Twelve new works by emerging choreographers from Baguio, Bicol, Butuan, Iloilo, Romblon, Samar, and Metro Manila will compete in WifiBody PH, a choreography competition for contemporary dance, on October 15, at the CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute.
The works, which will be presented in two sets (Set A at 2pm and Set B at 4:30pm), offer fresh perspectives on gender, media, and relationships with the self, the other, and objects, by new voices yet to be heard in the dance scene.
This year’s finalists are:
Aaliyah Princess Soberano, 17, is a student from Libertad National High School of Butuan City, and a product of Special Program in the Arts major in Dance. Her entry, entitled Posporo or Matches, embodies a match under friction, with movements inspired by dying match stick.
Andrei Carlo S. Simangca, 18, is a fresh graduate of Libertad National High School. He is a performer, a choreographer, an instrumentalist, a musician, and an artist. His entry is Singhot, a metaphor of sweat as an exhibit of struggles wherein we find discomfort yet these are usual to life.
Dariel Acosta Endencia, 20, is a sophomore at Caraga State University taking up Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. He has created several contemporary pieces focusing in spreading information through dance and acknowledging technology. Spy Wednesday, Dariel’s entry, is a symbolic way of showing love – intimate or platonic.
Erica Patoc, 22, is a dance major from Camarines Sur, Bicol, and a fourth-year student at Guang Ming College in Tagaytay City. Santigwar, her entry, is one way to introduce and re-introduce our culture and beliefs to those who believe, don’t believe, and disbelieve.
Jai Nacionales is from Calbayog Samar and a former scholar and fresh graduate of Guang Ming College with a Performing Arts Degree major in Dance. Her entry Normal Temperature works on the concept of translating the body’s state of vulnerability and resilience in the threshold of crisis.
Jansen “Chino” Tentia So teaches contemporary dance and choreographs at the Claravall-Gonzales School of Classical Ballet in its schedule of recitals and performances. His entry, Long Ride, utilizes a trainer bike to develop and innovate space and dynamics given the stationary/static position.
Kamille Bautista is currently a senior at the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) taking up a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts, majoring in Dance. Her piece Pumu-’kaw is about the feeling dancers possess when actions come easier than words.
Lloyd Labanon Pilapil, 22, is from the municipality of Tigaon, Camarines Sur. He is a fourth year scholar of Guang Ming College Tagaytay taking up Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance. His piece Man-nequin serves as a self-expression and a campaign at the same time that aims to break the stigma about “femboys”.
Mary Evangeline Recto is a dance artist from Romblon, Philippines, and a scholar of Guang Ming College (GMC) graduated Cum Laude in Dance. She garnered her Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at Nanhua University, Taiwan. Her entry With |n| Me was initiated by the restriction that forces the body to move in unconventional ways.
Railey Clark B. Baring, 17, is a Grade 12 student of Libertad National High School, Butuan City. He has choreographed different contemporary dances performed and showcased in regional and local events. His entry Nagluno, is a Visayan word for molting, was inspired by his pet spider.
Chad Galang established his own dance company, Hiraya, in 2017. He is also the current Dance Coach of UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe Cheer. His piece, Faceless, explores the juxtaposition of people’s best and worst use of cyberspace.
Sherwin Santiago is an ardent cultural advocate, a peculiar movement artist, and the incumbent dance trainer and choreographer of Saint Louis University since 2017. His entry, Wiyawi, a Kalinga term for lullabye, is a dance piece that epitomizes the causal relationship between one’s personal past and present.
With the theme “Emergence”, this year’s competition marks its return to the live stage after the two year pandemic.
WifiBody PH is a biannual competition exclusively for solo-duet form, a form that pushes choreographers to bare their artistic vision as it emphasizes intimacy and conciseness.
