Once in a while, I get to attend intimate performances which
allow the audience members to be at a close proximity to the performers. What made the dance performance of the
Airdance troupe more special was that it was a modern contemporary dance
performance, which is a rare occurrence in Manila, as most of the shows that
are related to dance here are either of the classical variety or the ones you
see in popular noontime shows like Showtime.
I am not an expert on dance technique but I was very impressed
by the performance of the group - the fluidity of their movements, the fearlessness
of their performance, the diversity and the heartfelt themes that they chose
which young people could easily relate to, the relative youth of the troupe,
the interesting choices for their music and background, and the wealth of
talent in the group. This is actually in
stark contrast to the modern dance performances that I see abroad where I
sometimes leave the theatre bewildered and wondering what the hell the dancers
were trying to tell me. I don’t read the
prepared synopsis kasi until after the show since I want to figure out things
for myself rather than be conditioned to expect something.
It is no surprise that the Airdance dance troupe was also
chosen to represent the country in an international dance event in
Singapore. They move very confidently
and it’s as if their instrument is hardwired to their hearts.
It's a pity I wasn't able to invite more friends to watch
the show as I believe many of my even younger friends who love to dance hip hop
would be able to appreciate the show and see another form of dance - a more
pure expression of one's emotions and feelings.
I believe that with a strong foundation in modern contemporary dance,
these kids can contribute more to improving their hip hop moves than just
copying what they see in Youtube.
Thanks Ely Bautista for giving me the invite. It was also fun to see some of my friends
Honey Mata and Heidih Pang really enjoy the performance.
