2012 Summer Dance Workshop

May 19 and 20 were red-letter days for students and scholars of the CCP Dance School. This was the day when all the month long intensive dance training was coming to a close and this was their chance to shine as dance artists. The big day was eagerly anticipated by the students and their parents alike. For one brief moment the stage lights shine on thier little aspiring ballerinas and danseurs.

This year's recital is A Garden Tale. As a tribute to former Dance Cirector and good friend  Noordin Jumalon, the ballet was presented in its original libretto with cast of characters taken from Noordin's whacky, witty side. The lead was ably protrayed by two young dancers Luis Cabrera and Denise (can't recall her last name, sorry!)

The rest of the cast was portrayed by both paying students and CCP Dance scholars. All were cutely dressed in their characters of good and evil, sitaw (string beans), yellow bells, butterflies, birds, stars, slimeys, glow worms, mice, etc.

The good thing about it is that the little girls and boys aspiring to become artists someday were all quite comfortable in their performances. Some even hammed it up for an adoring audience. I got good reviews from the costumes we created in so short a time.

The second part was the contemporary and hip-hop classes. For this portion, it was an under the sea adventure theme. The dancers had accessories to protray them as dolphins, starfish, angelfish and jellyfish as well. Two giant whale sharks were constantly flitting about in the audience. The set was a modernized seascape done in white and ably lit in shades of blue.

Finally, for the last portion,  the company took their turn as an inspiration to their younger aspiring dancers. this is what eventually they hope to become. The male ensemble did Lahat ng Araw which is a choreography by Alden Lugnasin. Men in red tiered skirts and huge fans were frolicking about in a seductive fashion. Then came Vision of Fire by Edna Vida Froilan. This fiery piece was punctuated by lots of contractions and pulses from dancers dancing to a highly percussive beat and highlighted by strains from a saxophone.

For the piece de resistance, It was Candice Adea and JM Rodriguez, international ballet awardees both, performing the Don Quixote pas de deux. Candice and JM are set to compete again this week in another dance competition. We wish them well on their new challenges as their aspire for greater ballet heights.