Drama Queen, Veil Dance - Complete Choreography

We've finally completed the Drama Queen choreography! A big round of applause to my students, who executed the choreography well. Those eight sessions of sweat, body pain, and sore muscles were worth it after seeing this. Until the next choreography!

Turkce Yer Belly Dance Night - May 20 '10

Another show at Turkce Yer, this time with another enigmatic dancer - Kim Kong. We decided to do a spontaneous number together, using Tabel Ya Issam, a song we've both used for previous performances. Oh, we had so much fun! Here is the outcome:



It was my lucky night -- a talented photographer, Bert Aricheta, was taking pictures that night.

Drama Queen, Veil Dance Choreography

Here we are again with our dance class videos! My students are starting to hate me for posting videos publicly. But ladies, there is nothing to be ashamed of, I mean, look at your progress!

For this workshop, we're doing a veil choreography, by special request. The students wanted to use props, and I think the veil is perfect for their first exposure to belly dance props. This is us at the 5th lesson for this workshop, the choreography is about 2/3 done. Stay tuned for the complete dance, I should be posting that within 2 weeks.

Turkce Yer Belly Dance Night - April 30 '10

This was a special show, as there were 3 soloists performing - all with different styles. Aside from myself, there was Jill and Rosanna. Here's hoping we all dance together again soon.

Rajiv's 25th Birthday, March 20, Manila Yacht Club

This guy knows how to celebrate "quarter life" with a "splash". His secretary called me to ask about my availability, then passed the phone to Rajiv. We talked for a few minutes, he promised to call back soonest, and after 5 minutes, the phone rings -- and voila! I'm booked! Efficient, decisive and as he calls himself -- "obsessive compulsive".

I met him over coffee a few days before the party to discuss the event. He briefed on what will be happening (party at a yacht with a Mediterranean theme, catering by Persia grill, he hired a DJ, fireworks, etc.), something that a lot of clients don't immediately discuss with me unless I ask. Like I said, this guy is efficient, and I'm liking it.

Fun party overall. My show finished before the yacht sailed around the bay, so I wasn't able to witness how much fun they had. Happy Birthday Rajiv!

Tabi Tabi Choreography - Complete choreography

Here it is finally! After one cycle of the workshop (8 sessions), we have finally completed the choreography. However, the minute the students found out that I was filming this, they conveniently moved away from the camera ;P. Doesn't matter if you're camera shy or not, but bravo to my students for having enough storage in their memory banks to execute a 5-minute dance. :)

By request, I will be teaching a veil dance for the next workshop. Till then!

Tabi Tabi Choreography - the first half

My New Year's resolution was to keep a video archive of my choreographies. It's such a shame not to record them, because I completely forget each choreography after a month or so. I wish I had done this sooner! It would've been great to see how sucky my previous choreographies were. :p

This is especially useful if I want to re-use or re-hash these for future use. It's also great for students, because they're able to see and monitor their progress (this works for my technique for the same reason too!).

So here's the first half of Tabi-Tabi. Watch out for the complete choreography in the coming weeks.

*Note: This class is a mixed level class. Some have been taking my class for years, and some have been taking my class for 4 sessions. So you might notice that some are more comfortable with the movements than others. But like I always say, we'll all get there!

Erica Honrado Debut - February 27 - Blue Leaf, Taguig

Oh Erica. How do I begin to describe her?
Vibrant. Not quite.
Enigmatic. Hmmm.
Explosive. Tsk.

It's difficult to describe her, you have to EXPERIENCE her. I was lucky enough to be given a chance to teach her a choreography for her 18th coming out party. Erica and I got along the first time we met. She immediately got the choreography after 1 session (because she has dance experience, hence the quick pick-up), and we continued on with 3 more sessions for polishing and memory work.

And she did wonderfully during her big day. I'm so proud!

University Week at DLSU - February 19 - Taft Ave, Manila

The student council of DLSU invited me to dance for an afternoon show during their University Week. It was an outdoor show, the stage was set up in the middle of the field. There were rides, booths, and a bazaar happening that day.

The outdoor stage killed me though. Summer in Manila is blazing hot. And the stage absorbed the heat. Ouch, my toes. My feet. I was getting crossed-eyed. I felt the blisters forming. It hurt, but alas, the show must go on. It was fun nevertheless, but next time, I will bring dance sandals!

Maya Kitchen Mediterranean Party

The Maya Kitchen at Pasay Road, Makati, introduced their Mediterranean cuisine cooking classes to the press and some VIPs. Overall good show with a very appreciative (but shy) audience. Only the men were persuaded to dance!

This costume has been sitting in my closet for 3 years now. I bought it during my trip to Bali, but I hadn't had the chance to alter it. I'm glad I finally did, and it finally makes its debut.

Ringga Ringga Choreography

From the movie soundtrack of "Slum Dog Millionaire". The students loved the music!

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love", speaks about the creative process. I'm pretty much sure that everybody who has created anything in his life has felt this anxiety. That feeling of being squeezed dry from trying to give birth to an idea that desperately needed to be translated to reality.

I am reminded of all those moments when I dreaded going to class or to a show, because I felt the choreography I prepared wasn't good enough. But yet, I promise that I will keep showing up.



"This is hard. This is one of the most painful reconciliations to make in a creative life. But maybe it doesn't have to be quite so full of anguish. If you never happened to believe in the first place that the most extraordinary aspects of your being came from you -- maybe if you just believed that they were on loan to you, from some unimaginable source for some exquisite portion of your life, to be passed along when you're finished with somebody else. If we think about it this way, it starts to change everything."

"Don't be afraid. Don't be daunted. Just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it, whatever that might be. If your job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed for just one moment through your efforts, then ole. And if not, do your dance anyhow. And ole to you nonetheless. I believe this and I feel we must teach it. Ole to you nonetheless, just for having the sheer human love and stuborness to keep showing up."

Turkce Yer Bar and Restaurant Opening, December 10 '09, Timog Q.C.

Leigh and Zeyne Tatli manage and own the newest Turkish restaurant at 35 Timog Avenue, QC -- Turkce Yer Bar and Restaurant.

The grand opening was graced by the presence of the Ambassador to Turkey, among other special guests. Try it out, the food is good and the prices are reasonable. I danced three sets, which was good fun, because the crowd was very appreciative. There might be regular bellydance nights there in the near future, so watch out for further announcements.

Tamminy Aleek Choreography - Before and After

Hakim is always fun to dance to. Here is a Hakim hit - Tamminy Aleek - I choreographed for my belly dance class.


Before: This is me giving out instructions.



After: Finished product. My students are awesome.

Aaja Nachle Choreography

As a teacher, there is no greater joy than seeing your students do something they never thought they can do. This is a beginner's class, and these ladies have taken the belly dance class for about a month. Some started as awkward dancers, very unsure of how capable they are or insecure of how to move their bodies. The end result is something I, and most especially they, can be proud of.

The music is from the Bollywood hit, Aaja Nachle.



Here is another version I choreographed for the ADB Dance Guild:

Alo Youth Drink Launch - Manila Polo Club, November 10 '09

Ahhh, another big event, where, for a change, us bellydancers weren't the ones with the least amount of clothing on. :)

Hosted by Tim Yap and Tessa Prieto Valdes. 10 gorgeous models. 2 Russian pole dancers. 3 Yogis. And a lot of society people.

With the Japanese-Brazilian model we all love.


Me and Ros.

Group pic where I insisted to pose differently. Bleh.

With Angel, who works the pole effortlessly!

Yes, I got married! - Caleruega, Sonya's Garden, September 26 '09

Daniel and I got married during one of the angriest typhoons that hit the Philippines. But that didn't stop us from saying "I do". And guess what I choreographed for our first dance?

We are grateful for all the love we felt that day. Much love to our family and friends.

Mourning for Cory and the Arts Community

I never thought I'd be this much affected. It has been a tough week for the Philippines, as a friend said "Nag-quota na si God sa Philippines this week". The biggest tragedy perhaps is that Cory Aquino, the icon for freedom and respect for the constitution, died on August 1. The Philippines just felt a little unsafer for me and many others at this point.

This feeling stems from a culmination of events. The arts community has been hit this week by the proclamation of the new National Artists. To give you a background, the arts community in this country has been struggling to be taken seriously. Now there has been talk that Carlo J. Caparas, a filmmaker, and Cecile Guidote Alvarez, a theater stalwart, have been proclaimed as National Artists. I am not here to lambast these two and say they don't deserve it. I am in no position and have no right to say that. They create art in their own way, as all artists are wont to do.

What affects me immensely is the disrepect for the protocol. The process is this: Selection committee names candidates > deliberation happens > awards are announced.

Now the two are named National artists without going through the process. Someone from up there just said, hey, I think these two are cool, let's just give them the award. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a great disservice to the community.

I've seen talented friends give up their would-be careers in art, because they lost faith in the system. Simply put, they weren't taken seriously. I've seen the exodus of Philippine talent go to Hong Kong and work in Disneyland because it was a job that paid well. These are people who are well respected in the theater and dance community, who can change lives in our country, but couldn't -- well, because they needed to survive.

The National Artist slate isn't just a trophy to massage egos. It is a validation that indeed, there is hope that artists will be appreciated and taken seriously. A validation that disproves how some people see art as frivolous and unnecessary. With total disrespect for something as simple as a process...what message does that send? I feel as if little by little, my freedom and rights are taken away from me.

Cory fought for freedom and democracy. Democracy is something we enjoy unconsciously in our daily lives. You like watching the teleseryes on ABS-CBN? Well, guess what, you're watching that right now because of Cory. You like walking around without a curfew in the evening? Yup, democracy. You like the fact that your government is accountable to you? That is freedom.

One of the most touching speeches I've heard was when Cory claimed that "this is my contract with the people". Her contract of accountability to the nation. If something as "little" as the process of giving out an award is disrespected, then I'm afraid for the bigger things that can happen/is happening. We need to keep being angry. Once you stop being angry, then it is hope you're giving up. Or worse, it would mean that you're accepting this as a way of life.

I still have hope for this nation, and I promise to keep fighting the good fight in my own little way. Because if not, then I might as well give up my rights as a Filipino.

Circo De Baila - June 14, 2009

At Baila Dance Studio's circus-themed recital last June 14 at the Insular Theater Alabang.

Everyone's faces were painted, the kids danced hiphop in animal costumes (cute!), there were dancing magicians, mimes, the excellent gymnasts. I could go on and on. And of course, the superb choreography. One of Baila's best productions, I must say.

I danced Flamenco Oriental by Dalida. Will post a video once it's uploaded :)

Orientalia Festival at Hong Kong

I realized that I haven't written about one of the most important dance experiences I've had thus far. I need to share this, for the sake of dancers who want to go professional, and for those who are too afraid/embarrassed/shy to start taking up formal dance lessons.

I've spent most of my life onstage -- starting with annual piano recitals (for 13 years), then moving onto theater (6 years), then finally dance (13 years and counting). I stuck with dance, because this is the medium where I can express myself most.

Don't get me wrong -- I loved playing music (I even experimented with the violin for a year) and I loved acting. But to dance! To dance is a combination of all this: of music, of acting, of being yourself.

I've had my share of inspiring (and scary) dance mentors. Discipline-wise, I think I learned a lot from Powerdance, where the mantra was "bawal magmukhang tanga" and where some teachers resort to mild physical and verbal abuse just for you to get it right. I didn't mind, because learning the technique was well worth the pain and the injury. :) If you want to go pro, Powerdance is one of the best dance companies in Manila to train with. But if you want to have fun dance lessons without the stress, this isn't probably the place for you.

But the most inspiring teacher to note was Tamalyn Dallal. Her humility and ability to inspire astound me. Learning from her changed a lot about my perspective of myself as a dancer...so much that it altered my dance style and technique.

Ok warning, cliche coming up. I've been guilty of throwing around the term "dancing from the heart", thinking that I fully understood what this meant. Yes, I feel the music pulsating when I dance. And my body reacts, moving along with the rhythm. I probably understood it on a somewhat superficial level. Tamalyn opened my eyes, and not only made me understand, but actually made me feel what it was like to dance from the heart. I cannot fully explain how this happened, but I guess her love for dance just overflows and is so sincere that it rubs off on the dancers she mentors.

On my way back to Manila, there was just one thing going on in my mind: What the heck am I doing?

My favorite thing about traveling is that it shatters you, both in a good and bad way. You thought you knew things, huh. Try meeting with 20+ dancers from different countries and you'll realize that YOU DON'T EFFING KNOW A THING.

Traveling has a way of shattering your perceptions and validates that you know nothing about the world. In this case, it validated that I don't know jack about dance. Years of learning, and I suddenly realize that well... I know nothing. Being exposed to people who have actually lived with the people, intensively studied the culture, interacted and danced with real people from the middle east, is an eye opener. Tamalyn Dallal is a true artist at heart. It is humbling to meet someone who is a superstar in my eyes, but is kind, warm and says that she herself is still learning about the craft. 30+ years of dancing, and she is still discovering new things.

I have a long way to go.

Here's hoping that all dancers, even once on their lives, meet someone like her.