National Artist for Dance Agnes Locsin’s award-winning Filipino dance masterwork returns
In honor of Earth Month, ENCANTADA returns to the stage! This performance is a collaboration between the talents of Joey Ayala for music, Al Santos for the libretto, and National Artist Salvador Bernal for production design. The show features artists from the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Professional Artist Support Program and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP). ENCANTADA is a display of Agnes Locsin’s Neo-Ethnic Dance Style, which she expertly utilizes to delve into Filipino folklore, history, and culture while raising awareness of the impact of human destruction on nature.
“Agnes Locsin’s ‘ENCANTADA’ is not just dance for the sake of dancing, but instead, it is based on thorough research where Philippine history, folk religion, traditions, and practices are integrated into the creation of the performance,” shares Tats Manahan, President of ARDP. “Additionally, it showcases the distinctiveness of her movements, which she herself envisioned when developing her own dance genre – the neo-ethnic style. Thematically, she tackles women’s issues and, most importantly, the destruction of the environment – topics that are still relevant 31 years after she created this masterpiece. It’s worth restaging and revisiting. It’s a learning opportunity for the younger generation.”
Agnes Locsin, recognized as the founder of the neo-ethnic style of dance, is a vital force in the Philippine dance scene and has been named National Artist for Dance. She collaborated with contemporary Filipino music composer, Joey Ayala, and award-winning playwright, Al Santos, to debut ENCANTADA in February of 1992.
By drawing inspiration from Philippine tribal dances, practices, beliefs, and stories, Locsin reimagined and reinterpreted them within the framework of existing classical ballet and modern dance techniques, creating a distinct dance form that suits the Filipino’s physical frame, temperament, and culture.
Agnes Locsin says in her book, Philippine Neo-Ethnic Choreography, “Each of the dances was explained to the dancers because they needed to understand all that they were doing. Along with the motivations, precision was also required for those sequences requiring unison in dancing.”
This Neo-Ethnic dance style, combined with Joey Ayala’s rhythmic contemporary Filipino music, Al Santos’ engaging libretto, and National Artist Salvador Bernal’s extraordinary production design, brought the story of ENCANTADA to life.
The performance is presented by the Metropolitan Theater, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Carmen D. Locsin Foundation. It was last staged in 2011, receiving critical acclaim and earning 10 Gawad Buhay Awards, including Best Modern Dance Production, Best Choreography, Best Musical Composition, Best Production Design, and Best Lighting Design by John Neil Batalla, who returns to light the 2023 production.
Other accolades include Georgette Sanchez-Vargas for Female Lead Performance and Carissa Adea for Female Featured Performance. Both of them will reprise their award-winning roles for the current 2023 production.
Kris-Belle Paclibar-Mamangun, a highly acclaimed Filipino dancer and former member of Cirque du Soleil, will also join the cast. She will alternate with Carissa Adea in the role of Babaylan.
ENCANTADA, featuring artists from CCP’s Professional Artist Support Program and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, runs from April 14-15, 2023, at the Samsung Theater and April 21-22 at the Metropolitan Theater. Evening shows start at 7:30 PM, with matinees at 2:00 PM. All evening shows will feature live music performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad with the Philippine’s World Music Siren, Bayang Barrios.
Show Schedule:
April 14, 2023 | Friday | 7:30 PM | Samsung Performing Arts Theater*
April 15, 2023 | Saturday | 2:00 PM | Samsung Performing Arts Theater
April 15, 2023 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Samsung Performing Arts Theater*
April 21, 2023 | Friday | 7:30 PM | Metropolitan Theater*
April 22, 2023 | Saturday | 2:00 PM | Metropolitan Theater
April 22, 2023 | Saturday | 7:30 PM | Metropolitan Theater*
*With live music performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad with Bayang Barrios.
Future Shows:
- Alice Reyes’ RAMAHARI
- Sept. 15-16, 22-23, 2023
- CARMEN AND OTHER SPIRITS, a mixed bill featuring Alice Reyes’ CARMEN and new works by young Filipino choreographers
- Oct. 20-21, 27-28, 2023
- PUSO NG PASKO, the celebration of Paskong Pinoy
- Dec. 1-2, 22, 2023
Join the celebration of Filipino artistry and talent by subscribing to ARDP’s 2023 Dance Season! For inquiries about season subscriptions and ticket reservations, please email ardancephilippinesinc@gmail.com. For more details, follow @ARDancePh on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
