GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Poetry set to dance: ‘A Wanderer In The Night Of the World’ at Dance.MNL
Dance.MNL’s second night featured the UP Dance Company’s "A Wanderer In The Night Of the World", an hour-long contemporary dance piece based on the poetry of National Artist for Literature Nestor Vicente Madali (NVM) Gonzales. The production had its first run at the UP Diliman University Theater in February of this year with rave reviews. Choreographed by UP Dance Company seniors Sarah Maria Samaniego, Gebbvelle Selga, Al Bernard Garcia, and Michael Barry Que, "Wanderer"’s most recent restaging for Dance MNL brought a different kind of dance experience to the festival, one more intimate and personal.
The show doesn’t give you a typical, linear stage narrative. The movements, production design, and music, though grounded in the poetry, leave most of the interpretation to the audience, who were seated around and on the stage itself rather than in the usual theater seats. The set, designed by Ohm David, was minimal, with only moveable props, a circular dancing area, and white drapes that hung from the ceiling.
"Wanderer" seems to show us life through the eyes of a curious youth, played by Aisha Polestico, starting off with the security of family to breaking free and seeking independence, to growing up in the hustle of a harsh world and losing one’s self to conformity, to the painful heartbreak of death and learning how to let go. The choreography is symbolic and metaphorical, often utilizing the set, stage, props, and music for ambiguity. For instance, soft strings are paired with the introductory family setting to give the sense of warmth, love and security. This is in sharp contrast to the later half of the piece, where rapid, awkward walks by ensemble are used to represent the stresses and challenges of life, coupled with percussive music that purposefully jars the senses.
Each of the props and the costumes were also brilliantly used, such as the manipulation of a mobile wooden frame to divide two different scenes, or an empty dress to bring news of the death of a loved one. An interesting choreographic touch was also the use of sign language, the communicative device allowing the dancers a non-verbal way to address their audience directly.
The ensemble of dancers move together almost telepathically, clearly comfortable in their company’s unique contemporary style, honed by their resident choreographer Elena Laniog-Alvarez. Although technically impressive, it is the subtle complexity of "Wanderer" is what makes the piece so interesting. More striking than a difficult partnered lift or triple pirouettes are the poignant moments in the production where standing still and small glances mean so much more.
Incoming 4th year student Aisha Polestico shines in the lead role, her petite frame and expressive face allowing the audience to connect with her genuinely. From the way she peeks coyly from behind the set to her silent, shaking sobs in an emotional ending scene, the amount of depth, sincerity and complexity she gives her role is stunning for her relatively young age.
"Wanderer" was followed by a Q&A session with the choreographers and faculty of UPDC, giving the audience a deeper understanding of the piece and the collaborations behind it. One person commented how the piece was almost dream-like, as if you were watching a film. The translation of the words of NVM Gonzales (whose family was present for the show) to movement and further on to a meaningful theatrical experience reminds us how art transcends genres and borders. Several audience members were in tears at the end of the show, leaving the stage talking about dance, literature, music, and theater, and above all, unanimously touched and deeply inspired by this work of art.
Though brought to the public from the minds of four different choreographers, "Wanderer" is an incredibly cohesive work, with conscious collaborative efforts with composer Toni Munoz and set designer Ohm David. For a student organization in a full-scale dance festival with some of the biggest names in the local dance scene, the young potentials of the UP Dance Company stand well at par with the veterans and professionals.
Should you chance upon this Wanderer sometime again in the future, I highly recommend that you don’t miss it. — BM, GMA News
Mika Fabella was a company scholar at Ballet Philippines and is currently a graduating student at the University of the Philippines Diliman, majoring in Dance.
