Students from the Bachelor of Performing Arts major in Dance (BPAD) took a series of glowing performances to the stage at the 5th floor Theater of the Design and Arts (D+A) Campus on April 25 and 26. “Beyond Elements” is titled after nature’s elements: earth, water, wind, and fire.
Across two days and three shows, a cast of 36 dancers delivered performances inspired by the natural elements, Philippine and Asian cultural traditions, and societal issues. The event was sponsored by HA.MU, Pocket Media Productions Inc., and actress-dancer Ms. Gela Atayde. The genres included in the show ranged from ballet and contemporary to house and street, allowing the dancers to proudly present their versatility.
Embodying narratives
Before the show started, audience members were treated to snippets of what went on behind the scenes, such as the frequent practices of the dancers and a few introductions to the faculty members. However, the preview understated the magnetism of the full show, as passion emanated from every leap and turn of the dancers. There were two versions of the show, each with an approximate runtime of one hour and thirty minutes.
Show 1 included Concerto Vivaldi, Peasant Pas De Deaux, Bicol Train Express 2, Angry Birds 1, Flow, Basilio Male Solo Variation, Bluebird Male Solo Variation, Sitsiritsit, Encounters, Missing, Thum Tikitim Tum, Reimagining Darangen, Babaylan, Tinalak, Rhythm Nation, Androgyny, and Just Say Hey. Most performances of Show 1 were also seen in Show 2, with the addition of Picasso, Sino Ang Baliw, Sick, and One.
Each performance had its unique charms, some being light and weightless, some playful and daring, while other performances could only be described as fierce. Accompanied with a great selection of sounds and precisely coordinated lighting, the delivery was masterly.
The sequence of performances managed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. They were made to wonder what genre they would see next, what element would be encompassed, and what new story would be told. It was an exceptional blend of tension and grace.
Backstage and beyond
In an exclusive interview with The Benildean, ID122 BPAD student and one of the production managers, Kyla Enano offered a deeper understanding of the show and its theme. “According to our director, Ms. Nina Anonas, she was inspired by the elements of nature, and how it affects the different aspects of our lives [...] and its influence on dance.”
Enano also stated that “BPAD in Motion is a mixed-bill repertoire. And it's a mix of dances we always perform. Like our classical pieces, Vivaldi, Satyre. We also have our repertoire, our street pieces like Sitsiritsit, Missing. Contemporary like Baliw, Thum. And these are selected through our studio classes. We also have guest choreographers come in to choreograph our dances.”
When asked how Benilde could better support productions like this, ID123 BPAD student and performer Ana Gabrielle Nipales suggested, “Providing more opportunities for student-artists to experiment and take creative risks. Access to more rehearsal spaces, mentorship from industry professionals, and platforms for showcasing works both inside and outside the school would really help these performances reach their full potential.”
Angela Carmeli Doloroso, another ID122 BPAD student and one of the backstage supervisors, discussed her perspective of the production, as it returns every term. “Maganda siya for improvement ng performances and techniques ng mga dancers. Especially, na nakakapagcollab sa other programs gaya ng music production, [and] arts management.”
Doloroso was also very honest when speaking of the challenges they encountered. “Since we have repertoires, meron silang pressure na kaya ba naming matapatan ‘yung previous version ng dating batch?’ Pero, sinasabi ko sa kanila, ‘wag niyong ipilit na tapatan o taasan yung other version ng dancers dati. Ibigay nila kung ano ang feeling nila at paano nila nasasapuso o naiintindihan yung piyesa.”
What lies ahead
Enano and Nipales also shared thoughts on what this show entailed for future productions. “As for the themes that we would probably explore in the future, we’d probably delve with more modern societal issues, like martial law, social media, [or global warming],” Enano said.
Nipales expressed that this performance “shows that we’re capable of tackling big ideas in ways that are thoughtful, creative, and honest.” She also added, “I hope that through this performance, we were able to inspire a lot of people, and encourage more dancers, artists, and even just anyone curious to either be part of the program, or at least to simply dance—because movement is for everyone.”
Productions by BPAD in Motion return at the end of every term. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to stay updated and catch their next shows.
