This document discusses contemporary dance in the Philippines. It provides information on 3 big names in Philippine dance: Alice Reyes, known as the "Mother of Contemporary Dance" who professionalized dance in the country; Liza Macuja-Elizalde, founder of Ballet Manila; and Douglas Nierras, prominent in jazz dance. It also mentions different contemporary dance styles like disco and hip hop, as well as top dance crazes that became hits in the Philippines like the Nobody Dance and Shake Body Dance. Traditional folk dances also abound across Philippine regions.

1. DANCE: THE POWER
OF MOVEMENT

2. Contemporary Dance
-Is a performing arts that involves
Rhythmic body movement within a
given space, choreographed based on a
musical beat.
-It is an expression of idea or emotion,
releasing energy, or simply taking
delight in music and dance movement
itself.

3. 3 BIG NAMES IN PHILIPPINE
DANCE
1. ALICE REYES

4. Known as the “Mother
of Contemporary
Dance”.
She initiated the
professionalization
of dance arts in the
country. She
established the Alice
Reyes Modern
Dance Company.

5. 2. LIZA TERESITA PACHECO MACUJA- ELIZALDE
- Founder of Ballet Manila
- In 198 she was recognized in Europe and became a Prima
Ballerina of Kirov Ballet, in Leningrad. Ballet Manila has
reached its 20th year.

7. Douglas Nierras
 In Jazz, Douglas Nierras
is the most prominent. He
has more than two
decades of involvement
in dance through
choreography, pedagogy,
and production. He is
famous for his Metanoia,
in which he collaborated
with Ryan Cayabyab to
create – minute ballet set.

8. A Different Kind of Dancing
Cebu Detention and Rehabilitation
Center (CPDRC) Dancing Inmates.
-at first they dance as part of their daily exercise and
then started to take dance seriously until their
performances were filmed and released through
television and online

9. Contemporary Dancing Styles
1. Disco Dancing- is a dance style popularized during
the 1970’s. Disco dancing is associated with John
Travolta’s dance style during the movie Saturday
Night Fever.
2. Hiphop- which originated in America refers to street
dance styles performed to hip hop music. It includes
dance styles such as breaking, locking and popping.
What distinguishes hip-hop from other styles is that it
is often freestyle or improvisation.

10. Aspects of Dance Appreciation
Knowledge of Choreography- Memory of the
routine and execution of the moves that were
choreographed.
Technical Skills- Pointing toes, back straight, arm
placement is not sloppy, moves are executed
smoothly.
Performing Skills- Projection of eye and cheerful
facial expressions with the judges. The dancer
is confident with movements.
Rhythm/ Tempo- Staying on count and with the
beats of the music.

11. Top 10 Dance styles that went
hit in the Philippines
1. Nobody dance- was popularized by the korean group:
The Wonder Girls
2. The Spaghetti Song- was made popular by the
Sexbomb Dancers in 2003
3. The Chocolate Dance- was a dance craze by Soul
Control duo.
4. The Papaya Song- started by TV host Edu Manzano
in a game show.
5. The Shalala Dance- was a dance floor hit in 1990’s
through the group Dreamhouse.

12. Top 10 Dance styles that went
hit in the Philippines
6. The Otso- Otso Dance- was popularized by comedian
Bayani Agbayani in 2003.
7. The Always Dance- was popularized by Wowie de
Guzman and his group United Motion Dancers (UMD)
8. The Shake Body Dance- was popularized by Maricel
Soriano during the 1980’s, danced to the tune of Magic
Fire.
9. The Asereje Dance- was introduced by the Spanish
pop group Last Ketchup.
10. The Macarena Dance- was made popular by the
Spanish music duo Los del Rio.

13. Traditional and folk dances abound the different regions in
the Philippines. Most notable contemporary dancer is
Norbert dela Cruz III of Region 2 Bayombong Nueva
Vizcaya. He has innovated movement in order to
“transcend progressive” change in our world of
dance. Trained abroad and a graduate Juilliard School
in New York City, he has danced profesionally as a
soloist with the Metropolitan Opera House, Aszure
Barton & Artists in Germany & Austria, Balleto Teatro di
Torino (Italy), Sydney Skybetter & Associates, Lustig
Dance Theatre, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and
Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Contemporary Dance in the
Philippines