Ballet Magnificat! in Manila

last May, America's premier Christian ballet company - Ballet Magnificat! visited Manila as part of their Asian tour. we got the privilege to watch them perform live at the Faith Academy. seeing them was more of an experience for the heart, and not just the pleasure to watch a really good ballet show. while they were dancing, you can really feel their hearts worshipping God and moving the audience. i'm glad to have seen them here in Manila, but i'm looking forward to watching more of their performances in the future. :)

Ballet Magnificat!'s show at Faith Academy last May 5

photo credits to Ms. Tes Tirol :)

the Acts Manila family with Ballet Magnificat!

at Acts Manila, we were privileged to have a whole day workshop (May 8) in classical technique and creative worship with 3 guest teachers from Ballet Magnificat!. they handled 3 classes in different levels - kids, intermediate, and advanced / company class. the visiting teachers were Rebecca Grove, Christina Hudson, and Esther Choi, who are all members of the Alpha company.

Ballet Magnificat! guest teachers Esther, Christina, and Rebecca
(with Shek, me, and Bea!)

kids' class with teacher - Rebecca Grove

intermediate ballet with teacher - Esther Choi

same as their show, the workshop was refreshing. most especially the creative worship class, it opened our hearts to freely express passion through movements. seeing them do it right in front of us is like speaking directly to our spirits to just let go and worship God. more than being technically good, what moves audiences is their heart to lead others to Christ through their dancing. they srsly have everything - the body, high extensions, turns, performing quality, and most importantly, passion for both dance and God.

Christina Hudson sharing the Word during the creative worship session

Esther Choi during their demonstration of creative worship dancing

Rebecca Grove

Christina leading the dancers by giving movements for creative worship

i'm praying that someday, i'd get to visit and take classes with Ballet Magnificat! in Mississippi. but if i won't be able to, at least i got to experience having them here already. i just wish they stayed for a whole week (or so) though, so we got to experience more of them! after seeing them, i had really high hopes that Acts Manila would someday be like Ballet Magnificat! ❤

the kids' class

intermediate ballet

Acts Manila company - photo from Jem Rodriguez
(we performed for them, hence the costume, heehee)

with the Acts Manila teachers

PS. i want to see Esther Choi again! so please God, let me go to Mississippi. :D

hihi, fan-girling over our girl crush, Esther Choi :")

Beauty from Ashes - Acts Manila 2012

oh hiiiiii, sorry for being gone too long! stressful summer is over, of course with so much to blog about! i will start with the main highlight - Acts Manila's recent recital at the CCP Main Theatre, Beauty from Ashes!

Beauty from Ashes 2012 Souvenir Program!
props to our very creative layout artist, Ms. Tes Tirol! :)
(and that cover girl? hmm.)

this was my first major recital as a returning serious dancer since 2007, the year i graduated high school. i've joined 2 recitals though after (Esther in 2008 and United Colors of Dance last year, 2011), but my dancer role isn't as major as my teacher role. (because i was in college, my schedule and school workload won't allow me to get into regular dance classes. :( glad i'm already done with school!!!) this year, i had a more serious role as a dancer, gaining a solo for the classical ballet Paquita and a part in the trio for an Acts Manila choreography, Bach's Passion. no, my teaching role didn't subside; in fact, this is my first year having a "director" title for Palms Country Club ballet, which i've been handling since 2006. God has been really faithful in giving me the best of both dancing and teaching, i couldn't be anymore grateful that i am able to handle both.

i never felt so excited and soooo nervous at the same time for a show like this before. i've done so many recitals and performances already, but i still felt like this was my first time. i haven't had as intense training as what we had to prepare for this show. my workload wasn't as "loaded" as the previous recital seasons. there's no other choice but to work doubly hard, keeping up with my dancing and teaching, with some admin work on the sides. frustrations hit me for so many times, even as close to the few minutes before the final show starts. inside of me, i knew i wanted to really give out my very best and come out different and stronger than before.

and yes, i knew i did. grateful that God has enabled me to go through all of these, because i won't be able to appreciate everything that comes after. i was touched with every cheer, "congratulations", and all those positive remarks. i was humbled knowing that it wasn't because of my own capabilities, but because of God's never-ending and sufficient grace. all the praises and glory only belongs to God, and Him alone, forever grateful i will just be. :)

on the other hand, i am so proud of my kiddos who performed as well! i didn't expect too much with my little cherubs (coz ya'know, their still this small, haha), i'm just so glad they were dancing on stage and they know what they were doing! nevermind them getting lost with their blockings, haha. and my LCC girls (the young scholars i'm handling) did so well! they were dancing together and pointing their feet, haha!

say hello to my dear angels!

the scholars from Lord's Christian Circle church that i'm handling! :)

indeed it was all worth it. i won't have any other things exchanged for this feeling of being on stage, dancing, and pouring my passion out. :) until the next "Curtains up"!

so glad to be reunited and dancing AGAIN with my high school
bestfriend (and twin!), Shekinah Ciudad! <3

"To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak."- Hopi Indian Saying
blessed and grateful to be dancing with these girls who
share the same passion. (hello Bei and Shek!)

long lost sister! so glad to see Agatha again after two years!
she watched during the first night of the show.

a very dear and close friend from high school, supporting us
all the way - Jess Orleans :)

of course the gang is (almost) complete! mi Super Friends with Tita D
after the second night's show. 

"Out of these ashes, beauty will rise!" ❤

I am Your work of art.

for the past days, i have been feeling frustrated with my dancing. yes, me. you might think, why? they say i have the "perfect" body for it, being thin, muscular, and strong.

but.. i don't want to be JUST the body.

i felt frustrated because even though i do everything "technically correct", there was something missing. there was something lacking that makes me unnoticed. that's where frustration hits me. i know i will never be good enough, but i cannot feel any progress.

i was told i was thinking too much. i was challenged to let my heart out. tried it out, i felt more frustrated. i cannot not think, i get so lost. i was so conscious to let go. crying out to God every night, i asked Him why i feel this. where is my heart going wrong?

and then today (tuesday) arrived. this morning, i had an encouraging word from God. i also held on to that feeling He gave me that there would be something good that will happen today. i prayed and asked God to just let Him work through.

and so He did. through a guest dance missionary, Juanine Sampson, He gave answers to all my questions. it allowed me discover purpose in dancing and how to minister through it. and to my most important question of where is my heart going wrong, He answered me with: "prayer and preparation".

we were given time to just rest in God's presence earlier and just seek Him. and from there on, i felt God moving. through the music "Work of Art", He gave these words:

"You are my work of art. You. I molded you to be perfect in form and created you to be technically good. There was nothing missing nor wrong when I created you. All I need from you is to show how beautiful and colorful I made you to be. Don't be afraid of losing yourself, for when they look at you, they won't see you, but who I am. You are my work of art."

with those words, i felt my breakthrough. i was humbled knowing God was the one at work in me. i was strengthened when He told me that people will see Him through me. and as a follow-up, He assured me with, "When you prepare and pray for something, what can go wrong?"

dancing as worship isn't about the technical aspect, but your soul and spirit leading others to Him. being technically good is the bonus part because people will consider watching and looking at you. my being square is not an accident, nor a negative point on my part (though i really thought at this point that it was). God showed me that my being "square" will be the one that would capture the eyes of the audience, and how i dance would captivate their hearts.

"When you dance, something should turn."