A small glass with a lit candle is carefully balanced on top of the head, while each hand deftly holds a similar lit glass.
Gracefully swaying to the lilting strains of the “Pandango sa Ilaw,” the dancers, dressed in colorful native garb, moved across the stage.
Without missing a step, all 15 dancers that made up the Erehwon Dance Scholars segued to other native dances—the tinikling, a lively folk dance that have men and women executing light footwork over and in between rhythmically opening and closing bamboo poles; and the binoyugan, an Ilocano dance where women balanced a banga (claypot) on their heads.
It is one intermission number that effectively mesmerized and transported to a bygone time the writers, corporate executives, and other guests gathered at the Winford Manila Resort and Casino for the 1st Asia-Pacific Nick Joaquin Literary Awards (NJLA).
Erehwon beginnings
It was in 2018 when Rafael Rivera Benitez, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Erehwon Center for the Arts (ECA), and dance teacher Dante Ballesteros formed their resident dance company.
The idea was to promote the country’s traditional and folk dances through the youth. “Through the Erehwon Dance Scholars, we can see the Philippines’ traditional and folk dances continue to be part of our culture and identity because there are youths who give their life to its conservation and proliferation,” Benitez said in a statement.
For his part, Ballesteros tapped folk dance teachers Roldan Bonifacio and Janet Amor. Starting with their students, the initial dance group was composed of 18 Senior High School students from the Batasan Hills National High School, Bagong Silangan High School, Diliman Preparatory School, Lyceum of the Philippines Manila, and the New Era High School.
The students, their teachers said, “saw themselves performing in big events inside and outside the country. Their aim is to keep performing because a world without dance for them is a world without vibrance.”
Dedication
Bonifacio said that Erehwon Dance Scholars train every Saturdat from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The reason why their training is held during weekends is because academics is still the students’ top priority. As Erehwon Dance Scholars, we (dance mentors) see to it that their academics is always in good standing. Otherwise, that will be grounds for suspension as a member of the Erehwon Dance Scholars,” Bonifacio said.
Erehwon Dance Scholars welcomes new members. Contact Roldan Bonifacio at 0956 142 1574 for details.
Erehwon Center for the Arts is a Quezon City Gawad Parangal awardee recognized for its contributions to the arts and culture. It is also a member of the Philippine Performing Art Centers Consortium (PhilPACC), a project of the CCP. It is located at 1 Don Francisco St., Villa Beatriz, Old Balara, Quezon City, operating hours are Mondays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.
email: info@erehwonartcenter.com; tel: (02) 294-5286; mobile: (+63) 917 657 9932