Wifibody Independent Contemporary Dance Festival 2010 opens June 25

Wifibody Independent Contemporary Dance Festival 2010 will start on June 25 at the Greenbelt Ayala Malls in Makati City and will migrate to two other venues.  

The Wifibody festival has been organized annually by Contemporary Dance Network Philippines (CDNP), currently chaired by Angel Lawenko-Baguilat, since 2006, and features dance shows in various venues as well as photo and video exhibitions, plenaries and workshops that all focus on contemporary dance.

CDNP is the group behind the recent "Moving Dance @ The LRT Dance Express," where more than 20 dancers staged contemporary dance pieces at the stations and inside the trains of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2 for International Dance Day.

Festival director Myra Beltran says, "Wifibody is distinguished by its innovative use of traditional spaces and its exploration of non-traditional spaces."  After opening in Makati City, the festival continues at Dance Forum Space in Quezon City and concludes at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City.

"Wifibody aims to engage the public by allowing everyone to access contemporary dance," she adds.  As part of this year's theme, "Body and Memory," there will be a photo exhibit with video portraits featuring ten choreographers who have been influential in the crafting and direction of the festival.

"It is when the body remembers that one proceeds to create.  When the body remembers, there is dance," notes Beltran.  "This festival allows those involved in contemporary dance to 'remember' how we grew, how we got to where we are, and trace where we are going."

In IndepenDance, one of the major shows featuring new choreographic work, participating groups include Ava Maureen Villanueva and Rhosam Prudenciado Jr. of Airdance, Gerardo Francisco of Ballet Manila, Herbert Alvarez of U.P. Dance Company, and Christine Crame of Seven Contemporary Dance Company.

As part of the festival's objectives to encourage new talent, the New Choreographers Competition allows up-and-coming regional choreographers and dancers who have not yet created any major full-length work to premier solos or duets.

Emerging Talent Showcase gives performing opportunities to young talents from various independent groups and school-based groups.  The festival also features Dance-on-Site, performances choreographed specifically for unusual venues, such as the driveway in front of the CCP Main Theater lobby.

The Uncensored Bodies Dance Video Competition will showcase entries that use dance in film or films created specifically for dance.  Entries will be posted on Youtube.com and online voting will be conducted.

Wifibody 5 runs on June 25-27 at Greenbelt Ayala Malls, June 26-27 at Dance Forum Space and culminates at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 2-4, 2010.  Dance Forum Space is at 36e West Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City. For details, visit www.contempodancenetphil.org or call 0917-576-0212.