a series since the UP Centennial Artists were formed as a group in June 2008, during the year-long celebration of the University of the Philippines’ one hundredth year anniversary. The series began with highly successful “100 Years/100 Nudes” in August, followed by a multi-themed exhibit in November, and climaxed with a “Mother and Child” exhibition last December 18, 2008 at the Trade Hall of the Gateway Mall.

The continuing series is organized by UP Centennial Artist Romy Carlos as a project of the UP Alumni Association in cooperation with fellow-UP alumnus, Mr. Jorge Araneta, proprietor of the Araneta Center in Quezon City.

Participating artists were: National Artist Jose Joya, Jess Abrera, Mar Bongalon, Angel Cacnio, Ferdie Cacnio, Michael Cacnio, Alfred Capiral, Romy Carlos, Carlos Castro, Cris Cruz, Denis Dasco, Raul Dayao, Neil Doloricon, Bert Duldulao, Tessie Duldulao, Nonoy Gamboa, Ding Hidalgo, Pete Jimenez, Aileen Lanuza, Herman Lazo, Bing Changco-Libatique, Manolo Lozada, Romi Mananquil, Norlito Miemban, Gig De Pio, Symkin De Pio, Vincent De Pio, Myrna Reyes, Tito Roy, Jonahmar Salvosa, Pyt Santos, Lenore Raquel-Santos, Nanding Sena, Randy Solon, Boy Valino, Ana Vergel and Rick De Villa.

For more information about the event, contact the UP Alumni Association at (632) 929-8327, 920-6868, 920-6871, email upalum@yahoo.com.ph, info@upalumni.ph or visit their website at http://www.upalumni.ph/.