They could have danced all night in Bangkok

MANILA, Philippines – It is believed that long ago, before human beings learned to speak, the way by which they communicated with each other was through gestures, through movement, through dance. It has since evolved into an art form, the ultimate form of self expression. The dancer’s body tells the story. It is the instrument, the medium for channeling emotion. No words are needed. The universal language is dance.

For three days, from July 17 to 19, the 11th Asia Pacific Dance Competition was held at the Khunying Sumanee Memorial Hall of the Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants came from 25 dance schools from seven countries — Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and the Philippines, which was represented by the multi-awarded Halili-Cruz School of Ballet. What a conversation it was. Or was it more like a marathon debate? In the end, the dancers from the Philippines proved to be most eloquent.

On the first day of competition, two of our young dancers under 18 reaped the highest awards in that age group. Regine Magbitang won the first place trophy in the Classical solo section as well as the second place trophy in the Neoclassical solo section, while Rizza de Jesus won the third place trophy in the Neoclassical solo section as well as an honorary medal in the Classical solo section.

There were five entries in the Ensemble (open) Modern section, four from Thailand and one from the Philippines. “It’s a wonderful section,” said Deanne Smith, the adjudicator from Perth, Australia. She recognized the high quality of technical work that went into the numbers. “I wish there were more places for everyone,” she said. The first place trophy went to the lone entry from the Philippines, Halili-Cruz’s WiFi which also won the Perpetual Trophy.

 On the second day of competition, Halili-Cruz repeated its feat in the under-12 age group. In the Group classical section, there were only four entries, three from Thailand and one from the Philippines. Again, Halili-Cruz won the first place trophy for their stunning Chinese Dance number with red fans that won the audience’s lusty applause.

In the Classical solo section, part one, Jackie Chua won the third place trophy. Alee Young demonstrated her range and versatility at such a young age, as she won the first place trophy in both the Classical solo, part two, as well as in the Modern solo sections, shimmying her way into the hearts of everyone who watched. Only 10 years old, Alee is a “veteran” of many other competitions, having started dancing at age three.

In the Modern solo (under 15), Jeng Guerrero, who danced with graceful dexterity behind a mask, won the third place trophy, while Raja Gavino, with her agile twirls and turns, won the first place trophy. In the Neoclassical solo (under 18) part two, Aira Rostrata received an honorary medal.

There were four entries in the Ensemble (under 15) Classical/Lyrical section, two from Thailand and two from the Philippines. Only two awards were given and both went to Halili-Cruz: the first place with Perpetual trophy for their number Prelude and an honorary medal for Valse. The collective energy from the stage was echoed back by the appreciative audience.

 Of the 14 entries in the Modern solo (open) section, part one, all three entries from the Philippines, won. Cheka Cabreza received an honorary medal, Glenn Ragel won the third place trophy and Lemuel Capa won the second place trophy. “Fantastic! Very high standard. It made my job hard,” the adjudicator said. Shirley Halili-Cruz, the moving force and powerhouse behind the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet, noted that “We got awards in all the sections. Bravo!” Hers is the voice of encouragement, a true leader and cheerleader.

The evening program on the second day of competition started with the CSTD Modern Championship (under 18/open) Slow Routine section. CSTD or the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing, which sponsors the annual competition, has its roots in Australia. Its primary objective is “To encourage the art of dancing.” The Slow Routine section was later followed by the Fast Routine section with the same set of participants performing and getting an aggregate mark for both sections. “We did not know about the Fast Routine section earlier,” Nordic Caraig relates, “so I just had to improvise at the last minute.” Nonetheless, Nordic won the first place trophy, while Gabby Quinto won the third place trophy. “Fabulous job!” the adjudicator remarked.

In the Classical solo (open) section, graceful attitude, strong leaps and feathery jumps, fouettes, jetes and pirouettes masterfully executed thrilled and impressed. Cheka Cabreza (“Giselle”) won the third place trophy. Nordic Caraig (Prince Desire from Sleeping Beauty) and Glenn Ragel (Prince Sigfried from Swan Lake) tied for the second place trophy, while Lemuel Capa (Albrecht from Giselle) and Gabby Quinto (Black Swan) each received a first place trophy. “World class,” was the adjudicator’s comment.

In the Classical duos/Trios section, Halili-Cruz received the second place trophy for Le Corsaire and the first place trophy for Schon Rosmarin and La Bayadere.

And in the Classical group section, Halili-Cruz (Fatinitza Waltz) won first place with a Perpetual Trophy.

In the Group (under 18) all style section, the Philippines’ Halili-Cruz, which performed a classical number and a modern number, competed against participants from Thailand, which performed a Neoclassical number and a Classical number, as well as participants from Hong Kong, which performed a national number. Halili-Cruz won the first place trophy and clinched the coveted Perpetual Trophy, underscoring the message embedded in the big group’s (with 20 dancers filling and owning the stage at one time) spectacular number “I believe I can fly …” The adjudicator noted, “Well done to the teachers as well.”

It is this that makes those endless hours of hard work all worthwhile. “We forget about being tired,” said teacher Grace Geralde-Perez, under whose watchful eyes the students rehearsed, perfected their steps, and rehearsed some more. “It gives us a sense of fulfillment.” Teacher Anna Tuazon-Balmadrid remarked that it was a challenge, to be able to bring together dancers of different ages from different levels all in one group.

“The rehearsals are most important,” says Teacher Shirley, as she is fondly called by students and parents alike, “a mother to all” who is constantly looking after the needs of her dancers. There is a palpable sense of cooperation, a strong sense of family, as well as a sense of pride and self assurance.

The original choreography in many of numbers were simply stunning. Whose work is more important, that of the choreographer or the dancer? “The choreographer must strive to make the dancer look good, while the dancer must do justice to the choreography,” says teacher Anna. “It becomes easier for a choreographer if you have a good dancer,” Glenn says. “You can have good choreography, but it can still fail if you have a poor dancer,” Nordic remarks. Ultimately, it’s the dancer who must deliver.

In the Pas de Deux (open) Modern section, all four entries from the Philippines delivered, with flying colors. Regine Magbitang and Lemuel Capa dazzled like fireworks with Spring Waters. They received an honorary medal. Cheka Cabreza and Nordic Caraig danced Fever with confidence and humor. They received an honorary medal. Gabby Quinto and Glenn Ragel’s Carmen, performed with utmost poise and precision, won for them the first place trophy. The adjudicator, Deanne Smith, who has had wide experience in judging competitions in Australia and Asia, remarked, “I have not seen anything like it. Well done!”

The third day of competition was another long day, even longer than the first two, it seemed, starting at 9:30 a.m. and finishing past 10 p.m. For the dancers from the Philippines, it was another good day of reaping well-earned praises and awards. In the Neo classical solo (open) section, Cheka Cabreza received an honorary medal, while Gabby Quinto won the third place trophy for her number danced to Michael Jackson’s haunting song You Are Not Alone (“I am here to stay…”).

In the Children (under 8) Freestyle section, our lone entry from among 20 participants, Angela Esluzar, received an honorary medal. There were 10 entries in the Ensemble (under 12/15) Classical/Lyrical section, all from Thailand except for two from the Philippines, both of which won. Halili-Cruz’s Classical number (Flower Dance) won the second place trophy, while its Neoclassical number (Allegro) won the first place trophy. In the Modern solo (under 18) section, Nicole Orteza and Aira Rostrata each received an honorary medal, while Regine Magbitang won the second place trophy. “Lovely presentations. Beautiful technique,” said the adjudicator.

Alee Young received an honorary medal for her skillful performance in the Betty Tilley Scholarship (under 15) section. CSTD Asian region director Betty Tilley, who passed away last year, is remembered for her contribution to the Asia Pacific Dance Competition. “My hope for this competition is that students of dance from the region may come together to learn from each other and to perform in the spirit of friendly competition,” she had remarked.

In the Modern Solo (open) section, part two, Gabby Quinto received an honorary medal, while Nordic Caraig won the first place trophy and Perpetual Trophy. Nordic caresses the stage floor like the lover that his dance portrays. What is most important in a dancer? “Puso,” he says.

In the Classical solo (under 18) section, part two, Aira Rostrata won the third place trophy for her dance variation from Le Corsaire. In the Duo/Trio (under 15) Neo classical section, Jackie Chua, Nicole Paredes, and Alee Young’s Ribbon Dance won the first place trophy from among 15 entries. Halili-Cruz’s Symphony in Green was also given an honorary medal.

 The Philippines dominated the Group (under 12) Modern/National section, receiving both of only two awards given, an honorary medal each for Subli and Rockin’ Robin and the first place trophy for its lively number Boogie Woogie, danced to the song Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B, winning the coveted Perpetual Trophy as well. The Thai MC, Sam Tseng, himself a dance teacher, remarked, “It must be fun teaching those children. They are lovely!” To which teacher Shirley responded heartily: “Oh, yes!”

The program was running late, and the evening segment scheduled at 5:30 started at 6 p.m. with the CSTD Ballet Championship (under 18/open) classical section and demi character section. Nordic Caraig (Prince Desire from Sleeping Beauty and The Toy) won the third place trophy while Regine Magbitang (Odelisque from Le Corsaire and Peasant Variation) won the second place trophy. Gabby Quinto, with her perfect form (Black Swan from Swan Lake and Giselle) won the first place trophy.

 There was only one winner among the four entries from Thailand, India, Hong Kong, and the Philippines in the Ensemble (under 18) modern section, and this was the Philippines’ Halili-Cruz (Here I Am), which was awarded the first place trophy and Perpetual trophy.

Jeng Guerrero (Bluebird variation) received an honorary medal for her strong performance in the Classical solo (under 15) section, part two where there were 22 participants, while Chelsea Cacho (variation from Paquita) received the third place trophy. In the Duo/Trio (open) modern section, the riveting performance of Lemuel Capa, Nordic Caraig and Glenn Ragel, to the music of Ave Maria, won for them the first place trophy and a Perpetual Trophy.

 The final section of the competition was the Group (under 18/open) all-style section where the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet from the Philippines not only shone, but soared, reaping the top awards: the second place trophy for the modern number Nostradamus, and the first place trophy and Perpetual Trophy for the classical number Valse Brillante. “That was really worth the wait!” said Thai MC, Sam Tseng.

 In the end, the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet brought home another bountiful harvest of gold trophies, numerous medals, and perpetual awards, bringing honor for the Philippines. “Will you ever tire of winning?” I asked Gabby. A sweet smile was all she gave in reply. No words are needed. Just dance.