I’m a huge fan of contemporary dance. I love how expressive and emotional the movements are; it takes a lot of skill to make these seemingly random motions of the body look beautiful, but it always requires a level of storytelling and performance. Having not seen a contemporary dance ballet in a while, I’m thrilled that Mari Dance is bringing it back in a big way by pushing the medium forward and bringing it into the realm of theater. In dance theater, the narrative structure of a play is at work, but the story is communicated entirely through movement. It replaces spoken language with kinetic energy, requiring the audience to let go of the need for words to communicate and instead trust their eyes and ears to pick up the feelings of the story through the performance.
Composed of five short, choreographed pieces by JM Cabling, A Dance in a Day in a Dance tracks the harrowing story of a rigid, abusive dance instructor and choreographer. Played by the terrific Al Bernard Garcia, as he uses capital punishment in the dance studio and terrorizes his students. This framing narrative serves as the transition points that link the five choreographed pieces together.
It begins with Nothing Special, a piece about finding one’s voice amid a culture of silence, performed by featured dancer Michael Que, which mirrors the students trying to process the dance instructor’s abusive ways.
At the midpoint, the company delivers a stunning performance of Ang Lihim ni Lea, an adaptation of Augie Rivera’s children’s book about a young girl who discovers she can walk through walls but the origins of this ability comes from a scary, dark place.
Performed by Janine Arisola-Cabrera as Lea, this powerful piece features where the dancer actually goes through the walls of her home, which is realised by a frame wrapped in fabric with holes cut through them.
The show then transitions to Bent, excellently executed by Arnel Sablas and Sheanne Montecarlos, about an accidental hook up between two dancers. It finishes with Nothing Special, performed by Garcia and Jenris Bernard Garcia, about a man rediscovering and reconciling with his younger self. It is the piece that leads to the transformation of Garcia’s problematic dance instructor that allows him to seek redemption withhis students.
Under Mikko Angeles’s astute direction and JM Cabling’s inventive choreography, the production transitions seamlessly between the world of the narrative to the world of the individual pieces, ensuring the emotional connection is carried through.
D Cortezano’s lighting design is exquisite, dynamically shifting colour temperatures and brightness to highlight the emotional spectrum of each scene. In one particular sequence, Cortezano manages to keep Garcia in the spotlight as he dances throughout the entire stage, while the rest of the company of dancers shifts rhythmically in darkness behind him. It had such a powerful effect.
Complementing this is Wika Nadera’s set design involves panels on wheels so they can be dragged around, with one side made to look like doors and the other to look like artsy walls. The dancers would move them around to change the scene, using whichever side is best for the story at that moment.
The emotional ride of the entire production is matched by its production savvy and elevated by a host of incredible dancers. Led by Al Bernard Garcia, the ensemble and featured dancers are so strong. Their lines were beautiful. Their technique showed but each one was able to convey the story so well.
For me, the night’s true standouts, aside from Garcia who really anchored the whole production, were Arisola-Cabrera, whose portrayal of Lea is intricate and nuanced, and Montecarlos, whose performance in ‘Bent’ really showcased her talent and training and she brought in a lot of charm.
Among the ensemble, Evan Joe Asuela stood out for his grace and strength. He was just part of the ensemble, but his stage presence was so strong that I couldn’t stop watching him dance during the big numbers.
If you’re looking to get into watching ballet or contemporary dance, Mari Dance’s A Dance in a Day in a Dance is a wonderful starter show and its theatrical structure keeps it familiar.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Don’t miss this breathtaking leap forward in local dance theater! A Dance in a Day in a Dance runs until May 31 at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté, Quezon City. Experience the magic live, secure your tickets NOW at maridance.com!
