Learning 'Magkaugnay'

Agnes Locsin's 'Romeo & Juliet'
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  We started learning this new dance a few weeks ago. It's a modern number to music by Joey Ayala. I don't know if we're going to perform it or anything, but when Teacher Agnes told us about tackling the piece, she mentioned our having to synchronize. Maybe it's a sort of exercise for us? It was performed a long time ago in Locsin's and we are learning the steps via video.

  The choreography leans to the ethnic and folk, as most of Teacher Agnes works do. The steps are challenging especially in the part where we all hold hands. We run the risk of trampling on one another lest someone tripped which, thankfully, hasn't happened yet. I haven't quite absorbed that part yet. There are so many travelling side ways with many changes in the direction we face. It's more of a challenge for the mind, I think, and less of the body. It's not an "Olympic stamina" dance as many of Teacher Agnes 'babies' would say.

  I feel like I am immersing myself in Teacher Agnes work. I'm reading her book right now and it proves to be very enlightening. I wish I could watch all her works! She really takes the message of her dances deeply and seriously. It's much more than the movement...   

  For today's class, we had  'guest artist'. Kuya John is here for Ballet Philippines' tour. I'm not sure what they will be performing, but they'll be in SM Lanang Premier this afternoon :) I assisted Kuya John's Ballet 1b class last summer.

  There's a lot going on in Davao's dance scene since Encantada. A visit from a Swiss contemporary company (details out soon), BP's tour, a production of Romeo and Juliet....

 Roughly translated I think the word 'Magkaugnay' means 'unity'. Google translate says 'correlate' but I like 'unity' better ^_^ Anyway, here's an audio of the music: