It was May 21, 2007 in Paris, France when I remembered “crossing the Rubicon” - an idiomatic expression which means “making a big decision”. It became more meaningful when I pondered on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte while I was eating baguette in the gardens of Les Invalides where he was buried. I asked myself a very basic question: “What important decision did Napoleon make which guaranteed him a place in history?” I thought that would be the last time that idiomatic expression would challenge me, until I received an invitation to the Dance Xchange: The 1st International Dance Workshop and Festival. Once more, I was asked to cross the Rubicon: whether to stay in Iloilo and finish my Thesis for Graduate School or go to Dumaguete City and attend the workshop. I was so happy when I determinedly finished my concept paper before I left for Dumaguete City.
It was indeed efficient to travel light. My colleagues were so surprised to see me with my small backpack filled with folded t-shirts and short–shorts. The backpack grew big and heavy upon my return to Iloilo though. It was filled with beautiful memories and new ideas to share with my community. After 6 hours on sea and then on land, I was so surprised upon entering the Dumaguete City Convention Center. I saw different groups of people coming from all over the Philippines and abroad. The participants were a colorful kaleidoscope of ages, gender and races. The mood inside the convention center was so festive as it was punctuated with the flashes of so many cameras capturing not only the costumes of different local and international performing groups, their handsome and beautiful crushes, and the great minds behind the celebration but to capture the memories that will continue to warm our heart when we open our photo albums during our private and silent moments. We, the participants, were lucky because we are the pioneers in this kind of international dance exchange. We made history! There was a lot of cultural borrowing going on as there was a free sharing of culture - whether European or Asian - through the unifying thread of Dance.
The Gala night where different countries and local performing groups showcased their dances was like a celebration of life. The woes of the financial crisis were seemingly forgotten as the dances highlighted hope, solidarity and most of all, love. I felt like a playful grade-schooler during the dance workshop. I was also stunned by the dances taught to us by the teachers and got even more excited to experiment on my own. I did the stretching exercises which I don’t usually do – but which ironically, I push my students to do before the rehearsals. Every moment during the dance workshop was fun. Everyone was very attentive and very eager to learn dances of different countries taught by the native-dancers and teachers. I thought I knew everything already but was amazed at myself when I learned the Masking Dance of Sri Lanka. I realized that no matter how economically poor Sri Lanka is, they take steps to preserve their identity through dance.Participating in the workshops allowed me to touch nature and life. The dance from Sarawak, which was about hunting the hornbill revealed to me how dance can bring the message of nature conservation and preservation, especially of endangered species. How I wish that we could do the same thing for our precious plants and animals in the Philippines, too. Being in this workshop made me see what the term “shattering boundaries” is all about. One should never fear sharing one’s culture, especially through dance. Though one day we may be gone from this world, we rest assured that the future generations will know about us because we have touched others with this exchange. Another dimension to this boundary shattering was the glorious and harmonious mix of tongues, races and nations. We understood each other, no matter the broken English nor the colors of our skin. We communicated on a level – dance. It also taught me “inclusion”, everybody is welcome to express oneself, nobody is looked down upon. Dance, dance, dance!
Of all the people I met in the workshop, I give my salute to Mr. Joseph Gonzales of Malaysia. He is truly a “Dance Icon”. His achievements in dance (and degree in Mathematics!) amazed me so much. I thought, “Dance is for everybody because it knows no color, gender and status in life”. He is living testimony of a person who dreamt big and achieved a lot for dance. People think that those who have the right to dance can only be P.E. majors, but Sir Joseph showed everyone that even Math majors can make it in dance.
Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen said that the “essence of a woman is to show what loving , sharing and caring are all about.” This is exemplified in the person behind the Dance Xchange, Madam Shirley Halili-Cruz, a woman whose unwavering passion for dance is immeasurable. Her leadership exemplifies the act of loving, sharing and caring for dance. She may have a busy schedule but she nevertheless takes time to help others achieve their dreams in dance. I am sure many also feel grateful like me, because they were able to have experiences like this dance workshop organized with love and care by the one and only Madame Shirley. It has been just two years that we sat together on the Board of Judges for the Dinagyang, but I can tell she has the passion and the true heart for dance.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to the following: Miss Beck Lu ( Dance Mode Studio, Hong Kong)- I appreciate her for talking to me in Mandarin which allowed me to practice my “Chinese-tongue”, Mr. Senju Boyudan (Senju Dance Company, Japan)- for making me further appreciate the simplicity of oriental dances, Miss January Chan ( The Dance Academy Kuching, Malaysia)- who kept us motivated and focused and not to forget her little gifts which made everyone attentive, Professor Dr. Mohd Anis Md.Nor ( President, World Dance Alliance- Asia Pacific)- his lecture made me realize the value of culture-preservation and field research, Dr. Larry Gabao-my personal idol whose lectures continue to challenge my intellect and whose creativity is beyond compare, Mr. Franco Velas who reminds me of what friendship beyond time and space is, Dr. Pepito Mosquito who was very consistent in facilitating the needs of the participants. And to the participants, NCCA Committee Members and to other performing groups, it was indeed a wonderful experience to be with you all.
Dance serves as a fabric of lives embellished with our traditions and more importantly, our identity as a nation. The threads that make up this fabric are our songs and dances. This rich yet delicate fabric, we shall protect and preserve for us and for our children’s children lest we end up naked and stripped of our identity as Filipinos. For Dance, I will never say “I have done enough!”.
It was indeed efficient to travel light. My colleagues were so surprised to see me with my small backpack filled with folded t-shirts and short–shorts. The backpack grew big and heavy upon my return to Iloilo though. It was filled with beautiful memories and new ideas to share with my community. After 6 hours on sea and then on land, I was so surprised upon entering the Dumaguete City Convention Center. I saw different groups of people coming from all over the Philippines and abroad. The participants were a colorful kaleidoscope of ages, gender and races. The mood inside the convention center was so festive as it was punctuated with the flashes of so many cameras capturing not only the costumes of different local and international performing groups, their handsome and beautiful crushes, and the great minds behind the celebration but to capture the memories that will continue to warm our heart when we open our photo albums during our private and silent moments. We, the participants, were lucky because we are the pioneers in this kind of international dance exchange. We made history! There was a lot of cultural borrowing going on as there was a free sharing of culture - whether European or Asian - through the unifying thread of Dance.
The Gala night where different countries and local performing groups showcased their dances was like a celebration of life. The woes of the financial crisis were seemingly forgotten as the dances highlighted hope, solidarity and most of all, love. I felt like a playful grade-schooler during the dance workshop. I was also stunned by the dances taught to us by the teachers and got even more excited to experiment on my own. I did the stretching exercises which I don’t usually do – but which ironically, I push my students to do before the rehearsals. Every moment during the dance workshop was fun. Everyone was very attentive and very eager to learn dances of different countries taught by the native-dancers and teachers. I thought I knew everything already but was amazed at myself when I learned the Masking Dance of Sri Lanka. I realized that no matter how economically poor Sri Lanka is, they take steps to preserve their identity through dance.Participating in the workshops allowed me to touch nature and life. The dance from Sarawak, which was about hunting the hornbill revealed to me how dance can bring the message of nature conservation and preservation, especially of endangered species. How I wish that we could do the same thing for our precious plants and animals in the Philippines, too. Being in this workshop made me see what the term “shattering boundaries” is all about. One should never fear sharing one’s culture, especially through dance. Though one day we may be gone from this world, we rest assured that the future generations will know about us because we have touched others with this exchange. Another dimension to this boundary shattering was the glorious and harmonious mix of tongues, races and nations. We understood each other, no matter the broken English nor the colors of our skin. We communicated on a level – dance. It also taught me “inclusion”, everybody is welcome to express oneself, nobody is looked down upon. Dance, dance, dance!
Of all the people I met in the workshop, I give my salute to Mr. Joseph Gonzales of Malaysia. He is truly a “Dance Icon”. His achievements in dance (and degree in Mathematics!) amazed me so much. I thought, “Dance is for everybody because it knows no color, gender and status in life”. He is living testimony of a person who dreamt big and achieved a lot for dance. People think that those who have the right to dance can only be P.E. majors, but Sir Joseph showed everyone that even Math majors can make it in dance.
Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen said that the “essence of a woman is to show what loving , sharing and caring are all about.” This is exemplified in the person behind the Dance Xchange, Madam Shirley Halili-Cruz, a woman whose unwavering passion for dance is immeasurable. Her leadership exemplifies the act of loving, sharing and caring for dance. She may have a busy schedule but she nevertheless takes time to help others achieve their dreams in dance. I am sure many also feel grateful like me, because they were able to have experiences like this dance workshop organized with love and care by the one and only Madame Shirley. It has been just two years that we sat together on the Board of Judges for the Dinagyang, but I can tell she has the passion and the true heart for dance.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to the following: Miss Beck Lu ( Dance Mode Studio, Hong Kong)- I appreciate her for talking to me in Mandarin which allowed me to practice my “Chinese-tongue”, Mr. Senju Boyudan (Senju Dance Company, Japan)- for making me further appreciate the simplicity of oriental dances, Miss January Chan ( The Dance Academy Kuching, Malaysia)- who kept us motivated and focused and not to forget her little gifts which made everyone attentive, Professor Dr. Mohd Anis Md.Nor ( President, World Dance Alliance- Asia Pacific)- his lecture made me realize the value of culture-preservation and field research, Dr. Larry Gabao-my personal idol whose lectures continue to challenge my intellect and whose creativity is beyond compare, Mr. Franco Velas who reminds me of what friendship beyond time and space is, Dr. Pepito Mosquito who was very consistent in facilitating the needs of the participants. And to the participants, NCCA Committee Members and to other performing groups, it was indeed a wonderful experience to be with you all.
Dance serves as a fabric of lives embellished with our traditions and more importantly, our identity as a nation. The threads that make up this fabric are our songs and dances. This rich yet delicate fabric, we shall protect and preserve for us and for our children’s children lest we end up naked and stripped of our identity as Filipinos. For Dance, I will never say “I have done enough!”.
hi ruffa. i added you in my blog roll. =D
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