Collaborators of The Mountain

The Mountain is my first huge project. I wasn't planning it to be huge but the forces of nature is offering myriad of great possibilities. For starters, the music for my piece is being composed by Domenico Vicinanza. He is a Scientist/Composer/Everything who is currently working for DANTE (Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe). My amazing director Paul Gordon Emerson found out about him and forwarded me a clip of his work. Domenico invented Sonification. He can turn the rumblings of the volcano into music and the result is phenomenal. Later, I met up with him in Cambridge during my trip to The UK last December to talk about the possibility of collaboration. He was thrilled about "The Mountain" and talked about incorporating his colleague Paolo Cimmino, a percussionist and a great vocalist. I was scared because their involvement will make it huge and I wasn't sure if I can handle it but his excitement brought more confidence to my part. There's no way to hold back when somebody believes in you. It doesn't stop there my friend, CityDance got in touch with The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC and they have been showing tremendous support and just got us the authentic tubular skirts (Malong). It's all thanks to Robert Borje (Cultural Attache of The Philippines) who made all of this possible. Of course, CityDance Ensemble and CityDance II. They all have been very supportive and has been giving their best. Our Rehearsal Director, Christopher Morgan has been backing me up in every steps of the way. It's hard to dance and choreograph at the same time and he has been my second eye. Last, my director Paul Gordon Emerson. He found me the right composer, he gave me an opportunity and he found me a gong for my piece.

Please come and see the work in progress of The Mountain along with pieces created by Christopher Morgan and Paul Gordon Emerson.

Saturday, March 14 @ 8pm

Saturday, March 15 @ 7pm

Strathmore Music Center
room 405

Tickets are on sale. For more info visit www.citydance.net

February 5th

February 5th was the luckiest day of my life. That afternoon, I got a call from the Local Dance Commissioning Project (LDCP). I have been awarded a grant to premier "The Mountain" at The Millennium Stage of The Kennedy Center this coming fall. The good news didn't stop there, my Director Paul called me that night and told me to mark this day February 5th! because aside from winning the grant, he has just been notified that I was chosen as one of the finalists for The Mayor's Arts Awards for Outstanding Emerging Artist of Washington DC. The winner will be determined on March 23rd and all the fingers in my hands are crossed. It was a great feeling to be honest because 2 days before this event I twisted my sacrum during the re-staging of Paul Taylor's piece "Last Look." I was petrified and was scared to death. I literally could not stand up and can barely walk. Even after I got out of the physical therapy I thought it will take me months to recover. Miraculously, I was able to dance on February 5th, lucky day, hu?