Steps presents dance workshop and annual concert

MANILA, Philippines - Steps Dance Studio, the dance school of Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, presents its annual Steps Summer Workshop.

The workshop is where students come from all over the country to study different dance genres such as Classical Ballet (Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus), Contemporary Modern (mix of Cunningham & Graham), Jazz (Giordano style), Street Dance, and Tap Dance. It is also the time when Steps, one of the premier ballet schools in the country known for rigorous training and adherence to international standards, lets its hair down — a little.

 According to Elizalde, “The goal of our summer workshop is for students to learn and experience dance in a fun way, without compromising the quality education and discipline we are known for and we instill in our students all year round.”

 Like the regular students, summer workshop participants get the chance to study under various seasoned choreographers and well-known personalities invited as guest teachers. For the past 17 years, Filipino and international dance luminaries such as Nonoy Froilan, Agnes Locsin, Edna Vida, Anatoli Panasiukov, Max Luna, and Alan Hineline have shared their knowledge and expertise with the students of Steps. This year, Steps is bringing Flavio Salazar, former company member at American Ballet Theater (ABT) company and currently faculty at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT. Steps is also proud to announce its other guest, pianist Steven V. Mitchell who will be playing live for all ballet and modern classes effective May 14 until June 4.

This May, available classes at the Steps Summer Workshop include the regular dance courses, with special courses and master classes like Contemporary Modern (Graham/Horton techniques), Pointe Work, Advanced Ballet, also on offer for the more advanced students looking to hone their craft during the break. Running from Monday to Sunday, the Summer Workshop caters to students from different dance backgrounds and with varied proficiencies. Some people enrol for an entire course to try something they haven’t done before, while others show up for individual dance classes to learn a little about a long-time passion. All students, old and new, are animated with eagerness and curiosity.

 Capping the summer workshop is the much-anticipated Summer Dance Recital, a special one-night only performance at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP Main Theater) to be held on June 4.

 From being on one’s toes to onstage, the Steps Summer Dance Recital and Concert testifies to the quality and discipline that students learn at Steps even as the learning takes place in a fun environment. In fact, the Steps brand of dance education was recognized at the awarding of the 2011 National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA), an annual competition for young artists who excel in music composition and performance.

Last year, three Steps students won in the Dance Category: Monica Amanda Gana (1st Place), Rudolph Capongcol (2nd Place) and Sean Kevin Pelegrin (Manolo Rosado Awardee). Gana, Capongcol, and Pelegrin are all dance scholars of the Steps Foundation.

For information, call 757-2984, 843-8472, e-mail admin@stepsdancestudio.ph, or visit Steps Dance Studio at Unit C1, Bldg C, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong Tamo Extension), Makati City.