An act of pure joy

My good friend, Powerdance artistic director and choreographer Douglas Nierras marks another milestone in his milestone-filled career with yet another major production simply billed as Douglas Nierras Powerdance Gold.

Douglas’ latest dance concert celebrates his 50th birthday, believe it or not! A lot of people are incredulous that Douglas has reached the big 5-0 precisely because he is still brimming with youthful energy, idealism, and yes, creativity.

Indeed, more than a commemoration of his golden year, the Gold concert promises to be a gem of a show. "To use a cliché, I would like to call this concert a treasure show," Douglas declares with palpable pride. "It’s going to be a golden opportunity for me to show everything that has had an impact on my career, on my art for the past two decades or so."

But more than a showcase of past acclaim and accomplishments, Douglas sees the Gold concert as a thanksgiving show. "More than anything else, the real treasure will be my friends and my dancers who will be performing the most memorable and beautiful pieces in my dance repertoire," he says.

Among the friends who will share their talents with Douglas and Powerdance on this special night (set on May 31, 8 p.m. at the Aliw Theater, Star City, CCP Complex) are power belter Dulce, Nanette Inventor, balladeer-record producer Eugene Villaluz, pop chanteuse Leah Navarro, Gary Valenciano and two surprise guests who rarely make appearances onstage (including, well, yours truly!). "All of the people who are going to be in this show are my friends," Douglas pipes in. "They are the prized few nearest and dearest to my heart. Some are long-time buddies, while others are new friendships."

And, truth to tell, Douglas’s circle of pals consists of a motley crew, a diverse lot. "There is even a group of stuntmen and stunt directors," he quips. "And also a bevy of female impersonators (from Illusione)."

Suffice it to say these are the fabulous few, friends who have witnessed Douglas’ continuing evolution as performer and pedagogue through the years. "My singer-friends will be in a suite called Stars Strike, he says with enthusiasm. "It’s about the different stages in my life. It will recount how they came into my life." And each "stage" will be expressed in a song, a musical question of sorts.

Case in point: "I first met Leah Navarro when I was just starting as a dancer," he recalls. "We worked together in a CCP production called Tales of the Manuvu, where she played the lead (with Basil Valdez) and I portrayed the Uod, the worm!" It was a pivotal encounter, he relates. "At that point in time, I was still a medical student in UP. So Leah’s question to me at that time was: What are you doing here? So she’s going to sing Do You Want to Dance? in the Gold show."

Quite aptly, the once-humble Uod metamorphosed into a butterfly, what National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa Goquinco once hailed as the "Quintessential Choreographer". He is also Aliw Awards’ Outstanding Choreographer, as well as the recipient of the NCCA 1998 Pasasalamat ng Bayan sa Sayaw award and the Gawad Alab ng Haraya 2001. His crowning glory is the Grand Prize at the 10th Saitama International Creative Dance Concourse 1998-1999 in Japan–the first and only international honor won by the country in the field of dance (for his piece Sayaw ng Puso at Kaluluwa). Of course, Douglas couldn’t have achieved all this, without a little help from his friends.

That is why he is mounting the Gold concert, not just to showcase his treasure trove of outstanding dance pieces (like the Saitama piece), but also to pay loving tribute to his just as precious peers and pals.

One such tried-and-tested friend is the Ultimate Diva, Dulce.

Dulce and Douglas are like peas in a pod–soul siblings in the real sense of the term. "The funny thing is, when we first worked together (for Music and the Mirror from A Chorus Line) way back in 1995, it was like we’ve known each other for a long time," Douglas explains. "Since birth, in fact!"

"We were so at ease with each other," Dulce concurs. "We could chat until six in the morning." Douglas chimes in, "And we would both feel as if it’s very difficult to say goodbye and call it a night," Dulce attests.

Dulce points out that Douglas is the only choreographer in the world who succeeded in making her dance onstage. "Afraid," she remembers her terpsichorean moment. "I just trusted in him. Since he sincerely believed I could do it, I did it!" He’s a perfectionist, she concedes, "but only because he is confident you can deliver. That you are capable. Actually, he believes in you more than you believe in yourself!"

The top diva sings nothing but the highest praises for Douglas, both the artist and the person. "He is not the type who would tolerate mediocrity," she intones. "Although he is really focused when it comes to work, he is very relaxed when it comes to real life. Very easygoing. He just gets tense when his beloved pet dog disappears from his sight!"

The "gentle, nurturing, caring" Douglas, Dulce acknowledges, is far from the public’s perception of Douglas the mentor/tormentor. "In his private life, there’s no trace of the terorista," Dulce roars. "He’s a true friend. No hang-ups. No showbiz baggage. As a person, I truly respect and trust him. I just love him!" Such intense devotion Douglas plans to reciprocate and honor in Douglas Nierras Powerdance Gold.

After all, dancing, as far as Douglas is concerned, is an act of pure joy and gratitude because such "treasures, such friendships are very, very rare!"