How dancing can bend the most steely defenses

CEBU, Philippines - While Dingdong Dantes can still most likely give GMA7’s resident “Bad Boy of the Dance Floor” Mark Herras a run for his money, the 32-year-old actor feels he’s too old to be bopping and grooving the way he did during his Abztract Dancers days.  Good thing an acting job like that of his role in “Dance of the Steel Bars” came along, for he got to slip into his dancing shoes again and learn a dance genre far from his comfort zone.

“I haven’t shown through film or even television before my first love, which is really dancing,” said Dingdong, whose former all-male dance group used to be regulars of “Eat Bulaga” and “That’s Entertainment.”

Dingdong was in town to promote the film – showing in SM theaters this Independence Day, June 12 – jointly produced by the Dubai-based Portfolio Films and GMA Films. He first paid a courtesy call on Cebu Acting Governor Agnes Magpale at the Capitol and then proceeded to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) for a dance number with the orange-clad inmates to the tune of Korean star PSY’s “Gentleman.”

“I really started as a dancer way back during the late ‘90s, so when I was offered this film and I was told it had dancing parts and that I would be performing with the Cebu Dancing Inmates, that really got me excited. Later on I would learn, the film will not be only shown in the Philippines but also for an international market so without a slightest doubt, I accepted the project.”

Seventy percent was shot inside CPDRC, home to what is now a globally famous choreographed act that continues to attract tourists who delight in the novelty performance. The inmates were the first viewers of the entire film, as even Dingdong himself had not seen the whole thing at that time.

Dingdong plays Mando, a classical jazz instructor accused of murder. Prison life will turn him cynical. He will also become the subject of advances from homosexual inmates, and it doesn’t help that he is homophobic. “Until I meet this fellow inmate who is an American social worker and one day, we thought of organizing something, and dancing would be one of the results,” he said.

The foreigner inmate is fleshed out by Patrick Bergin (Patriot Games, Sleeping with the Enemy), a retired US fireman and philanthropist falsely accused of murder.

“The story is fictional, but they also gathered stories from the inmates to have a semblance of reality. We show how they are really inside – their nature, their rituals,” said Dingdong.

He did not feel any apprehension to be in the company of inmates, as they were very respectful, he said. None of the jeering we commonly see on TV or usually associate with the behavior of jailbirds.

“I wasn’t afraid at all. The fact that they were able to come up with these dance productions shows how disciplined they are. We were under time pressure as we had to finish filming inside CPDRC in seven days. There was no room for error. We were all on our feet not to commit a mistake as much as possible. You can see the respect they give to the people watching their performances. This time, they were acting with me so they treated me as their co-actor,” he explained.

Of the lesson he picked up from Bergin, his Irish co-star, Dingdong was quick to answer: “Discipline. He’s no longer young and he has to take care of his health, so when he says he’s done for the day, we had to give him that. He recharges to prepare for the next day, and he comes on time and prepared. That kind of discipline was a pleasure to watch, especially from a veteran Hollywood actor who was years ahead of us in experience.”

“Dance of the Steel Bars” was directed by TV reporter Cesar Apolinario and Marnie Manicad (wife of another TV reporter Jiggy Manicad). This is the fourth independent film Apolinario directed, and two of these had given him two Best Director trophies.

Dingdong shared of Apolinario’s filming style: “Our director worked with a journalistic approach. It had a very documentary feel. He’s used to being in that line of work, which is always for truth. Which means that what was in front of him was what he usually showed. It should be raw and sincere as possible. Nothing so rehearsed and staged.”

Although music for the dance sequences has a Michael Jackson vibe to it, these were all original compositions to avoid copyright complications.

An artist himself, Dingdong sees great sense in utilizing art as a humane method of discipline and rehabilitation. “Dancing is a form of art. Not everyone in prison is artistic and I am pretty sure less than half of them are really passionate about dancing. But the fact that they have to do it -- and they do it well -- will need a great amount of discipline. I’m sure it’s hard to instill that discipline over about 2,000 people who may be used to be chaotic. Then all of a sudden, you see them like snappy soldiers moving together all at the same time. Their unity speaks a lot about their willingness to change.”

The film got an A grade from the Cinema Evaluation Board, which means it will not be asked to pay corresponding taxes usually required by BIR on all local and foreign films shown in local theaters.

Meanwhile, Dingdong said his network is on the planning stage for his next primetime series. Tentatively titled “Genesis,” the upcoming TV project will have an apocalyptic concept. Photos by JOY TORREJOS