NCCA presents Dance Xchange 2011

MANILA, Philippines - Dance Xchange 2011: The Philippine International Dance Festival, spearheaded by the National Committee on Dance (NCD) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), will bring together the best dance companies and dance experts, both local and international, for a grand celebration of dance starting today until April 29 in Metro Manila.

The festival hopes to promote a greater awareness of and appreciation for dance as well as discuss global issues and concerns on dance and uplift dance in the country with exchanges, exposure and education.

Dance Xchange is also in celebration of International Dance Day, created under the auspices of UNESCO in Paris and held all over the world by the International Theater Institute (ITI) on April 29, and the Philippine National Dance Week, which is on the fourth week of April every year as declared by Proclamation No. 154 “to bring together dancers to demonstrate and realize the function of dance in the society and in the rest of the world.”

Through the leadership of Shirley Halili-Cruz, NCD head, Dance Xchange has been held for three years now — 2009 in Dumaguete City and 2010 in Roxas City. This year, it will be held in Manila with the theme “Cultural Connectivity Through Dance,” and promises to be a bigger international event in the country with bigger network of international dance companies and top Philippine dance companies being invited to participate.

The festival has a dance competition and a showcase. It also includes master classes for dancers conducted by international dance experts and professionals as well as dance workshops for dance and PE teachers, conference for dance educators and researchers, and outreach performances.

Sayaw Pinoy: The National Dance Competition will be held today and tomorrow at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium with local dance groups vying to be the best. The main event of Dance Xchange will be held from April 27 to 29 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. Workshops will be held at the Meralco Theater.

With these, Dance Xchange aims to provide venue for interaction and facilitate learning among dancers, directors, dance teachers, choreographers, teachers and dance scholars; establish an international event which will hopefully become a cultural destination for foreign artists; provide new ideas and inspiration that will stimulate the creativity; showcase different dance forms; facilitate cultural exchange and understanding; and strengthen network among dance organizations and dance directors. It will provide opportunity to local dancers and dance groups to get exposure to dance groups from other countries and establish their own international network to facilitate resource exchanges.

For details, call the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head Rene Sanchez Napenas at (632 )527-2192 or 0928-508-1057. Visit www.ncca.gov.ph or e-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com.